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Derek Sabel had plenty of time to consider his offer from the United States Naval Academy.
The Leading Edge 2027 and Seton Hall Prep midfielder earned an offer from the Midshipmen in July. He knew that he wanted to wait until September when non-service academy Division I schools could first reach out to juniors in order to see what other interest materialized.
That additional interest came, but when Sabel looked at his recruitment, that didn’t change anything. He realized pretty quickly that there was no reason to look elsewhere because Navy’s as good as it gets.
“I realized that I didn’t know what I was looking for in a different school and I knew what I had in Navy,” Sabel said. “I’ve always wanted to make a different, not just play lacrosse, and I’ve always wanted to do something that will impact the world. Serving the country is the best way to do that.”
No Way to Say No
Sabel committed to the Midshipmen, becoming the second Leading Edge ’27 to verbal after defenseman Luke St. Pierre (Lawrenceville / North Carolina). Nine more players have since committed to help Leading Edge rank among the country’s early leading clubs in commitments. Sabel will be the first Leading Edge player to suit up for Navy since ’19 Drew Robinson.
“All the players and alumni that I talked to spoke so highly of the program. There was really no way for me to say no,” Sabel said. “One of the main points driving my recruiting was going to a school that had a great team culture. I just saw a great opportunity, especially with the serving aspect. I saw something in how the team acts and I couldn’t speak more highly of every single player on the team and every member of the coaching staff. After I went on my visit to Navy, my dad and I went out to eat and I didn’t stop smiling for hours. It was definitely what I was looking for.”
Dynamic Impact at Midfield
Sabel saw time all over the field before finally settling in at SSDM for a Seton Hall Prep team that finally broke through for a state championship and its first Kirst Cup this spring. He parlayed that into a strong summer with the Leading Edge ’27s, one where he continued to assert himself as a midfielder that could thrive in multiple situations. Sabel’s been a presence in the Leading Edge offense ever since his arrival to the club two seasons ago.
“Derek’s been one of our biggest offensive threats on a consistent basis ever since he joined our team,” Leading Edge director Chris Roy said. “He’s got an excellent first step and a high IQ, and he’s got the versatility to make an impact all over the field. Derek can initiate offensively, take wings, play defense and anything else that’s asked of him. He’s been a driving force behind our ’27 team’s success and (Navy coach) Coach (Joe) Amplo got himself a good one. We’re excited to see Derek thrive both on and off the field at the Naval Academy.”