Adrenaline Showcase Participants Impress Recruiters

By Nathan Max
WSL Executive Editor

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. -- Henderson rising senior middie Jet Harding may not have been the most talented player at the 2010 Adrenaline Showcase, but he very well may have been the smartest among the 146 players hoping to get recruited.

Harding, who stared for the Cougars -- registering 87 goals, 32 assists and 184 ground balls in 25 games during the 2010 high school season -- had an ingenious way to make sure college recruiters noticed him. Prior to the event, he purchased a bright, neon, lime-green T-shirt and had his mother iron his name on the bottom in bold, black letters.

When Harding fired home a pretty goal on the run during his team’s final game of the Showcase, everyone at Sonoma State University could easily see who scored it.

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“I bought the shirt at Dick’s Sporting Goods, and my mom was like, ‘I’m going to put your name on it,’” said Harding, who will stick around to play for the Vegas Starz in the Adrenaline Shootout. “She went back to the hotel room before Blue Chip and ironed my name on the shirt.

“I think I did well,” Harding added. “I think I got some good looks. I played decent. Hopefully, I’ll get some more looks in the next round.”

Dozens of recruiters from throughout the country turned out for this year’s second-annual Adrenaline Showcase. College coaches from NCAA Division I, II and III as well as MCLA Division I coaches were all in attendance. Some schools, such as NCAA Division I finalist Notre Dame, had multiple coaches present.

NCAA Division II Mesa State College head coach A.J. Stevens said two players at the event impressed him so much that he intends to extend offers to them based on what he had just seen.

“The talent is good,” Stevens said. “There are a ton of kids here who I like, a lot of athletes, and the lacrosse I.Q. is definitely higher than what I’ve seen in the past.”

Dominican University of California head coach Ned Webster said that he and his NCAA Division II program is also prepared to extend a few offers after what he witnessed over the past two days.

“It just gets better every year,” Webster said. “The lacrosse I.Q. is catching up with the athleticism. As a college coach, that’s what you’re looking for. You’re looking for a good foundation. It seems like most of these kids have that.”