Every year, thousands of elite high school athletes receive recruitment ratings based on individual play and potential to play at the college level. Typically, these ratings are expressed as a star system, with five stars being the highest and one star being the lowest. Midfielder of the Hill varsity boys lacrosse team, Chase Aquino ’28, recently received the highest honor of lacrosse recruitment, being named as a five star prospect.
Aquino, a midfielder for the varsity boys lacrosse team, is in only his second year at the Hill School and is taking high school recruiting by storm. Aquino started playing lacrosse at age six, and currently plays club lacrosse at Team 91 Long Island in Commack, New York. As only a sophomore, Aquino is doing things on the field that many will never accomplish after picking up a lacrosse stick.
“He’s very two-handed,” two year teammate Leo Gillette ’27 mentioned. “He probably shoots the ball at 100 miles per hour and only five miles per hour less with his left.”
Gillette, who is another highly recruited player who just recently committed to play at Boston University, spoke highly about Aquino’s work ethic and willingness to work on his craft.
“He’s probably the hardest worker on the team, and I always see him shooting after practice,” said Gillette. “Not only does he shoot after practice, but he’s extremely locked in on the things that he needs to work on. That’s what makes him such a special player.”
In high school lacrosse, out of over 100,000 total male lacrosse players, only about 13% of those players will play college lacrosse. Incredibly, out of that 13% , only about 0.5% out of the 13% will become ranked as five-star prospects. This is an incredible feat for any aspiring college lacrosse player, and for Aquino, it has become a reality.
Dave Page, head coach of the varsity boys lacrosse team and a key part in Aquino’s development, mentioned Aquino’s coachability as a key factor in his ability to be so highly rated amongst the lacrosse community and recruiting team.
“The thing with Chase that’s so exciting is how coachable he is.” Page noted. “Chase is as coachable as a kid who’s been here for a year and a half and is still figuring out what he’s doing out there and that’s a key to why he has become the player that he is today.”
Page, a former college lacrosse player himself, expects big things out of Chase throughout the rest of his high school career and into college.
“I think the potential for him is to be a first team all-American when he gets to college.” Page stated. “The exciting thing is he’s truly still scratching the surface in terms of the player that he’s going to become.”
Aquino, who has had a phenomenal start to his 4th form season, recently had a six goal performance in a 12-11 loss against The Hill Academy on April 30. Aquino’s ability to put the ball in the back of the net has been what many, including himself, have given him credit for.
“I think I’ve been gifted with having a pretty fast and accurate shot,” said Aquino. “I think that’s helping a lot on the field.”
Aquino, who has been playing lacrosse for around a decade at this point, credits his family and their unwavering support for helping out his development and for growing his love for the sport.
“My dad and my mom, they take me to everything possible. The showcases, tournaments, and everything just to help me get better. I’ve always been playing with my brothers, and since they have committed to high division one schools, I’ve always wanted to play at the next level.
With everything that Chase has accomplished throughout his minimal time at the Hill, it’s no secret why he is highly regarded as one of the best lacrosse midfielders in the country. His quickness, two-handedness, and overall ability is why he has been discussed to have such high potential for the remainder of his lacrosse career.
“I think he has a real shot to win the Tewaaraton, the award for the most outstanding player in college lacrosse,” Gillette said.