Best Shooter
Brian Wood, Johns Hopkins (1984-87)
Other Candidates: Ryan Brown, Brian Carroll, John Grant Jr., Marcus Holman, Jesse Hubbard, David Jones, Matt Poskay, Jon Reese, Greg Tarbell, Ryan Wade
Wood was named to Hopkins’ All-Time Team at the end of his career.
Best Passer
Tim Nelson, North Carolina State (1982); Syracuse (1983-85)
Other Candidates: Grant Ament, Ryan Boyle, Jay Connor, Conor Gill, Tim Goldstein, John Hess, Darren Lowe
Nelson tallied 103 points in 1984 and was the Jack Turnbull Award winner as the nation’s top attackman from 1983-85.
Smoothest Hands
Jeff Long, Navy (1974-77)
Other Candidates: Tom Duquette, Conor Gill, Mark Matthews, Steele Stanwick, Brian Wood
A three-time All-American who produced 53 assists as a senior and was named to the First Team.
Best GB who Wasn’t a Faceoff Guy
Brodie Merrill (Georgetown, 2002-05)
Other Candidates: Sam Bassett, Jim Buczek, Ryan Conrad
Merrill was a vacuum, recording 90 ground balls as a junior.
Hardest Checker
Mike Thearle, Maryland (1970-73)
Other Candidates: Randy Cox, Tucker Durkin, Brian Kuczma
Thearle won the 1973 Schmeisser Award, won a national title in 1973 and won a world championship with on the U.S. men’s national team in 1974.
A Lot Tougher Than he Looks Going to Class
Eamon McEneaney, Cornell (1974-77)
Other Candidates: Garett Billings, Mark Cockerton, TD Ierlan, Joey Sankey, Joey Sessa, Lyle Thompson
Considered one of the best to ever play the game, McEneaney tragically died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center.
Most Electrifying Athlete
Pat Spencer, Loyola (2016-19)
Other Candidates: Shamel Bratton, Roy Colsey, Mark Farnham, John Fay, Jeff Fritz, Steve Holmes, Myles Jones, Billy Miller, Mark Millon, Darren Muller, Mike Powell, Doug Shanahan, Michael Sowers, Zach Thornton
Spencer, the 2019 Tewaaraton Award winner, is a graduate transfer on the Northwestern men’s basketball team. He’s an athlete.
DOM STARSIA, A NATIONAL LACROSSE HALL OF FAMER, IS ONE OF THE WINNINGEST COACHES IN NCAA HISTORY AND A MEMBER OF THE LACROSSE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE (@DOMSTARSIAPLL). HE WAS A TWO-TIME ALL-AMERICAN DEFENSEMAN AT BROWN AND PLAYED FOR THE U.S. TEAM IN 1978.