Lacrosse showcase a magnet for college coaches

Brett Manney will not have a day off until Nov. 24. His e-mail inbox is a "constant struggle" to corral. It is the busiest time of the year for NXTSports' director of showcase lacrosse. And Manney said he's fine with that.

NXT (pronounced "next") has grown into one of the nation's leaders in hosting lacrosse recruiting events. And much of that credit goes to Manney, who played at Holy Ghost Prep and still plays professionally with the New England Black Wolves, formerly the Wings.

November is what the company, headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, calls "Showcase Month." NXT hosts a recruiting event on Saturday for more than 200 girls at Westtown School. And the next weekend, the company travels to Detroit for a showcase of the premier talent in the Midwest and Canada.

Then it's back home for the event Manney said put NXT on the map. The Philly Charity Showdown on Nov. 14 at Citizens Bank Park kicks off a weekend during which the nation's lacrosse community descends on Philadelphia.

The event features six games of the area's best talent playing in front of college coaches. All net proceeds will be donated to Jefferson Hospital's Comprehensive Concussion Center. Last year, NXT raised more than $30,000 for Children's Hospital.

The following morning starts the two-day Boys' Philly Showcase at Episcopal Academy. Manney received 4,500 applications from as far west as California and Washington. The college exposure at this event, Manney said, could be more than some kids see all year.

It was his job to finalize a list of 400 of the nation's top sophomores and juniors. Those left out are on a waiting list, hoping for a spot to open up. Manney said it is the "the single best recruiting event in all of lacrosse."

"And that's not to sound arrogant. It's just facts," he said. "Last year we had close to 200 college coaches there. We had 63 out of 67 Division I programs there. The crazy stat is we had 12 Division I programs that had their whole staff there. That's unheard of."

Andy Hayes, NXT's president, said it was his idea for the showcase weekend. But where it is at now, he said, is "all Brett." He said Manney seems to know everyone. And everyone knows Manney.

"He's a very, very highly respected person in the lacrosse community," Hayes said. "He has unprecedented connections in the college coaching world. The way he's built this event up over the last three weeks is a testament to all the hard work he's put together. He is the Philly Showcase."

Philadelphia, Manney said, has become the hotbed for high school lacrosse. Its location between Baltimore and New York makes it easy for college coaches to scout players. And the players here are some of the best in the country. Everyone, he said, is watching Philadelphia. And all eyes will be watching at once.

"There's nothing that exists like this in high school sports," Hayes said. "Literally for three days, every college that plays that sport descends on one place to see all these kids and club teams."

mbreen@phillynews.com

@matt_breen