By James Joseph
WSL Senior Features Writer

In his time as an assistant and head coach at St. Ignatius Prep, Chris Packard has watched some outstanding players come through the program.

Guys like Michael Abou Jaoude, Roy Lang, Miles Suter and many more. Senior midfielder Rob Emery belongs in the conversation with all of them, Packard said.

And in terms of athleticism?

“I don’t think there’s been anyone that’s better, for a high school athlete,” Packard said. “He’s the best we’ve seen.”

Packard isn’t alone in his assessment.

Emery is the top-ranked high school player in the Western United States, according to the WSL Elite 25 selection committee.

“He is the most versatile athlete that we saw in 2008 and 2009 at the events I scouted,” WSL Elite 25 selection committee member Scott Hochstadt said. “He was the one guy who I got calls about from all the coaches I communicate with. I was getting calls from everybody about him.”

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Emery, who started at quarterback for the St. Ignatius football team the last two years, comes from an athletic family. His father, Bob, was a three-sport athlete at Amherst College, and his mother, Dana, was a swimmer at Stanford.

Emery grew up playing sports and was “a big baseball guy,” he said, until sixth grade when his friends asked him to try playing lacrosse.

“I thought I’d give it a go and see what all the hype was about,” Emery said. “And on the first day I became obsessed with it – there was an immediate connection. It’s become my passion.”

Emery picked up the sport quickly. He’s played on the St. Ignatius varsity since he was a freshman and last season was selected as a U.S. Lacrosse All-American. And in the summer, he’s been a force in club tournaments and at recruiting events.

Emery combines size, strength, agility and – most of all – speed, making him a game-changing force in transition.

“When you see Robby carrying the ball in the open field, it sort of changes the complexion of the game because no one plays at that speed,” Packard said. “So everyone defensively plays on their heels, and our guys know to keep their sticks up and keep their eyes on the ball….It’s a speed game, and it’s certainly his speed that is the dominant force behind what he does offensively and between the lines.”

Emery will receive far more attention from opposing defenses this season, especially because St. Ignatius lost most of its attack from last year’s squad. But Emery said his team’s goal, as it is ever year, is to win all of its games.

After this year, Emery will take his skills to the University of Virginia, where he knows he’ll be “the odd man out as the West Coast kid.”

But he wants to break down some stereotypes.

“I’m just hoping I can open people’s eyes that West Coast lax is for real,” he said. “There’s plenty of talent out here, and pretty soon we’ll be competing with the East Coast kids.”