Future Terp Oli Skeean is an LSM Without Limits

This article appears in the April edition of USA Lacrosse Magazine. Join our momentum.

Oli Skeean was a freshman when he started riding with his mother, Sarah, to Walton (Ga.) High School. She teaches English and mythology there.

“It’s really a lot of fun being at school with my mom,” said Skeean, who lives in nearby Marietta.

The real fun started after school, and it started that very first year at Walton when Raiders boys’ lacrosse coach Griffin Spotz asked Skeean to trade in his long pole for a short stick. Walton had plenty of depth at long-stick midfield, Skeean’s natural position, but they wanted him on the field.

“We improved so dramatically just by putting him in as a lefty midfielder,” said Spotz, who is in his 14th season at Walton. “Everything opened up for us. He wanted to do whatever he could for the team as a freshman and he had no bones about him. He did not lack the confidence to know he could still get recruited.”

Skeean gained confidence in his offensive prowess with 30 goals on the season as the Raiders reached the Class 6A-7A state final before falling short of their third title in program history. After heavy graduation losses, Skeean went back to LSM, and as much as his defense has been vital, he’s unique in still providing a lot of offense. After being the only long pole in Georgia named a USA Lacrosse All-American as a sophomore, he put up eye-popping numbers in his junior season last year.

Skeean caused 56 turnovers and won 67 ground balls, great numbers for any LSM, but what set him apart from many at the position were his 17 goals and two assists. He shined brightest bringing Walton within a goal of Georgia juggernaut Lambert with two goals and two forced turnovers in the final three minutes of last year’s state semifinal matchup.

“It was exciting,” Skeean said. “We were so close.”

Skeean has kept scoring the ball even after his Thunder club coach, former Syracuse star Liam Banks, encouraged him to take up LSM if he wanted to play college lacrosse. He’d largely played short-stick midfield since taking up the game as an extracurricular activity in first grade.

“Ever since I picked up a pole from Coach Banks, I’ve always had the green light to score and go down in most high school and club games,” Skeean said. “I felt like other teams just didn’t slide to me, so I might as well shoot the ball. I did that over and over again. I started trying new things — face dodging, split dodging, give-and-go — anything to get my opportunity to shoot because I love scoring the ball.”

Legendary Loyola and pro LSM Scott Ratliff, a Walton product, has mentored Skeean and encouraged his offensive aggression. Skeean’s scoring prowess and mindset sets him apart, and it’s part of the reason that John Tillman, as innovative a coach as there is, is happy to have his commitment to Maryland.

“Tillman actually said he wanted to use my offensive abilities,” Skeean said. “He said that during a recruiting visit one time. I just got really interested in that.”

Skeean was in the Bobby Dodd Stadium stands at Georgia Tech when Maryland edged Notre Dame 11-10 on March 1 in a rematch of last year’s NCAA championship game. Skeean watched half as a fan, half picturing himself on the field with the Terps next year. He relished the atmosphere. More than 10,000 fans attended the game.

Skeean is a non-traditional LSM from a non-traditional area. Spotz knew when he first saw Skeean on the club scene that he had special potential.

“He just has a knack for getting the ball, pushing tempo box-to-box, middle of field,” Spotz said. “He was always just incredibly tuned into how to be successful.”

Skeean’s athleticism developed even more from playing football for four years at Walton. A linebacker and safety, he benefitted from the physicality. He learned how to read opponents’ movements better and prepare mentally for the different challenges on the field. He relishes playing football and lacrosse at a public school.

“Oli just keeps getting better,” Spotz said. “He's a game changer.”