By Nathan Max
WSL Executive Editor

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. -- There will be unprecedented media attention at this week’s second-annual Adrenaline Showcase and ninth-annual Adrenaline Shootout, as Inside Lacrosse has, for the first time, sent staff to cover the events at Sonoma State University.

Adrenaline’s two premier summer recruiting events -- the first of which kicks off Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., PDT, and the second of which begins Thursday afternoon -- expects to host up to 75 college recruiters representing programs from the NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III and MCLA Division I and Division II levels.

“We’ve actually covered a couple Adrenaline events in the past, including the event in San Diego they had in January,” Inside Lacrosse Associate Editor Geoff Shannon said. “It’s usually just a good opportunity to get out and see a different part of the country, see a different part of the culture and also check out what kind of talent is emerging in the West, especially California.”

The week begins with the Adrenaline Showcase, a two-day event that attempts to bring the West’s top players together for games and clinics. There will be 146 players divided into eight teams that will be on display in front of dozens of college coaches.

Over the last few years, there has been an explosion in the number of Western-based high school players who have moved on to top college programs. And that has led to more and more college coaches booking flights to the West Coast during the third week of July.

“Our main goal here is to just come and see what’s out there,” Duke University assistant coach Pat DeBolt said. “If we didn’t come out here, we would never know if we let somebody get by us. We don’t want that to happen.”

On Thursday, the three-day Adrenaline Shootout begins, with teams flying in from as far away as Minnesota. Among the early favorites include Arizona Burn Orange, winners of January’s Adrenaline Challenge, and perennial contender Brady’s Bunch.

In all, there will be 26 teams competing in the Elite Division, an all-time high, according to Adrenaline Lacrosse Recruiting Coordinator Rory Doucette.

“This year is going to be bigger than it’s ever been,” Doucette said. “Recruiter-wise, guys were calling up until yesterday trying to see if they could still get in. We’re going to be slammed. It’s going to be really exciting. It’s bigger than last year in all aspects and will be a lot of fun, for sure.”

As players lined up, one by one, to check in Wednesday afternoon, one could sense that aforementioned excitement.

“I’m expecting it to be a really good turnout,” said Palo Verde rising senior middie Jordan Grant, who will be playing for Team Brine during the Adrenaline Showcase and for the Vegas Starz during the Adrenaline Shootout.

“I want to play my best game, do the best I possibly can and get recruited.”