Nov. 20, 2006

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland men's lacrosse head coach Dave Cottle has announced the signing of 12 players to National Letters of Intent to play lacrosse for the University of Maryland starting in the fall of 2007 for the 2008 spring season.

"We're excited about this group of young men," said Cottle. "In this class we've signed some very good high school lacrosse players that we hope turn into very good college lacrosse players. These young men are not only good players, but they are also good people, which is important to us as well."

Attackman Grant Catalino (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder HS) is No. 9 high school senior attackman in the nation according to Inside Lacrosse. The 6-4 attackman led the Western squad to the silver medal in the 2006 Empire State Games and tied for first in the tournament with 20 points on 13 goals and seven assists. Catalino was a 2006 DI Section V All-Star after scoring 88 points on 42 goals and 46 assists. He was also named to the Section V all-tournament team and was a first team All-Monroe County selection. He continued his impressive performances this past summer by leading all scorers with 19 points at the NDP Tournament of Champions where he was selected to the SoBe all-tournament team.

Defender Shane Hall (Edgewater, Md./South River HS) is one of the top high school defenders in the state of Maryland. A tenacious competitor, Hall was an honorable mention All-Met selection by the Washington Post as a junior in 2006 and was a second team All-Anne Arundel County honoree by the Baltimore Sun. Hall was also selected to the 2006 Free State team and played in the 2006 Top 44 All-Star game. He is also a two-year starter at inside linebacker and team captain on the South River football team.

Midfielder Warren Hansen (Glen Rock, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) helped lead the Ironmen to the semifinals of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association championship. An adept scorer and passer, Hansen scored two goals in Don Bosco Prep's 10-5 victory over St. Joseph's of Metuchen in the quarterfinals. Hansen was a member of the Northeast squad at the 2006 Garden State Games and is a Top 205 All-Star.

Midfielder Bob Kercher (Durham, N.C./Riverside HS) is a dynamic midfielder who was a 2006 US Lacrosse High School All-American. Named to the North Carolina All-State team after scoring 36 goals and adding 26 assists for Riverside. Kercher also proved to be tenacious when the ball is on the ground, leading the Pirates with 153 ground balls. A two-time North Carolina Public Schools Lacrosse Conference first-team selection, Kercher is also a two-time member of Team Carolina. He finished second on Team Carolina this past summer to future teammate Anthony Mendes with 18 points on 14 goals and four assists.

Midfielder Scott LaRue (Crofton, Md./South River HS) is a 2006 US Lacrosse High School All-American. A two-way player, LaRue was a second team All-Metro and first team All-Anne Arundel County selection by the Baltimore Sun as a junior in 2006. Helped lead the Seahawks to a 13-2 record and a berth in the regional finals.

Midfielder Tony Mendes (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill HS) is one of the nation's top offensive threats and a 2006 US Lacrosse High School All-American. The lightning-quick Mendes started in 2004 as a freshman and helped lead the Wildcats to the state championship. The Wildcats also won the state title this past spring with Mendes being named to the first team all-state squad. Mendes was a second team all-state selection in 2005. A two-time member of Team Carolina, Mendes led the team in scoring in 2006 with 18 goals and 25 points and was selected to the all-tournament team at the Battle of the Beach Tournament. A two-sport standout, Mendes was also a three-year starter for the East Chapel Hill soccer team.

Attackman Travis Reed (Cockeysville, Md./Boy's Latin) is the No. 2 high school senior attackman in the nation according to Inside Lacrosse. The crafty left-hander was a first team All-Metro selection by the Baltimore Sun after scoring a career best 89 points on 67 goals and 22 assists in 2006 and leading the Lakers to a perfect 21-0 record, a MIAA A Conference title and a No. 1 ranking in Inside Lacrosse's national high school rankings. He was also a 2006 MSLCA All-State honoree and was named to the Toyota High School All-Tewaaraton Team by the Tewaaraton Award Foundation. Following his junior season, Reed was named to the Baltimore Boy's Underclassmen team at the inaugural Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic. Reed is also a standout on the gridiron and was a two-year starter for the Lakers' football team.

Defensive midfielder Brett Schmidt (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin HS) is a long-pole who could also play close defense for the Terps. Schmidt, who boasts outstanding quickness and good stick skills, helped lead the Cardinals to a 16-5 record as a junior and earned All-Suburban One League honors.

Defender Max Schmidt (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington HS) is the fourth ranked senior defender in the nation according to Inside Lacrosse. The 6-3, 235-pound Schmidt helped lead the Golden Bears to a second-place finish in the Midwest tournament and earned first team all-state honors as a junior in 2006. Also honored as a second team All-MSLCA selection. A two-sport standout, he was a second team all-OCC honoree on the gridiron. The tight end/defensive end is a 2006 team captain and has helped lead Upper Arlington to the state playoffs.

Goalie Mark White (Alexandria, Va./St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School) is one of the top high school goalies in the nation. He was the starting goalie for the Washington D.C. Boys' Underclassmen Team in the inaugural Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic and made 12 saves. White was named an honorable mention All-Met by the Washington Post in 2006. White is a two-time first team All-State honoree by the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association and earned St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School's boys lacrosse outstanding athlete award as a junior.

Defender Mike White (Alexandria, Va./St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School) possesses outstanding stick skills and can play either long-stick midfielder or close defense. A Top 205 All-Star, White was a member of the Washington D.C. Boys' Underclassmen Team in the inaugural Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic.

Attackman Ryan Young (Manhasset, N.Y./Chaminade HS) is the No. 4 high school senior attackman in the nation according to Inside Lacrosse. The 5-11 sharpshooter led Chaminade to the Varisty Catholic League title with a team-best 44 goals and 22 assists. Scored five goals and added three assists in the Flyers' 10-6 upset victory over then-No. 6 Massapequa. Young was selected to the All-VCL team and was named one of the Top 50 high school lacrosse players on Long Island by Newsday. Helped lead the Long Island team to the gold medal in the 2006 Empire State Games with nine goals in the tournament.