Freshman Commits to Johns Hopkins Lacrosse (Video)

Freshman Commits to Johns Hopkins Lacrosse (Video)

Forry Smith from Haverford School (Pa.) has verbally committed to play for Johns Hopkins University. 4OneTwoLax first reported that the 6-2, 175-pounder committed. Smith, who plays for Dukes LC, Mesa Fresh, and other club teams, reminds me a lot of JHU’s Bobby Benson. Benson made a comfortable living on the crease for the Jays.

Smith, however, seems to be more versatile. In anticipation of people commenting about early recruiting… it’s inevitable, so don’t waste your breath. But, just because I’m all for it doesn’t mean you have to be. Let me know in the comments. BTW, what if Forry doesn’t make varsity?

Highlights from the Brandywine Classic (Mesa 2016) and Lax-O-Lantern (Duke’s Lacrosse Club), October 27, 2012.

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57 Comments

  1. Can'tTrustEm on December 18, 2012 at 4:15 am

    I understand the new recruiting process upsets some fans, and that not all kids are ready to commit to college when they are 14 years old, but lets not burry our heads in the sand. Other sports have been recruiting this way for years. Jimy Kelly signed with the Blue Jays when he was 13, and now you can be 16 and sign with a major league club. Damon Baliey gave a verbal to IU when he was in 8th grade. A RISING 8th grader gave LSU a verbale this past summer. Doesn’t mean its right, but if the kid and his parent are ok with the commit, and the coach wants them, let the kid commit. Its a type of market – imperfect, but works best when there is little red tape.

  2. Can'tTrustEm on December 18, 2012 at 4:15 am

    I understand the new recruiting process upsets some fans, and that not all kids are ready to commit to college when they are 14 years old, but lets not burry our heads in the sand. Other sports have been recruiting this way for years. Jimy Kelly signed with the Blue Jays when he was 13, and now you can be 16 and sign with a major league club. Damon Baliey gave a verbal to IU when he was in 8th grade. A RISING 8th grader gave LSU a verbale this past summer. Doesn’t mean its right, but if the kid and his parent are ok with the commit, and the coach wants them, let the kid commit. Its a type of market – imperfect, but works best when there is little red tape.

  3. KM on November 28, 2012 at 5:27 am

    I’ve personally officiated many of this kids games both with clubs and his regular spring squad. He is an incredibly smart player. Among the kids he plays against he’s a man amongst boys. When he reaches stronger opponents I have no doubt he’ll rise to the challenge. It’s not fair to bash him based on the fact that the opposing teams aren’t up to his caliber. With that being said that Hopkins commitment at this stage is incredibly premature. If the recruiting world is coming to a point where we’re gonna grab 14 olds just so someone else can’t have him, we’re in some trouble. But again with all that being said petro damn well knows what he is doing and there is nobody that could argue that. I’m excited to see this young man’s progression. Hopefully he’ll shut up the haters.

  4. TJW on November 28, 2012 at 2:38 am

    He is not that good… He needs to play some real teams. How is he going to Hopkins???

  5. TJW on November 28, 2012 at 2:38 am

    He is not that good… He needs to play some real teams. How is he going to Hopkins???

  6. TJW on November 28, 2012 at 2:38 am

    He is not that good… He needs to play some real teams. How is he going to Hopkins???

  7. charliechew on November 27, 2012 at 12:33 am

    0:41 in the video for fakes on fakes…

  8. charliechew on November 27, 2012 at 12:33 am

    0:41 in the video for fakes on fakes…

  9. charliechew on November 27, 2012 at 12:33 am

    0:41 in the video for fakes on fakes…

  10. Guest on November 27, 2012 at 12:31 am

    0:41 in the video, fakes on fakes on fakes…

  11. Guest on November 27, 2012 at 12:31 am

    0:41 in the video, fakes on fakes on fakes…

  12. Tony Bellotte on November 26, 2012 at 11:44 pm

    Here is an 8th Grade Team, that all demonstrate some stable stick skills. You have to admit that the boy new how to get himself into position to finish.

    http://youtu.be/3_r-1-4ZALg

  13. Tony Bellotte on November 26, 2012 at 11:44 pm

    Here is an 8th Grade Team, that all demonstrate some stable stick skills. You have to admit that the boy new how to get himself into position to finish.

    http://youtu.be/3_r-1-4ZALg

  14. Tony Bellotte on November 26, 2012 at 11:44 pm

    Here is an 8th Grade Team, that all demonstrate some stable stick skills. You have to admit that the boy new how to get himself into position to finish.

    http://youtu.be/3_r-1-4ZALg

  15. Tony Bellotte on November 26, 2012 at 11:44 pm

    Here is an 8th Grade Team, that all demonstrate some stable stick skills. You have to admit that the boy new how to get himself into position to finish.

    http://youtu.be/3_r-1-4ZALg

  16. Tony Bellotte on November 26, 2012 at 11:44 pm

    Here is an 8th Grade Team, that all demonstrate some stable stick skills. You have to admit that the boy new how to get himself into position to finish.

    http://youtu.be/3_r-1-4ZALg

    • Gesh... on November 27, 2012 at 3:50 am

      They are very good. But Jesus is everyone a professional documentary/montage filmmaker now? They’re in 8th grade, they aren’t quite epic enough yet to warrant that ridiculous intro.

    • Gesh... on November 27, 2012 at 3:50 am

      They are very good. But Jesus is everyone a professional documentary/montage filmmaker now? They’re in 8th grade, they aren’t quite epic enough yet to warrant that ridiculous intro.

    • Gesh... on November 27, 2012 at 3:50 am

      They are very good. But Jesus is everyone a professional documentary/montage filmmaker now? They’re in 8th grade, they aren’t quite epic enough yet to warrant that ridiculous intro.

    • Tiltz on September 30, 2013 at 9:08 pm

      Perfect example. Can you pick one player from that video who is obviously more destined for greatness than any of the others? It was not evident to me. Many players develop well early, but that means little. When you see one isolated, you want them to commit etc. but on a relatively evenly skillful group like this video, they all look like d1 commits or they all look like d3 future players etc.

  17. mitch on November 26, 2012 at 11:05 pm

    this kid is average everyone would be playing d1 if you had to be this good

    • Kirk on November 27, 2012 at 3:41 am

      Well, what’s your excuse then?

    • Kirk on November 27, 2012 at 3:41 am

      Well, what’s your excuse then?

    • Kirk on November 27, 2012 at 3:41 am

      Well, what’s your excuse then?

    • Kirk on November 27, 2012 at 3:41 am

      Well, what’s your excuse then?

  18. Da Fuq? on November 26, 2012 at 11:05 pm

    he gets left open soo much, hes not good. Any one can score one on one with the goalie. Hes slow and justa big goof

  19. jackson on November 26, 2012 at 11:04 pm

    Just look at the kids he is going against…that explains everything you need to know about early recruiting

  20. Patrick Shane on November 26, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    He’s a 6’2″ 175 freshman. Do you know what 4 years of playing at Haverford School will do for his mechanics, eye for the game and overall performance? Haverford also had a freshman commit to Princeton last year.

    Haters gunna hate. Way to go kid.

  21. Patrick Shane on November 26, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    He’s a 6’2″ 175 freshman. Do you know what 4 years of playing at Haverford School will do for his mechanics, eye for the game and overall performance? Haverford also had a freshman commit to Princeton last year.

    Haters gunna hate. Way to go kid.

  22. Patrick Shane on November 26, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    He’s a 6’2″ 175 freshman. Do you know what 4 years of playing at Haverford School will do for his mechanics, eye for the game and overall performance? Haverford also had a freshman commit to Princeton last year.

    Haters gunna hate. Way to go kid.

  23. Patrick Shane on November 26, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    He’s a 6’2″ 175 freshman. Do you know what 4 years of playing at Haverford School will do for his mechanics, eye for the game and overall performance? Haverford also had a freshman commit to Princeton last year.

    Haters gunna hate. Way to go kid.

  24. Patrick Shane on November 26, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    He’s a 6’2″ 175 freshman. Do you know what 4 years of playing at Haverford School will do for his mechanics, eye for the game and overall performance? Haverford also had a freshman commit to Princeton last year.

    Haters gunna hate. Way to go kid.

  25. Patrick Shane on November 26, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    He’s a 6’2″ 175 freshman. Do you know what 4 years of playing at Haverford School will do for his mechanics, eye for the game and overall performance? Haverford also had a freshman commit to Princeton last year.

    Haters gunna hate. Way to go kid.

  26. Patrick Shane on November 26, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    He’s a 6’2″ 175 freshman. Do you know what 4 years of playing at Haverford School will do for his mechanics, eye for the game and overall performance? Haverford also had a freshman commit to Princeton last year.

    Haters gunna hate. Way to go kid.

  27. Patrick Shane on November 26, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    He’s a 6’2″ 175 freshman. Do you know what 4 years of playing at Haverford School will do for his mechanics, eye for the game and overall performance? Haverford also had a freshman commit to Princeton last year.

    Haters gunna hate. Way to go kid.

  28. Patrick Shane on November 26, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    He’s a 6’2″ 175 freshman. Do you know what 4 years of playing at Haverford School will do for his mechanics, eye for the game and overall performance? Haverford also had a freshman commit to Princeton last year.

    Haters gunna hate. Way to go kid.

  29. amazan on November 26, 2012 at 10:42 pm

    How is this kid going to Hopkins.. his mechanics are like a 7th grader’s..

  30. amazan on November 26, 2012 at 10:42 pm

    How is this kid going to Hopkins.. his mechanics are like a 7th grader’s..

  31. amazan on November 26, 2012 at 10:42 pm

    How is this kid going to Hopkins.. his mechanics are like a 7th grader’s..

  32. hmmmmm on November 26, 2012 at 10:01 pm

    i dont really understand how hopkins could base committing a kid after a few fall tourneys . the kid needs to be looked at against higher levels of competition as well

  33. hmmmmm on November 26, 2012 at 10:01 pm

    i dont really understand how hopkins could base committing a kid after a few fall tourneys . the kid needs to be looked at against higher levels of competition as well

    • Anonymous on November 26, 2012 at 11:20 pm

      technically, your being recruited against other kids in your recruiting class, so as ridiculous as it may be that he hasnt seen highschool gametime, its no different than any other commitment based on summer/fall ball.

  34. whattheduece on November 26, 2012 at 9:59 pm

    this kid isnt special whatsoever

  35. whattheduece on November 26, 2012 at 9:59 pm

    this kid isnt special whatsoever

  36. whattheduece on November 26, 2012 at 9:59 pm

    this kid isnt special whatsoever

  37. whattheduece on November 26, 2012 at 9:59 pm

    this kid isnt special whatsoever

  38. whattheduece on November 26, 2012 at 9:59 pm

    this kid isnt special whatsoever

  39. Ray McCarthy on November 26, 2012 at 8:38 pm

    This is out of control, hes not even that good.

    • Kirk on November 27, 2012 at 3:37 am

      I don’t know anything about the kid but he seems like a solid player that I’d like to have on my team. I think Petro and his organization’s recruiting tactics are far beyond anything you or I could conceive of after watching a video of what appears to be a bit of a joke off-season tournament. Maybe he’s got unbelievable genetics and is soon to be a monster? Demonstrates unbelievable potential Dave has seen before? Hopkin’s roster spots don’t often go to waste. And to the commenter below, Brandon Benn doesn’t appear to be anything special at first glance. He gets open (sometimes by no margin at all), and…

      • Ray McCarthy on November 28, 2012 at 2:53 am

        ok I see what you are saying, but right now as a freshman in high school who has not even played a varsity season against good quality opponents, who knows what this kid will turn out to be. Right now he’s just ok, lets face it hes a freshman in high school, hes not that good yet. Playing on these club teams against other middle school kids is not going to make him any better. Lets wait and see if he can handle tougher competition later in his high school career. My main point here is these young kids should not be commiting to school yet. It kind of makes me upset to see the great game of lacrosse that we all love to be going down this path. This commit makes me lose a little respect for petro recruting at such a young age. What happens if this kid never gets any better. What happens if he plays against other D1 defensemen and can’t handle it. Then what. All I’m saying here is wait. Wait to commit untill you have come to your full potential. Wait untill you’ve played against other good opponents to see how you match up against them. But who knows this kid could get even better throught his whole high school and be nasty. We don’t know yet, and neither does petro. Petro is recruting this kid just because he doesnt want to see him go to another school like virginia or maryland and end up hurting hopkins. This is why I think the NCAA should put limits and rules for recruting to take place after a players junior year in high school, this will make sure this kind of stuff doesnt happen.

        • Kirk on November 28, 2012 at 6:14 pm

          To that point I agree with you. I realize now that is what you meant by your very condensed “this is out of control,” comment. My comments were geared more towards the, “he’s not even that good” aspect of yours. Just a misunderstanding. My (reevaluated) point was/is simply a generalization based off of a youtube video doesn’t speak to the complexity of the situation. While Petro may not want to have this kid bite Hopkins in the ass in the future, its certainly not the only motivational factor. But, you are correct, this is borderline recruiting pedophilia.

          • Ray McCarthy on November 29, 2012 at 3:13 am

            ok I hear you man, were both on the same page. We will just have to wait and see how his high school carrer plays out. Most likely he will become a solid player in the future and become a big time college athelete.



          • Ray McCarthy on November 29, 2012 at 3:13 am

            ok I hear you man, were both on the same page. We will just have to wait and see how his high school carrer plays out. Most likely he will become a solid player in the future and become a big time college athelete.



    • Kirk on November 27, 2012 at 3:37 am

      I don’t know anything about the kid but he seems like a solid player that I’d like to have on my team. I think Petro and his organization’s recruiting tactics are far beyond anything you or I could conceive of after watching a video of what appears to be a bit of a joke off-season tournament. Maybe he’s got unbelievable genetics and is soon to be a monster? Demonstrates unbelievable potential Dave has seen before? Hopkin’s roster spots don’t often go to waste. And to the commenter below, Brandon Benn doesn’t appear to be anything special at first glance. He gets open (sometimes by no margin at all), and…

    • Kirk on November 27, 2012 at 3:37 am

      I don’t know anything about the kid but he seems like a solid player that I’d like to have on my team. I think Petro and his organization’s recruiting tactics are far beyond anything you or I could conceive of after watching a video of what appears to be a bit of a joke off-season tournament. Maybe he’s got unbelievable genetics and is soon to be a monster? Demonstrates unbelievable potential Dave has seen before? Hopkin’s roster spots don’t often go to waste. And to the commenter below, Brandon Benn doesn’t appear to be anything special at first glance. He gets open (sometimes by no margin at all), and…

    • Kirk on November 27, 2012 at 3:37 am

      I don’t know anything about the kid but he seems like a solid player that I’d like to have on my team. I think Petro and his organization’s recruiting tactics are far beyond anything you or I could conceive of after watching a video of what appears to be a bit of a joke off-season tournament. Maybe he’s got unbelievable genetics and is soon to be a monster? Demonstrates unbelievable potential Dave has seen before? Hopkin’s roster spots don’t often go to waste. And to the commenter below, Brandon Benn doesn’t appear to be anything special at first glance. He gets open (sometimes by no margin at all), and…

    • Kirk on November 27, 2012 at 3:37 am

      I don’t know anything about the kid but he seems like a solid player that I’d like to have on my team. I think Petro and his organization’s recruiting tactics are far beyond anything you or I could conceive of after watching a video of what appears to be a bit of a joke off-season tournament. Maybe he’s got unbelievable genetics and is soon to be a monster? Demonstrates unbelievable potential Dave has seen before? Hopkin’s roster spots don’t often go to waste. And to the commenter below, Brandon Benn doesn’t appear to be anything special at first glance. He gets open (sometimes by no margin at all), and…

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