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:

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:

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:

  • Sun 10/29, Victory Fall Classic (Frederika, DE)

    Sun 11/5, Towson Autumn Gold, Columbia MD

  • Sun 11/5, Towson Autumn Gold, Columbia MD

    Sun 11/19, NXT Philly Invitational, Downingtown PA

  • Sun 10/22, Legends Fall Classic, Frederika MD

    Sun 10/29, Victory Fall Classic, Frederika MD

  • 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

  • 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

  • Sun 11/5, Fall Finale Classic, West Windsor NJ

    Sun 11/12, Trilogy Veteran’s Memorial Day, West Windsor NJ

  • Sun 11/5, Fall Finale Classic, West Windsor NJ

    Sun 11/12, Trilogy Veteran’s Memorial Day, West Windsor NJ

2024 SUMMER TOURNAMENTS:

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

Learn More About Our Other Programs:

Jersey Thunder Central

Jersey Thunder West

Jersey Thunder Girls