DURHAM – Incoming Blue Devil Nikolas Menendez was named USA Lacrosse’s Midwest Boys’ Player of the Year as announced in June.
A product of Culver Academy in Culver, Indiana, Menendez will arrive in Durham in the fall to help bolster Duke’s defense after the graduation of Kenny Brower and Tyler Carpenter. The 6-foot-3 defenseman had 33 caused turnovers and 48 ground balls in his senior season with the Eagles.
Senior shortstick midfielder Jack Gray also was a Culver Academy product, graduating from the school in 2021. Menendez and Gray did not play together at Culver as Menendez did not make the prep team his freshman season. He worked his way onto the top team as a sophomore and rose the national ranks quickly from that point on. His path recently was profiled by USA Lacrosse Magazine.
“Before Nikolas Menendez earned a reputation as one of the nation’s top defensemen, he turned heads on Culver’s campus.
Before the Eagles senior started rising recruiting lists, Menendez caught coach Jon Birsner’s eye with a more subtle — but equally impressive — achievement.
As a freshman, Menendez didn’t make Culver’s prep team, the one that faces top teams from all over the country, instead playing for varsity. That’s not uncommon in an incredibly deep program. What was completely out of the ordinary was what happened next.
“He was on our ‘B’ team as a freshman when he first came in, and I told him at the end of that year, ‘You’re the most improved player in our program, I think you can really play this game at the next level,'” Birsner said. “One year later, as a sophomore, he’s starting for us, and the rest is history there.”
Menendez never stopped rising.”
To read the complete feature on Menendez click here.
Five Future Blue Devils Take Part in National Senior All-American Game
Some of the nation’s top players gathered at Tierney Field in Baltimore last week for the National Senior All-American game. The Blue Devils were well represented with five incoming players on the 46 selections. Faceoff specialist Ben McCarthy and shortstick midfielder Connor Nolen were on the American roster while attackman Austin Hicks, midfielder Ian Dykes and Menendez landed on the Nationals list.
McCarthy, who is ranked fourth by Inside Lacrosse in the Class of 2024 rankings, and Nolen hail from Haverford School. The duo helped lead Haverford to an unbeaten record in Inter-AC action. McCarthy was selected as a captain for the All-Star game.
A California native, Hicks played his high school lacrosse for St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. He was named the CIF DI/Orange County Player of the Year after totaling 117 points from 90 goals and 27 assists. He notched 18 goals in the three playoff games to lead the Tartans to the CIF-SS DI Championship.
Dykes, a midfielder from Sacred Heart Prep, helped lead the Gators to a 17-7 record this past season. He is ranked 43rd by Inside Lacrosse and earned first-team West Catholic Athletic League honors this past season after being named the San Mateo Daily Journal Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year in 2023.
Four Blue Devils on Senior All-American Roster
Future Blue Devils Liam Kershis, Ben McCarthy, Nikolas Menendez and Connor Nolen are among the 44 players to have been selected to compete in the Senior All-American Game.
The annual all-star game will be held at Johns Hopkins’ Homewood Field July 27 at 8 p.m. The girls’ senior game will take place at 5:30 p.m., with both televised by ESPNU.
Kershis, an attackman, was ranked 16th in Inside Lacrosse’s Class of 2024 rankings heading into his senior season after leading Shoreham-Wading River to the 2023 Suffolk Class C title and scoring 59 goals as a junior. The Wildcats finished this season with an 11-7 record.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils men’s lacrosse, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching “https://goduke.com/news/2024/6/25/DukeMLAX”.
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
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