BCJALL Draft Preview: Ridge, Island Talent Top Big Boards

It's another year and another opportunity to meet the future faces of Junior lacrosse in BC.

The last year has been such a dramatic shift to the non-stop lacrosse we are all used to. There was almost no box lacrosse due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which makes this draft even more unpredictable than we have seen in season's past. It didn't give scouts a chance to check out the players playing in top form at provincials, and it also meant there was no Team BC, a barometer used by a few teams to see how BC's top-end talent stacks up against each other.

But there were ways to keep tabs on players. Communication between teams, and more importantly, with the associations producing the talent that will hear their names called on Thursday, were more important than ever. And with the further integration of the field game becoming more prevalent, along with the growth of summer leagues like the United Lacrosse League, teams were still finding themselves busy.

We talked to front office personnel, talent evaluators, and coaches across the league to get the scoop on some names to look out for on Thursday night. 

 ridge players set to dominate.. again

Teams have loaded up on Burrards prospects for years now as it's been on the most reliable pipelines into Junior lacrosse. Three of the last six No. 1 overall selections have come from Maple Ridge (Calum Munro 2020; Dylan McCormick 2017; Connor Evers 2016). Of the 24 1st Round picks the last three drafts, at least 15 of them have been Burrards at one point or another, including a near clean sweep of last year's opening round. 

You could see that trend continue this time around as well. 

Jaxon Smart is by all accounts going to be the top pick. Smart started his lacrosse career in Ridge Meadows but is already well-traveled for a player that hasn't touched the floor for a Junior club. He actually won the 2019 Midget provincials as a member of JDF and also played his field on the Island. The 5'11" 185 lbs. offensive righty already shows a wide range of dodges offensively in his Team BC field tape and he likely already has the physical attributes to do it in the box game as well. It appears he's also picking up interest from some major D1 programs, with Ohio State University potentially being among them. 

Parker St. Germain is a strong defensive player who is one of those multi-sport athletes that could have even more potential if he makes lacrosse his main focus. Jaden Laberge is a strong two-way player that has been a mainstay on Team BC for a couple of seasons now. Cody Malawsky will have high expectations given his dad is Curt but he already looks like a glue guy who isn't afraid to play a physical game and throw his body around. He's also a lefty who can play on the crease or at the shooter position. Ben Gagnon is another threat on the left-hand side who can play both offence and transition. He's a former Provincial Championship MVP as well. Ben Coghill last played at the A2 level with Ridge Meadows in 2019 but was expected to be a factor on the A1 team hoping to compete for another provincial title in 2020. Coghill and Ty Fisher seem likely to be defensive/transition players at the Junior level.

If teams are looking for goaltending help, Jack Kask is at the top of a lot of big boards. Kask, who is currently tending the net at Georgetown Prep School in North Bethesda, Maryland, ticks a lot of the boxes teams are looking for when it comes to a netminder. His passing skills have been touted by some scouts, which will help spark a team's transition game if it needs it. 

ISLAND CONTINGENT LOOKS STRONG

If you're a Nanaimo or Victoria fan, you're going to be pleased with the amount of skill coming out of the Island this year. Besides a strong group of players already within the catchment area, there is evidence that lacrosse is growing, with some of the top prospects coming out of Minor Associations that have rarely produced top-end talent before, such as Comox Valley and Cowichan Valley. 

Jordan Vincent likely tops the list. The Comox product has also been a fixture on Team BC in recent seasons and has seen his development trend upward because of it. He's one of the most physically imposing players in the draft and isn't afraid to throw his weight around. At 6'0" 185 lbs. he's likely already for the Junior game. Playing LSM and D on his field teams (including Nanaimo District Secondary) he flashes good lacrosse IQ, including the stick skills and anticipation that will really sell himself to teams. He also showcases strong decision making with the ball in his stick.

If there's any player who could challenge Vincent for first Island player selected, it's Jaxon Dillon out of Saanich. He already showcases some smooth stick skills and a budding offensive game. The righty has also captained the 2019 Team BC field team and won the 2019 Midget A2 provincials with the Saanich Tigers. 

There have been rave reviews for Cowichan Valley's Josh MacDonald. A physically imposing player with soft hands, MacDonald could fill a variety of roles sooner rather than later for a team, whether it's at the A level or if he starts out with a B1 team. 

Other players on the Island to look for are Diego Hopkins of Alberni Valley; Josh Verhagen, a defensive/transition player from Saanich; Saanich's Ty Pilkington was set for a monster year in 2020, and some consider him to be a top ten prospect in the draft. Morgan Trites is another name to keep tabs on. 

Another goalie to watch for is Kaden Ward has played from both Peninsula and Saanich while also making appearances for the Saanich Express and Oceanside Sharks Jr. B clubs, posting a .679 SV% in 38 minutes of work. Ward is already 6'4" and could be a long-term prospect for a team to draft and help him gain experience at the next level.

Tomorrow we will be looking at which Lower Mainland A2 players will be ones to watch for, as well as a team-by-team draft preview.