Friendships Forged, Talent Showcased at 2023 NTDP Boys' Combine

Jameson Lang carries the pride of his hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas every time he picks up a lacrosse stick.

He knows Arkansas isn’t a lacrosse hotbed, but he’s determined to make it one.

“I wanted to pave the path for all the kids in Arkansas, because I want to show them what’s possible and tell them to push all of the limits that you can,” Lang said.

Lang was one of 137 of the nation’s top high school lacrosse players that made the trip to USA Lacrosse Headquarters this week for the National Team Development Program Boys’ Combine. He brought the same energy to Sparks, Md. that he did when he arrived for last year’s Combine, where he injured his knee and eventually missed the cut for the USA Select Team.

Despite the setback, Lang took plenty from his first experience with the National Team Development Program. He gained a few strong bonds along the way — like the one he has with Baltimore native and Loyola Blakefield star Jack Gunning.

Gunning and Lang met at USA Lacrosse last year and kept in touch throughout the year. This spring while in the Washington D.C. area, Lang made a trip to Baltimore to see his friend play for Loyola.

A friendship forged at last year’s National Combine paid dividends as two players from vastly different lacrosse scenes took the field looking to make the 2023 U18 USA Select team — a testament to the power of a program searching for the top lacrosse talent from across the country.

“When you’re eating dinner and meeting kids from California, Miami or Oregon that otherwise you wouldn’t interact, it’s awesome,” Gunning said. “You don’t get that experience elsewhere.”

Gunning and Lang got a taste of the National Combine in the summer of 2022, when each endured a three-day camp that included on-field training, strength & conditioning tests and multiple informational sessions led by professional nutritionists, mental health professionals and coaches.

After Lang suffered his injury, he made to help his teammates by serving as a player-coach, grabbing waters when needed and offering advice to fellow offensive players — that’s when he connected with Gunning, who eventually took home the Brogden Cup last fall.

“He’s always around to help you out,” Gunning said of Lang. “He brought NormaTec boots so that everyone could share. He’s always there to give you water and support you as much as he can. He’s just a pleasure to be around.”

Lang, originally born in Virginia but located in Little Rock, returned home to continue to build the lacrosse foundation in Arkansas. With eight high school programs sponsoring lacrosse, he knows there is plenty of work to be done.

In the meantime, he kept in touch with Gunning, who grew up in one of the sport’s largest hotbeds.

During a trip to Washington D.C. over spring break, Lang made it his mission to see Gunning play just a few miles north. He got the chance on March 21, watching from the stands as Gunning helped Loyola Blakefield down Western Reserve Academy in triple overtime.

“You want to get out and watch the highest level of lacrosse that you can, and there’s not much better than the MIAA,” Lang said. “Also, if you have the chance to support one of your friends, why would you not? It’s a friendship that took off.”

Gunning and Lang both hope to suit up for the USA Select team come this fall when it competes for another Brogden Cup. As for now, they were grateful to compete in drills and scrimmages together, something that should only strengthen the bond between them.

“[Jack is] one of the nicest guys that I’ve ever met,” Lang said. “He’s easy to get along with. Combine is a grind, but it’s so well worth it. …It felt like home this year. Everybody is hungry to win and the competition and friendships make it all worth it.”

Conway-Reppert Making an Impression

Milki Conway-Reppert smiled and brushed off any mention of going viral on social media. He doesn’t use social media and made it known his main goal is to make the U16 USA Select team.

“I don’t have TikTok or Snapchat,” he joked. “It’s cool, I guess.”

However, players at the National Team Development Program Combine were aware of Conway-Reppert and his abilities. After Day 1 at USA Lacrosse Headquarters, his name was one that continued to echo from the sidelines.

Conway-Reppert, the sophomore from The Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut, has turned heads since he picked up a stick at age 9. He watched players like Jeff Teat, Lyle Thompson and Rob Pannell on YouTube and wanted to emulate their respective games.

Now a highly touted member of the Class of 2026, Conway-Reppert is trying to add a second Brogden Cup to his trophy closest.

“I always watched the YouTube videos of national team players when I was younger, and I knew I wanted to be part of this process,” he said. “I made the team last year and I loved the experience. After winning the Brogden Cup, I wanted to do it again.”

He said he’s used his experience from 2022 as he competed against some of the nation’s best U16 players from across the country. Wearing his dark red Loomis Chaffee helmet and the No. 15 USA Development pinnie, Conway-Reppert went to work.

His skills stood out on the field, and his high school and club highlights are already making waves on YouTube — the same website that once inspired him to play. He credited the National Development Program with helping him reach a new level in his game, which he hopes to take with him to a college lacrosse program.

“This really help me upgrade my game and realize that I could compete at a higher level,” he said.