Nov. 12, 2008

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - National Signing Day has arrived and Signing Day Central will have the most up-to-date coverage of Maryland men's lacrosse's 2008 recruiting class. Return throughout the day for updates as the signings take place. Bios will be posted shortly after word is received and posted that players have officially signed.

Signing Day Log

Nov. 20: 9:16 a.m. - John Haus

Name	Position	Class	Hometown (Previous School)
Niko Amato	Goalie	Fr.-HS	Conshohocken, Pa. (LaSalle College High School)
Jesse Bernhardt	Defender	Fr.-HS	Longwood, Fla. (Lake Brantley High School)
Landon Carr	Midfielder	Fr.-HS	University Place, Wash. (Curtis High School)
Kevin Cooper	Midfielder	Fr.-HS	Crofton, Md. (Archbishop Spalding High School)
John Haus	Midfielder	Fr.-HS	Chapel Hill, N.C. (Chapel Hill High School)
Zack Johnson	LSM	Fr.-HS	Bedford, N.H. (Bishop Guertin High School)
Mark Jutkowitz	Defender	Fr.-HS	Bethesda, Md. (Wootton High School)
John Marcelli	Midfielder	Fr.-HS	Moorestown, N.J. (Moorestown High School)

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2008 Signee Bios

Goalie Niko Amato (Conshohocken, Pa./LaSalle College HS) was ranked as the No. 3 rising senior goalie (No. 38 overall) in Inside Lacrosse's 2008 recruiting issue. A 2008 U.S. Lacrosse High School All-American, Amato was also selected to play on the Philadelphia Boys' All-Star team at the 2008 Under Armour High School All-American Game. Amato was named the Player of the Year by phillylacrosse.com after leading the Explorers to the EPSLA and Keystone Cup championships. Amato was named the MVP of the EPSLA Tournament after making 11 saves in LaSalle's 4-3 victory. Currently ranked 98th on the Sports Illustrated Takkle.com 100, Amato is a two-time PCL All-Catholic honoree. In 2008, Amato posted a 3.63 goals-against average and a 70.6 save percentage for LaSalle.

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Defender Jesse Bernhardt (Longwood, Fla./Lake Brantley HS), a 2008 U.S. Lacrosse High School All-American, is a terrific all-around athlete and joins his brother, Jake, on the Terrapin squad. As a junior in 2008, Bernhardt led the Patriots with 155 groundballs and contributed five goals and five assists. A two-sport star at Lake Brantley, Bernhardt is a linebacker on the Patriot football team and leads the team in tackles per game (10.0).

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Midfielder Landon Carr (University Place, Wash./Curtis HS) is currently ranked 49th on the Sports Illustrated Takkle.com 100. Landon, widely considered to be the top offensive prospect in the west, totaled 30 goals and 11 assists in just 10 games for the Vikings. In three seasons, Carr has totaled 61 goals and 32 assists. A two-sport star, Carr is also a starting tight end and linebacker on the Curtis football team and helped lead the Vikings to a league title and a berth in the 2008 playoffs.

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Midfielder Kevin Cooper (Crofton, Md./Archbishop Spalding HS) was ranked as the No. 41 rising senior in Inside Lacrosse's 2008 recruiting issue. As a junior in 2008, Cooper scored 12 goals and dished out 19 assists while consistently drawing double-teams in his first season as a midfielder. He was named to the All-Anne Arundel County team by the Baltimore Sun and was also an All-Gazette selection. In 2007 as an attackman, Cooper helped guide Spalding to its first-ever MIAA "A" playoff berth. That season, as a sophomore, he totaled 38 points on 13 goals and 25 assists. This past summer, Cooper was a member of the 2008 Maryland Free State team. He is also a two-sport standout, starting both ways for the Spalding football team as a wide receiver and safety.

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Midfielder John Haus (Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill HS) was named a U.S. Lacrosse High School All-American after leading the Tigers to back-to-back Group 4A NCHSLA state championships. Haus is a two-time first team 4A All-State selection and a two-time All-PAC-6 honoree, including being named the PAC-6 Player of the Year in 2008. A two-sport standout, Haus is also the starting quarterback for the Tiger football team.

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LSM Zack Johnson (Bedford, N.H./Bishop Guertin HS), is an outstanding all-around long pole who helped lead the Cardinals to an undefeated season and a state championship. He earned all-state honors following the 2008 season. Johnson is great takeaway guy who was widely regarded as the best player at the Elite 180 camp in October. This past summer he was invited to the Nike BlueChip camp and was a Top 205 All-Star in 2006.

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Defender Mark Jutkowitz (Bethesda, Md./Wootton HS) was ranked as the No. 48 rising senior in Inside Lacrosse's 2008 recruiting issue. He was a member of the Maryland Free State squad this past summer and is a two-time invitee to the Nike/Blue Chip Camp. Jutkowitz was named All-Met by the Washington Post as a junior, as well as earning All-Gazette and all-county honors.

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Midfielder John Marcelli (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown HS) is a talented prospect who led the Quakers to the Group II state championship with four goals, including the game-winner, in the title game. A two-time all-conference and all-county selection, Marcelli led Moorestown in scoring in each of the past two seasons, including putting up 49 goals and 13 assists as a junior in 2008.