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National Senior Showcase: Homegrown Talent
June 20, 2008
The fifth-annual US Lacrosse National Senior Showcase, an all-star exhibition featuring 96 of the top high school boys' lacrosse seniors in the country and sponsored by Warrior, is Saturday at Benedictine University in Chicago.
by J. Jude Hazard, Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online Mike Anderson has one last chance to bask in the cheers from friends and family on the lacrosse fields of Illinois as a high schooler before embarking on more than a decade of service to his country. Anderson, 18, and a graduating senior from nearby Lyons Township High School in Western Springs, Ill., will play as a midfielder for the West team this weekend at Benedictine University in Chicago at the US Lacrosse National Senior Showcase. In July, Anderson will head to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he'll play lacrosse for Division I Army. After college, he is obligated to five years of active duty military service and three years reserve service. "There's so many opportunities after the service and everything that opens up because I went to West Point," he said. "I think it's a great opportunity." Anderson helped the Lions to an undefeated season and a berth in the Illinois High School Lacrosse Association (IHSLA) state semifinals May 28. After winning the opening faceoff, he drove down the field, twisted his body and scored the opening goal within 12 seconds. During the play, however, he pulled a hamstring and would sit the rest of the game, helpless as his No. 1-seeded teammates lost to No. 4-seeded Loyola, 7-3. "It was pretty bad," he said. "I think we should have had that game in the bag." Lyons Township coach Eric Nuss said that losing Anderson was a devastating blow to the team. "The fact that we lost Mike in a game where they also had a very good faceoff player we were going up against made it a twofold loss," he said. Anderson won 71 percent of his faceoffs in 2008, notching 38 goals and 20 assists in 22 games. Although he said he might be slightly slowed by the hamstring injury this weekend, Anderson said it will be great to see the best high school talent from around the country come play 20 minutes away from his hometown. "I'm kind of interested to see how everyone from the East and the North and the South teams do against the West," he said. "I'm also looking to see the other players from the West and how they compare to the East players, and if it's really that big of a difference." Anderson wants improve his quickness and off-hand shot between now and the start of his freshman season at Army. His father, Steve, called himself "Mike's biggest fan," and said he is 100 percent in favor of Mike's decision to attend West Point beginning next month. "We are a family that puts a lot of our faith in God, and we believe that God has a plan for Michael," Steve Anderson said. "I am nervous, but I'm proud as well." Steve Anderson said Nuss first approached the family about Army being interested in Mike coming to play lacrosse there. Eight of the 96 players participating in the NSS are bound for military academies or prep schools. "I'm happy for him. I'm a little nervous," Nuss said. "I have a couple friends that went to the Air Force Academy and really got a lot out of it." Nuss said that Saturday will probably be the last time he gets to see Anderson play live, because the high school and college schedules run parallel. He said Anderson is the best player he's coached in his seven-year career. "He's got a tremendous work ethic. He is one of the most explosive athletes I've ever coached," Nuss said. "He's got a tremendous heart and desire to win." Anderson will have to work on relying less on his physical skills and strength as he makes the transition to the Division I level at Army, according to Nuss. The academy pays for all students' expenses, so Mike technically did not get an athletic scholarship. "It's one of the toughest colleges to get into, maybe in the world. So many people apply there," Steve Anderson said. "Lacrosse definitely put his foot in the door." Are you a graduating high school senior with a great story to tell? E-mail it essay@laxmagazine.com for an opportunity to be the "Parting Shot" guest columnist in the August issue of Lacrosse Magazine.
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