If there’s been a trend in lacrosse we’ve noticed the most the last year or so, it’s been the ever increasing value of faceoff specialists among collegiate recruiters.
The latest commitment by a standout in the faceoff X was made by rising senior midfielder RJ Beil of St. Dominic High School on Long Island.
Beil has verballed to Mount St. Mary’s, which struggled on faceoffs last season.
The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Beil is also a strong all-around talent who plays attack as well as midfield. He has outstanding stick skills, good field vision and excels in transition.
Now, here’s a Q&A with RJ on his commitment.
What were the main factors in your decision?
My main factors throughout the recruiting process and making my decision were finding a competitive school where I can continue to become a better person on and off the field. Mount St. Mary’s is a great academic school and (Assistant) Coach (T.C.) DiBartolo made me feel really comfortable making my decision when he stressed the competitiveness and family-like atmosphere the lacrosse program has.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
Other schools I considered throughout the recruiting process were St. Johns, St. Joseph’s, Sacred Heart, Salisbury and Robert Morris.
What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
My biggest strength is using my speed and field vision to help create plays on the field, and finding open spaces moving off ball to try and get an open shot. I also use faceoffs to try and create opportunities in transition for goal scoring. I still have a lot that I want to work on to help me succeed at a D-I lacrosse level.
How and when did you first start taking faceoffs and how have you gone about perfecting your skills in the faceoff X?
I first started taking faceoffs to add another aspect to my game. It is a great skill to have and can only help you succeed on the field. I began by taking lessons from a friend of mine (former Mahasset star), Ricky Buhr, who plays at Syracuse. It has helped me earn my three years as a starting varsity player.
Who have been some of the biggest influences on you during your development as a player?
My biggest influence has been my dad who has taught me that all of the hard work that you put into life will eventually pay off. After putting in all the work the last two years to try and play at the most successful D-I program I can get to, everything fell into place when I visited Mount St. Mary’s.
What travel team did you play on this summer and what were some of the tournaments you competed in?
The summer team I played for was For the Love of the Game (FLG) run by Mike Winkoff. Some of the tournaments I attended were JDRF, NYLA Showcase, King of the Hill, MVP, UMass Mid Summer Classic, Long Island Lacrosse Classic, and FLG in 3D. All of these tournaments were great exposure for recruiting.
* For more info on RJ, check out his player profile by clicking here.
Have a recruiting commitment to report? Email us at info@laxlessons.com.
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Posted In: Long Island lacrosse, Recruiting Rundown
