Word came over the weekend that two of the top players on two-time Connecticut Class L state finalist Ridgefield made their choices.
Rising junior midfielder Will Bonaparte decided on Maryland.
Another Tiger standout also made his choice, rising senior attackman Brett Baker will be continuing his lax career at Bryant.
Baker is a 6-foot, 170-pound righty with good quickness and dodging ability. He is the younger brother of former Ridgefield standout Matthew Baker, who is a midfielder and one of the leading players at Colgate University, where he just completed his junior season.
Now, here’s a Q&A with Brett on his commitment:
What were the main factors in your decision?
Bryant had everything I was looking for in a school. I have a strong interest in Mathematics and Bryant is uniquely structured in combining math with other subjects like Business and Sciences.
The school’s career placement consistently ranks within the top 10 nationally of all schools. Some of the beliefs Coach (Mike) Pressler emphasized in my discussions with him resonated with me in terms of honesty and commitment which set him apart. Plus. it doesn’t hurt that we both share a love of fishing.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I was considering Wesleyan, Amherst, Middlebury, St Joseph’s, Delaware and Colgate. I have visited several schools from the CAA, the Patriot League and the NESCAC.
What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I believe my strengths as a player are my quickness, capability to dodge from wing or X, shooting from outside and finishing inside.
Who have been some of the biggest influences on you during your development as a player?
The biggest influences on me as a player and of life are my dad and brother. My dad has been an advocate for me since I was little, has always believed in my potential and asked me to always be the best player and student I could be. I would not have progressed as a player if it weren’t for him. My older brother (Matt) has been a role model for me throughout my lacrosse career. He has taught me a lot through watching him progress through the years from the youth to the collegiate level.
Ridgefield has made back-to-back state-title game appearances. Do you think you can make it three trips in a row next year and what’s your early read on how the team looks for next year?
I believe we can definitely make it back to both the FCIAC and state title games for the third year in a row. We have a lot of rising talent coming into the program and are returning a lot of our key players from the last two years. Our team knows how to get it done and come playoff time we are always ready to compete for title.
* For more info on Brett, check out his player profile by clicking here.
Have a recruiting commitment to report? Email us at info@laxlessons.com.
LAXLESSONS Links
Recruiting coverage
* Updated recruiting review and commitment rundown (for classes of 2013, ’14 and ’15)
* Class of 2012 commitment rundown
* For a list of committed players with their profiles up, click here.
* To get your profile up, click here.
Connect with us
* Follow LaxLessons on Twitter by clicking here.
* Become a Fan of LaxLessons on Facebook now by clicking here.
Get in the game
Cast your vote in our latest poll
To vote, go to the right panel of this page. Then, scroll past the “New Comments” and “Popular” tabs and click on “Poll.” You will then see the poll questions and can cast your vote from the multiples choices, or, write in your choice if it’s not one of the choices.
Posted In: Connecticut, fciac
Congrats Brett on this great accomplishment.
Super kid. Pressler continues to mine the Fairfield county for quality. Love, Clinton, McMahon, Dunster, Cordisco, Maiorano.
Yeh Bakes!
No doubt. Brett is a hard working and determined kid who has a bright future. Congrats.