Fox Lane's Cameron Stephens Commits to Ohio State

When the summer ends and Cameron Stephens reflects back on the month of July, he may be a bit astonished when he realizes everything that happened.

In between participating in lacrosse showcase recruiting events up and down the East Coast, the Fox Lane rising senior managed to find time to make the final cut for the Hudson Valley Empire State Games team.

And on July 8, he made perhaps the biggest decision of his life to date.

While in the midst of an unofficial visit to Ohio State University, Stephens made a verbal commitment to accept a scholarship offer.

"OSU was on the top of my list from the beginning of my college search, starting back in November of last year," Stephens, a 6-foot-5 goaltender, said. "After visiting the campus I realized it was a place I could really enjoy myself on and off the lacrosse field. I knew OSU had a great lacrosse program that is getting better every year.  I wanted to be part of a team that had a strong sense of family as well."

That sense of family was something Ohio State head coach Nick Myers emphasized to Stephens during his visit.

"Coach Myers stressed the fact that family was very important to a successful and fun season -- and that is exactly what I was looking for," Stephens said. " Coach Myers also made it clear that I had a chance to play as a freshman if I work really hard in the classroom and on the rectangle in practice."

Stephens narrowed his choices to Ohio State and Army. He also visited Maryland, Towson, Bryant, Salisbury and Delaware.

Those schools were intrigued by Stephens' combination of size, skills and quickness.

"I have fast hands and feet and I am very vocal in cage," Stephens said.  "I would describe my style as workman-like. I'm in the cage to save the ball and be a leader, not to run it up and be flashy. I want to do my job my well and help make our defense run as a unit to prevent the shot in the first place, create turnover opportunities, and run the offense down."

In his first year as starting goalie at Fox Lane this past season, Stephens led the Foxes to an 11-6 record after going 5-12 in 2009, earning all-section honors. Stephens took over for three-year starter Luke Robinson, who just finished his freshman year at Ithaca College.

"Luke is a phenomenal goaltender and he presented big shoes for me to fill when he left Fox Lane," Stephens said. "Watching him play and make great saves and great clears inspired me to try and be as good as him."

Having a strong season in his first year as a starter gave Stephens the confidence he could play at the Division I level of college lacrosse.

"I felt good in cage all season and being named all-section made me realize I could be included in the same conversation with other great athletes from the Hudson Valley," he said. "After making the all-star teams at New England Premier, Top205, and Blue Chip (summer tournaments), I realized I could compete with the best competition out there, really from all over the country.  And with conversations with many coaches at all these events from different levels, that's when I started to realize that I could be a D-I prospect."