St. Louis MICDS (Mo.) attackman Graham Bundy Jr. has all the prerequisite skills of being a lawyer — he can articulate and win arguments.
Those skills will not just apply in college for the Georgetown-bound high school junior. They also have been useful in athletics.
Bundy’s verbal skills and leadership abilities have translated into success as a talented quarterback for the MICDS football program and also have developed him into arguably the best lacrosse athlete to ever play for the Rams.
While leading MICDS to its fifth straight lacrosse state title this season, Bundy racked up 146 points to establish a new Missouri single-season record. He is the Warrior/US Lacrosse Midwest Boys’ Player of the Year.
“I think a huge thing for me last year was developing my offhand and developing my vision,” Bundy said. “I was seeing those opportunities to move into spaces, and then seeing in those spaces where they jumped into. And, this year was looking more for my teammates and being more of a leader.”
MICDS coach Andy Kay has been coaching Bundy since he was in the third grade and sees him as a complete player.
“We have had a lot of really talented players over the years who have gone on to do really good things, but to have him be the first [regional player of the year] we have had, that says a lot about how good he is,” Kay said. “People enjoy the comparisons, but he is in a league of his own with his versatility. He has just developed across the board from the defensive side, to the wing play, ground ball play, he can score, he can feed.
“It is probably cliche, but with leadership, people are just naturally drawn to him,” Kay added. “He is outstanding for our youth program. He is an elite player and now has the stats to back them up.”
Of Bundy’s 146 points, 91 came from goals.
His scoring was consistent throughout the season, as he had at least a hat trick in all but two contests. Against regional power Loyola Academy (Ill.), Bundy put up a three-goal, three-assist effort, and he managed to notch hat tricks against Texas powers Dallas Episcopal and Dallas Jesuit and in a 13-1 win over St. Louis University High in the state championship.
While Bundy has the attributes to lead an offense, whether it be in football or lacrosse, he has found that the skills he gained on the gridiron can translate to lacrosse.
“What really helped my game was in football, the harder you run at someone, the less that the hit hurts,” Bundy said. “So in lacrosse, guys were just whacking at me when I was younger. I asked ‘Why am I doing this?’ And then I realized I just need to go at them. I am running more full speed at [defenses], dodging, read dodging, and the hits are hurting less and less.”
Bundy has one more season at MICDS before setting off to Washington, D.C. to play at Georgetown, where he hopes to study to become an attorney. In college, he’ll be trying to follow the footsteps of his father, Graham Bundy Sr., who was on the 1991 NCAA championship team at North Carolina.
But, before that, he still has more to prove at MICDS. Although he has already reached incredible achievements during his high school career, Bundy is hoping to follow his older brother Gaines Bundy in being a four-time state champion.
“He went four-for-four in state championships,” Bundy said about his older brother. “I have another year to prove I am better than my brothers. I know that is kind of a brotherly thing and people can relate. But you see what your older brothers did and just strive to do what they did and beyond.”
WARRIOR/US LACROSSE
MIDWEST BOYS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR
GRAHAM BUNDY JR.
School: MICDS (Mo.)
Year: Junior
Position: Attacker
Stats: 91 goals, 55 assists, 52 ground balls
Coach Andy Kay: “For him the really critical games to find out if he is any good are the games against Loyola Academy, games against Episcopal Dallas, Dallas Jesuit schools, and he is just frankly dominant no matter where he plays. And I think that will translate really well when he goes to college in a couple years.”
Also considered: Joey Kamish, Detroit Catholic Central (Mich.); Austin Madronic, Culver (Ind.)
NIKE/US LACROSSE
MIDWEST BOYS' TOP 10
SEASON REWIND
1. Culver Military Academy, 24-2
The Eagles’ season came to a close on May 28 with a loss to Canadian powerhouse Hill Academy (Ontario) in the Geico Nationals. Culver had split a pair of games against Hill earlier in the season, collecting a three-overtime win on April 22 but losing 10-9 in the Prep National Championship final May 20. Austin Madronic powered the squad with 72 goals, while Owen Hiltz led in points with 112.
2. MICDS (Mo.), 20-2
The Rams wrapped up a fifth straight state title on May 26, defeating St. Louis University High. Graham Bundy Jr. led the entire state in points with 146, setting a Missouri single-season record. The Rams’ season was highlighted by wins over Loyola Academy (Ill.) and Episcopal Dallas (Texas).
3. Loyola Academy (Ill.), 22-3
The Ramblers breezed through the Illinois state playoffs, toppling New Trier (Ill.) 7-2 in the final June 2. Loyola’s season was highlighted by an April 20 win at nationally-ranked Victor (N.Y.).
4. Cincinnati St. Xavier (Ohio), 19-3
The Bombers won Ohio’s Division I state title on June 2 by defeating Cleveland St. Ignatius (Ohio) 10-9. St. Xavier had significant wins over Columbus DeSales (Ohio) and New Trier (Ill.).
5. Detroit Catholic Central (Mich.), 20-2
The Shamrocks capped off a mighty sweep of rival Brother Rice (Mich.) with an 11-10 victory in the state championship. The contest ended Brother Rice’s 13-year run as state champs. Joey Kamish and Peter Thompson ended with identical stat lines of 80 goals and 39 assists.
6. New Trier (Ill.), 21-4
The Trevians were unable to defend their 2017 title, as they dropped a 7-2 loss to Loyola in the state final June 2. New Trier had beaten Loyola 5-3 earlier in the season. The Trevians split games with St. Xavier (Ohio) and fell twice to Culver Military Academy to account of their other losses. Henry Scherb led New Trier in points after tallying 49 goals and 30 assists, while teammate Henry Freedman was a close second with 48 goals and 30 assists.
7. Dublin Coffman (Ohio), 21-2
The Shamrocks fell short in the state semifinals, losing to Cleveland St. Ignaitus (Ohio) 16-15 in overtime on May 30. Sophomore Luke Holland led the squad with 84 goals, while teammate Cam Bowdy had a team-leading 114 points.
8. Columbus DeSales (Ohio), 19-3
The Stallions captured an Ohio Division II state title on June 2 after defeating Ottawa Hills 13-5. DeSales’ season was highlighted by a win over Dublin Coffman (Ohio).
9. Upper Arlington (Ohio), 19-3
The Golden Bears’ season came to an end on May 25 in a regional final loss to Worthington Kilbourne. They had opened the season with 14 straight wins, including one over St. Xavier, but UA lost some momentum down the stretching while dropping two of its next three -- falling to Coffman and splitting back-to-back games against Cincinnati Moeller (Ohio).
10. East Grand Rapids (Mich.), 19-4
The Pioneers beat previously-ranked Forest Hills Central (Mich.) 11-10 in double overtime to avenge a regular-season loss and claim their second straight Division II state title. Chris Owens scored the game-winner on a rip from 10 yards out, and Eric Solberg finished with six goals.