Jersey Thunder Elite (HS)
Location: Morris Knolls High School
Director: Terry Reilly, Head Coach Morris Knolls HS
Recruiting Director: John Lade, Head Coach, Kittatinny HS
Description: The Jersey Thunder Elite High School teams are a year-round program that is focused on preparing student-athletes to play at the collegiate level. This program includes team practices in the fall, winter, and summer, individual skill sessions in the fall and winter. Team tournaments are generally in the fall and summer seasons, though additional opportunities for games & college exposure are possible. See below for a more detailed annual schedule.
Jersey Thunder Elite focuses on developing and refining an advanced lacrosse skill-set while maximizing college recruiting exposure including our own dedicated College Recruiting Director, John Lade. Our coaching staff at this level
Our Typical Annual Schedule
Tryouts: mid-July
Fall Season:
6-8 team practices at Morris Knolls High School, Denville NJ
2-3 tournaments, typically 1-day events within a 1-3 hour drive
Fall/Winter Individual Skill Workouts:
Approximately 25 individual skill workouts Sep-Feb at The Arena in Boonton plus an additional 25 at The Fieldhouse in Sparta - all optional & free of charge for Thunder athletes. Read more in the “Why Thunder” section.
Winter Team Practices:
6-8 team practices in Jan-Feb. The entire Jersey Thunder program uses Marauderdome at Mount Olive HS as its indoor practice facility in the winter.
Summer:
10-12 team practices
4-5 tournaments, typically 2-day (Sat-Sun) events that may be between 1-4 hour drive. This may require overnight hotel stays.
The summer season generally starts in early June and ends by mid-July, culminating with mid-July tryouts for the following year.
Recruiting Tools Available to Jersey Thunder Elite’s HS Program
John Lade: Director of College Placement & Recruiting
All Thunder high school athletes have access to John Lade to assist in the college recruiting process. John was one of the top defensemen to ever come out of NJ, playing professionally for over a decade, and he has a wide network of NCAA coaches.
John’s Bio Summary:
Former Defensemen in the PLL & MLL
3x All-American at Syracuse University
2011 NCAA D1 Defenseman of the Year
2009 NCAA D1 National Champion at Syracuse University
2x All-Big East Conference
Former NCAA D1 Coach (Manhattan University)
Current Head Coach at Kittatinny High School
IMLCA Recruits: College / Athlete Messaging & Matchmaking System
All Thunder high school athletes receive an “IMLCA Recruits” profile in their online system. This profile works similar to “LinkedIn” in the business world where college coaches can access thousands of players as potential prospects, and high school athletes can access every coaching staff in the US.
IMLCA Recruits profiles are a “must have” for any lacrosse athlete who want to play at the next level.
Jersey Thunder includes this profile for free as a part of your tuition.
Access To Top Events
Jersey Thunder carefully selects all fall and summer tournaments based on the right level of competition for each team, and the number of college coaches attending.
John Lade consults on tournament selection based on his direct discussions with NCAA coaches.
Our top teams have access to top-end “invite only” tournaments based on our strong track record.
In addition, Jersey Thunder staff is well connected with top “invite only” showcases and prospect camps.
2023 FALL TOURNAMENTS:
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Sun 10/29, Victory Fall Classic (Frederika, DE)
Sun 11/5, Towson Autumn Gold, Columbia MD
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Sun 11/5, Towson Autumn Gold, Columbia MD
Sun 11/19, NXT Philly Invitational, Downingtown PA
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Sun 10/22, Legends Fall Classic, Frederika MD
Sun 10/29, Victory Fall Classic, Frederika MD
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Sun 10/22, Legends Fall Classic, Frederika MD
Sun 10/29, Victory Fall Classic, Frederika MD
Sun 11/5, Fall Finale Classic, West Windsor MD
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Sun 10/22, Legends Fall Classic, Frederika MD
Sun 10/29, Victory Fall Classic, Frederika MD
Sun 11/5, Fall Finale Classic, West Windsor MD
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Sun 11/5, Fall Finale Classic, West Windsor NJ
Sun 11/12, Trilogy Veteran’s Memorial Day, West Windsor NJ
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Sun 11/5, Fall Finale Classic, West Windsor NJ
Sun 11/12, Trilogy Veteran’s Memorial Day, West Windsor NJ
2024 SUMMER TOURNAMENTS:
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Sat-Sun 6/15-16, Lehigh Laxfest, Bethlehem PA
Tue-Wed 6/25-26, Legacy Lacrosse Summer Invitational, Devers MD
Wed-Thu 7/10-11, Trilogy 24, Conshohocken PA
Fri-Sun 7/12-14, NLF Championships, Stony Brook NY
Sat-Sun 7/20-21, Pinnacle Lacrosse Championships, Boyds MD
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Sat-Sun 6/8-9, Baltimore Summer Kickoff, Baltimore MD
Sat-Sun 6/15-16, Lehigh Laxfest, Bethlehem PA
Tue-Wed 6/25-26, Legacy Lacrosse Summer Invitational, Devers MD
Fri-Sun 7/12-14, NLF Championships, Stony Brook NY
Sat-Sun 7/20-21, Pinnacle Lacrosse Championships, Boyds MD
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Sat-Sun, 6/8-9, Legends Laxapalooza, Allentown PA
Sat-Sun 6/15-16, Lehigh Laxfest, Bethlehem PA
Sat-Sun 6/29-30, Bulldog Brawl, Smithfield RI
Wed-Thu 7/10-11, Trilogy 24, Conshohocken PA
Fri-Sun 7/12-14, NLF Championships, Farmingdale NY
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Sat-Sun 6/15-16, Lehigh Laxfest, Bethlehem PA
Sat-Sun 6/22-23, Trilogy Radar, West Windsor NJ
Sat-Sun 6/29-30, Bulldog Brawl, Smithfield RI
Wed-Thu 7/10-11, Trilogy 24, Conshohocken PA
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Sat-Sun 6/15-16, Lehigh Laxfest, Bethlehem PA
Sat-Sun 6/22-23, Trilogy Radar, West Windsor NJ
Sat-Sun 6/29-30, Bulldog Brawl, Smithfield RI
Wed-Thu 7/10-11, Trilogy 24, Conshohocken PA
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Sat-Sun 6/8-9, Laxapalooza, Allentown PA
Sat-Sun 6/15-16, Lehigh Laxfest, Bethlehem PA
Sat-Sun 6/22-23, Trilogy Radar, West Windsor NJ
Sat-Sun 6/29-30, Bulldog Brawl, Smithfield RI
Wed-Thu 7/10-11, Trilogy 24, Conshohocken PA
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Sat-Sun 6/8-9, Laxapalooza, Allentown PA
Sat-Sun 6/15-16, Lehigh Laxfest, Bethlehem PA
Sat-Sun 6/22-23, Trilogy Radar, West Windsor NJ
Sat-Sun 6/29-30, Team 91 Invitational, Piscataway NJ
Sat-Sun 7/13-14, Hershey Shootout, Hershey PA
Jersey Thunder Elite - High School Team Levels
THUNDER GOLD
THUNDER PLATINUM
Our top teams at each grade level. High-end talent capable of competing well in the premier and invite-only events with maximum exposure to top NCAA schools.
Highly skilled “select” teams capable of competing at highly competitive tournaments with high exposure to mid/high tier NCAA schools.
THUNDER COBALT
Teams focused on the rapid development of high school athletes who have the desire to contribute at the Varsity level and potentially aspire to play college lacrosse.
