jgiacalone

Considering how far he’s come in such a short amount of time, it’s no wonder Sachem North High School (N.Y.) coach Jason Mauro says “the sky’s the limit” for Jacob Giacalone.

After all, just two years after first playing the goaltending position, the sophomore has verballed to Johns Hopkins, a commitment first reported by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider premium coverage section when it was made on Sept. 28.

“He has extremely quick hands and he’s very athletic,” Mauro said of Giacalone.

The 6-foot, 175-pound Giacalone was on the Flaming Arrows’ varsity as a freshman this past spring.

You can watch his highlight reel here.

“Jacob is a great kid,” Mauro said. “He has a ton of potential.

“He got to learn a lot from John Quinn and Dylan  Ciolino. He really turned it on this summer and has really worked hard. He will continue to work hard because he has the drive to be great. He’s a great teammate and the guys love him.”

recruiting_updateNow, here’s a Q&A with Jacob on his commitment.

What were the main factors in your decision?
From my first visit to Johns Hopkins, I realized the university could offer me the best of two worlds: top-ranked academic and lacrosse programs. I was really impressed by the campus, and the dedication the university has to its lacrosse program.

On my visits to the campus, (Hopkins Head) Coach (Dave) Pietramala and the team made me feel like I was home. We share the same level of commitment to family, community, academics and lacrosse, which made Hopkins the perfect fit.

What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I was considering and visited Maryland, UNC and Penn State.

What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I think my greatest strengths are that I have good positioning and I know the field well. For the first five years of my lacrosse career, I played attack and midfield. The goaltending experience has helped me understand what is happening on the field and communicate to the defense.

What area of your game do you need to work on?
I would like to work on my clearing to create more transition opportunities.

How did you get introduced to lacrosse and what other sports have you played?
I was introduced to lacrosse by my father (Artie Giacalone) who also played goalie at Sachem.  I also play basketball for my high school team.

What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
I am fortunate to play for Sachem North Lacrosse year-round.  I played in the Nassau/Suffolk, Blue Chip and Long Island Lax Fest all-star games.

Any final thoughts?
I would like to thank my parents for everything they do for me and their support. Another thank you must go to all of my coaches throughout the years, coaches Golini, Petillo, Lang, Benway and Mauro. Their dedication to lacrosse and our program, along with Coach Mauro’s help with the whole recruiting process, has given me this great opportunity.

Have a recruiting commitment to report? Email us at info@laxlessons.com or joe@laxlessons.com or send a Tweet to @Joe_Lombardi or @LaxLessons.

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Posted In: Long Island lacrosse, Recruiting Rundown, Section 11

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