Plenty of options for Boys' Latin OT Greg Pyke
A frequently traveled path for starters on the Boys' Latin lacrosse team goes from high school graduation to a spot on a Division I college roster.
Lakers attackman Greg Pyke could easily follow that route when he finishes high school in 2012. But the 6-foot-5, 315-pound junior has other plans in mind.
“My brother played lacrosse in college [at North Carolina], and my sister [played at James Madison],” Pyke said. “But I’m just built for football. I fit football more easily. I feel more comfortable there. Being a big guy, with lacrosse I kind of feel out of place. But in football, I just like hitting.”
Pyke has done his fair share of that while starting both ways for the Lakers these past two seasons. While Pyke is a more highly rated recruit for lacrosse -- Inside Lacrosse ranks him the No. 8 player in the 2012 class -- plenty of major college football programs are hoping to land the versatile offensive tackle.
“I don’t do the rankings, but he’s going to be a good Division I football player,” said Boys’ Latin football coach Ritchie Schell. “The kid’s 6-5, 315 pounds, and he hasn’t even reached his potential, technique-wise. He has unbelievable hand-eye coordination. He’s going to be a great guard or tackle. He can pull and move. I think once these teams see him in person, they’ll offer him right away. So I think he’s going to be unbelievable by the time it’s all said and done.
“What holds him back is he can’t go to [camps and combines because of lacrosse]. I’d much rather have him play a spring sport than do a combine. I’m a big believer in playing as many sports as possible. Whether that’s right or wrong, that’s my opinion.”
Pyke currently holds scholarship offers from Duke, Maryland, Penn State, Rutgers, South Alabama, Virginia, Wake Forest and West Virginia. Schell said Boston College wants Pyke to visit, while the Alabama coaches remain in close contact.
“He loves Alabama,” Schell said. “They’ve been up twice and have not made an offer yet. They want to evaluate him at camp.”
Said Pyke: “Alabama, they have the pick of the litter pretty much. Everyone wants to go to Alabama. But I’m still on their radar. I’m going down there this summer to their camp and see if that helps me.”
Pyke spent the past two seasons battling Virginia-bound defensive end Marco Jones in practice. Going up against an ACC-caliber recruit served as good training for Pyke.
“I think it helped me a lot,” Pyke said. “I think I first got looked at by coaches [who] came in here to see Marco and [Cornell commitment Michael Turner], then saw me and said, ‘Who’s this kid?’ It definitely helped me, seeing Marco go through the process and doing what he does,” Pyke said.
Pyke, who also plays for Boys’ Latin’s basketball team, is focused on lacrosse season now. A few college coaches have said he could play football and lacrosse in college, but Pyke thinks “one DI sport is tough enough.” Once lacrosse season is finished, Pyke plans to turn his attention toward his college football future.
“I don’t think I’m going to commit anywhere early,” Pyke said. “I just need to go out and start visiting the schools more often to get a better feel for what all the other schools have to offer.”
