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AJ Bott’s quick liking to lacrosse is not only an interesting story but a testament to the growth of the sport in the football-crazed state of Texas.
Bott is a starting safety at Dripping Springs HS (TX) whose first exposure to lacrosse came a few years back when he was attending his little brother’s youth lacrosse practice.
Now, it is lacrosse — not football — that Bott will play at the next level. The attackman/midfielder verbally committed Sunday to Division II Queens University in Charlotte, NC, a decision first reported when it was made earlier this week by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider premium coverage section.
The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Bott is a fast and quick player who is strong with both hands and who is an accurate shooter.
Now, here’s a Q&A with AJ on his commitment.
What were the main factors in your decision?
The school was gorgeous, the education will be great and I just felt like it was the perfect school for me. The guys on the team were awesome as well, they really made me feel like one of the boys when I was there.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
Bellarmine, mercer, Randolph, Catawba, Texas State and NDDU. I visited Queens and it was the perfect fit.
What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I am very smart and know the game well. I am fast and quick and can finish well. Both my right and left hands are strong and I can shoot very well with both, being it an outside shot or an inside finish.
I consider myself crafty and can get shots off and find good looks. I am a head-up attackman, always trying to get the ball in the back of the net.
What area of your game do you need to work on?
I need to work on my off ball cuts and movement, I stand still when I am off ball too much and that is an area I need to improve on.
How has playing football helped you as a lacrosse player?
It has made me bigger faster and a lot stronger. I believe it mentally prepared me to do well on the lacrosse field. It’s help my game quite a bit.
How did you get introduced to lacrosse?
My little brother was at his first lacrosse practice, and I was walking around not having any interest in the sport. A man named Daren Hess asked if I wanted to throw a ball with him and I fell in love immediately. I thank most of my success to that man.
What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
I played on the ATX Jammers and we qualified for nationals this year. I also made the all-start team for the Texas Top 99 camp for the 2013 and 2014 summers. I also made the 2013 New England Top 150 all-star team.
Any final thoughts?
I want to thank my family for pushing me all these years. I want to thank Coach Cafferata, Coach Hess, Jason Issac, Coach McBrid, and Mr. Pumphrey.
Also, thanks to my teammates and my best friend, Geoff Tyler, for always working with me and doing great on the field as well.
And lastly, my mom. She has been my rock and given me strength to succeed in this sport. I love her and thank her for everything she had done for me.
* “Beyond the Northeast” coverage archive
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Posted In: Beyond the Northeast, Recruiting Rundown, Texas lacrosse
