U.S. recruiter noticed local high-school student’s lacrosse talent

The B.C. Catholic
COQUITLAM



A local student has committed to join the University of North Carolina’s (UNC) NCAA lacrosse team.

“They told me Luca (Antongiovanni) was the next big player out of Coquitlam,” said Jamie Munro, founder of 3D Lacrosse, an American lacrosse coaching, training, and events company. “I never even saw him play, but when so many people tell you he’s good and aren’t exaggerating, the evidence is there.”

The 14-year-old Archbishop Carney student will join UNC’s Tar Heels men’s lacrosse team in 2020. Luca has played with the Coquitlam Adanacs association, and played nationally as a member of Team B.C.

Munro, a former lacrosse coach at the University of Denver, had come to Coquitlam to see his son play and to give a presentation for recruitment to local people. “We’ve had a lot of great Canadian box players who go to American college” to play lacrosse, Munro said.

American lacrosse games tend to be played on a field outdoors, while Canadian games favour box lacrosse. “When you have a box player versus field, they bring a whole new level to the game,” said Heather Antongiovanni, Luca’s mother. “It’s a quicker game in box, more physical, catch and throw in a tighter area.”

She noted B.C. and Coquitlam have been gaining exposure because many strong lacrosse players originate there. “Jamie, who recommended Luca to UNC (and several other universities), comes to Canada for the amazing athletes. They love the box players here.”

After Munro had recommended Luca, the family had to decide his future university. “He got three university offers and they all had great academics,” Heather said. They decided to take a look at UNC because of its prestige, and flew there for five days to see the team and the Tar Heel’s coach, Joe Breschi.

When they arrived, the family was taken aback by the hospitality of the UNC team. “Every single member of the team lined up and shook Luca’s hand,” recounted Heather. “They treated him better than a rock star; they treated him like family.”

“The coach was Catholic, and they have Bible studies for the lacrosse team. As a mother, it’s hard to consider letting my son go, but for him to go to that environment where the coach lives such a godly life, that made our decision so much easier for us.”

“It’s such an honour to get this recognition this early in my lacrosse career,” Luca noted. “I have been so lucky to have some of the best coaches in Canada. Between Jamie, my coach Ian Radonich, and the players around me, I was able to accomplish this dream.”

Radonich had trained Luca for the past few years, and was “always impressed with his commitment to his team, teammates, and to himself to get to this point. His work ethic and athletic abilities will directly result in him becoming a top end Division 1 player.”

Heather agreed, noting one of the reasons the UNC team decided to invite Luca was his positive attitude. “They actually recorded such small things. One of the coaches noted (Luca) had held the doors for us 20 times in one day. All of the social aspects of being polite and dressing appropriately are so important.”

“With him going to Archbishop Carney (high school), it teaches respect.”

Bill Anderson, the vice-principal of Archbishop Carney and Luca’s basketball coach, was impressed by Luca’s signing. “I knew he was good, but I didn’t know he was that good,” he chuckled. “I think UNC’s decision to commit to Luca, four years down the road, speaks a lot about what they think of his talent.”

“He’s a special athlete you only get so often. In the years I’ve coached, I’ve only had two or three athletes of that level.”

Luca played on the Carney basketball and soccer teams. “He’s played on our senior soccer team, and they won the Fraser Valley AA Championships and are heading into Provincials next year,” said Anderson. “He’s only 14, and normally the players are around 18. He’s incredibly coachable, and has the ability to make people around him play better.”

“I think his athleticism is a God-given talent,” Heather said. “As parents, we have to figure out what special talent God has given our children and help them find it and grow it.”