Jacob Keller ’23 Commits to Saint Joseph’s University
Class of 2023 graduate, Jacob Keller is getting set to take his talents in academics and lacrosse to Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia in the fall of 2024.
“When considering potential schools, I had five main factors that I took into consideration: academics, athletics, culture, cost, and location,” says Keller. “The school needed to have strong academics and athletics, I had to like the culture and feel like I would fit in, the financial commitment to attend the school had to be within our means, and the school needed to be within driving distance. Saint Joseph’s checked all those boxes for me. They have strong academics and athletics, and they are competitive within the Atlantic 10. When I visited, I loved the culture on the team, I had a great time during my visit and I already knew two players, one of which was Liam Ferris ’19, a St. Mike’s alumnus.”
At Saint Joseph’s, Keller plans to pursue a degree in finance and sports marketing and has committed to playing on the school’s men’s lacrosse team as an attackman.
“Saint Joseph’s is a big, tough, and gritty team that fits into the Canadian lacrosse style,” he says. “I wanted to go to a school that would know how to use a Canadian player and to do that I chose the best school with a Canadian coach — which was Saint Joseph’s. The open/free playing style is something that I believe will allow me to have the most success.”
Growing up, Keller played for the Mimico Mountaineers, Edge Lacrosse, and Team Ontario. In 2023, he was selected to play for the U19 Team Ontario and invited to attend a U19 Team Canada training camp.
“Jacob Keller is the definition of the student-athlete,” says Angus Dineley ’03, Head of the English Department and coach of the Sr. Blue Gaels lacrosse team. “He had a tremendous impact on the field as the engine of our offense the past two seasons, as a fiercely competitive teammate, and, off the field, as a leader in the classroom. He’s an athletic, physical player who wants the ball in high-pressure situations, which makes him very easy to coach. His desire to improve is matched by his work ethic, which will undoubtedly lead to success at the NCAA-level with the Saint Joseph Hawks.”
In addition to sharing his talents as a member of the Blue Gaels Lacrosse Team, Keller was also an outstanding student at SMCS, graduating with a Basilian Book Award for achieving an over 90% average as well as a St. Thomas More Society award for consistently maintaining an average of more than 80% throughout his high school career. At the 2023 Athletic Awards Banquet, Keller was awarded a Sr. Lacrosse Co-MVP award and was recognized as one of our Outstanding Graduating Athletes.
“My St. Mike’s lacrosse experience is something I will never forget,” says Keller. “The reason why I enrolled at St. Mike’s was that I was inspired after watching a ‘Friday Night Lights’ game in Grade 5. When I first came to the school, I didn’t even have a thought of trying to go play in the NCAA, but throughout the years at St. Mike’s, my skills quickly improved and I eventually ended up where I am today.”
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