Noted Devon Prep Baseball Player Happy To Play For Small School

June 27, 2012 - PRLog -- John LaPrise is an excellent athlete, a good student, and a devout Catholic.  And John LaPrise is grateful for his Devon Prep experience.

“This was the best decision of my life.  Mr. Aquilante had a lot to do with it because he’s a really great coach. And my parents obviously were really interested in the education,” John explained.  “I think Devon has allowed me to mature and grow as a person and a player. People here really helped me to stay under the radar when I needed to, and when I was ready to showcase myself they helped me do that too.”

John is a shortstop on Devon Prep’s varsity baseball team. He is 6’ 1” and 170 lbs. with quick hands and a great feel for the game. After 16 games he was hitting .482 with 5 home runs, 14 runs batted in and had stolen 9 bases. He had committed only three errors at shortstop.  

Next fall John will play baseball at Division 1 University of Virginia.  UVA was his first choice and he was heavily recruited by the school. He’s excited about playing there. “It’s the best of both worlds,” he said. “Awesome baseball, and awesome academics.”

Through much of his senior season John had scouts from various major league teams attend Devon Prep games to watch him play.  He is projected to be drafted between the 5th and 15th rounds of the Major League Baseball Draft in June.

“It’s totally exciting.  I never expected that,” John said. “Although this is what I‘ve been working towards, I didn’t think it would come this early. It doesn’t make me nervous. I just play the game and try to help my team to win.”

For the Tide John is a leader and team player. "If he doesn't get any good pitches, he's willing to take a walk and pass it to the next guy,” said Devon Prep Coach Mark Aquilante. “He has a team-first approach."

Baseball isn’t the only team John played for while at Devon. As a freshman and sophomore he played soccer and he played basketball for three years. However he quit basketball this year to concentrate solely on baseball. “I needed to get stronger for baseball. In the off season I worked hard on that,” he said.

When asked what team he would like to play for if he were drafted by the majors, his answer is not surprising. “I’m open to any team that would be interested in me,” he said. “But obviously the Phillies, since they are my favorite team. That would be awesome.”

In addition to being a standout ball player John is also an honor student, a member of the Campus Ministry, and a member of Devon’s Community Action Program (CAP). He was inducted into the National Honor Society as a senior, an achievement of which he is very proud.  “I definitely have to work hard at academics and getting into the National Honor Society was one of my goals,” acknowledged the 18 year old.  “It was so cool. Several of my friends were inducted with me, so that was really exciting.”

As a student and athlete John has shown leadership, strength, commitment, and compassion. You’d be hard pressed to find a student or adult at Devon Prep who doesn’t like him. He’s proud of his accomplishments but quick to give credit to those who helped him along the way. He is especially grateful for the opportunity to attend Devon Prep.  

“I think I am who I am today because of Devon. All the friendships I have and just the atmosphere here is unbelievable,” the future Cavalier said. “For me it’s like a second home. Sometimes I’m here more than I am at home. I know the guys in my group of friends are going to be friends for the rest of our lives. You can’t even explain the feeling that you have being a part of something so unique as this place.

“I think that being in an all- boys environment helped because I didn’t get distracted. It’s always been school, sports, friends and family for me,” explained the soon to be Class of 2012 alumnus. “I was always so busy I didn’t really have time for much else. I have great friends and a good school. That’s all I really needed.”

Devon Prep is a private, Catholic, college preparatory school for young men in grades six through 12 conducted by the Piarist Fathers. The school is located on a 20 acre campus in Devon, Chester County and enrolls nearly 300 students who hail from Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties as well as parts of Philadelphia. For more information call 610-688-7337 or visit www.devonprep.com  or www.facebook.com/devonprep.

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John LaPrise was featured in a Philadelphia Inquirer article
http://articles.philly.com/2012-05-10/news/31642314_1_bas...

He was also named Main Line Athlete of the Week
http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2012/05/16/spor...

Below are some of the many awards John as accumulated throughout his career at Devon Prep.
2012 Philadelphia Inquirer Southeastern PA High School Baseball First Team
2012 BAL Most Valuable Player
2012 All BAL Baseball 1st Team
2011-12 Philadelphia Inquirer Southeastern PA High School Baseball Player to Watch
2012 Devon Prep Baseball MVP
2012 Devon Prep Alumni Award for Athletics
2011 Main Line Media News All Main Line Baseball 1st Team
2011 Daily Local News All Area Baseball 1st Team
2011 Nominee for Main Line Media News Baseball Player of the Year
2011 Philadelphia Inquirer All Southeastern PA High School Baseball 3rd Team
2011 All BAL Baseball 1st Team
2011 BAL Independence Division All League Basketball 1st Team
2011 Devon Prep Barry M. Henley Award for Baseball