David Barba '15 Recruiting Profile

   I have always seen myself as someone with potential. Ever since I stopped playing football in 7th grade, I have felt as if I had a chip on my shoulder athletically. The sport of football, or at least football played in my hometown of Prior Lake Minnesota, has never pleased me. I never got my opportunity to release the potential that I believe I had. My position was decided on my physique at the time, which to be fair was a bit pudgy. I saw this as a lack of trust in me from the coaches point of view. So in my frustration, I quit the sport. Seeing the glory that talented high school football players receive has always made me rethink my choice. However, if it wasn't for this integral part of my life, I would have never been exposed to the wonderful world of lacrosse.

   Lacrosse was a fresh start, a clean slate for which I could choose my own destiny and finally show the potential that I knew I had. The next few years were a little rough. It was a constant struggle of learning the rules of the game and increasing my stick skills. But the important thing is that I was learning. Gathering information so that one day I would be ready when my name was called. 

   In my first year of high school, my name was called. It was tryouts, I would either make the 9/10 A team or the 9/10 B team. I played the absolute best I could and sure enough, I made the cut for the 9/10 A team. That year I received valuable coaching from a former college player and father, Coach Derrick Schluck. This man had a very real impact on me and how I play the game. He drilled in fundamentals and taught me about the glory that is known as wall ball. I played with Coach Schluck the next two years and had an absolute blast. I was hooked on lacrosse and the way it was coached.

   My junior year is where I simply fell in love with the game. I played J.V. for Coaches Jessie Brown and Scott Offerman. That year I was coached on athleticism, health, and keeping your body in "game-ready" shape. I knew the game well, now it was just time for my body to catch up with my mind. I had a very solid junior year. I dressed for the varsity games and solidified my role as the number one defender on the J.V. squad. The younger kids respected me, and they accepted me as their leader. This was the moment that I discovered how much I loved being a leader in the figurative locker room. 

  This is the story of how the modern day lacrosse player David Barba became the player he is today. I am filled with electricity every time I step on the field as a Laker and I will bring that mentality and excitement to whichever school gives me the opportunity that I desire. I am working harder than I believe I ever had this offseason to prepare for my chance at the spotlight. I belong to a team that is pushing for a Minnesota State Championship this year and I can be part of that. This will be my outbreak season and I am confident in the incredibly talented coaching staff that will guide me to do so. This is my year, this is Prior Lake's year, and this is the opportunity I have been waiting for patiently since the moment in 7th grade when I held a D-pole for the first time. I will finally get the chance to release the potential and fire that has been building inside me all these years. I promise that this year, you will not regret the decision to follow my progress.