Home Lucca DiBartolomeo

Lucca DiBartolomeo

Committed to:Penn State
Position
LSM
Year
2024
High School
Malvern Prep, Pa.
Height
5'11"
Weight
160
Current Team
Brotherly Love
Rating:
5 out of 5 stars

NLF Spring 2022 Class of 2024 Rankings
Ranked No. 6

The No. 1 LSM in these rankings, DiBartolomeo is an incredibly tenacious, high-energy, aggressive difference-maker on the field. He’s eschewed the game of a modern-day offensive LSM for a more throwback defensive role, and it works to perfection for him. That’s not to say that he can’t push the pace in transition – he most definitely can – but he’s significantly ahead of most of his position mates in the class as a defender.

At his young age, DiBartolomeo has already defeated cancer – not a big deal – and that fighting spirit shows up in spades in his game. There’s only one speed with him. He causes an incredible amount of havoc in the middle of the field, does an excellent job on ground balls and is the type of guy that you want on your side in any scrap. He earned regular playing time for Malvern last year as a freshman, backing up All-American pole Pup Buono, now at Penn State. It would be a surprise to see him not garner All Inter-Ac honors – and beyond – this spring. He’s that good.

“He has the potential to be one of the best ones we’ve ever had here,” Malvern defensive coordinator Paul O’Grady said earlier this season before DiBartolomeo spearheaded a stingy defensive effort in a win over rival Haverford School. “He’s a freak.”

That he is. DiBartolomeo, who reclassed from ’23 to ’24 as a result of the cancer diagnosis, has a set of twin brothers in the ’24 class. Peri and Roman are both terrific defensive midfielders, and it’ll be interesting to see if they end up as a package deal for a lucky school.

One Percent Showcase Evaluation

All-Star. One of the premier defenders in the class, DiBartolomeo earned a ton of playing time for a loaded Friars team this spring. It isn’t hard to see why John McEvoy and Malvern think so highly of him. His motor is always going and he’s always making splash plays. His tenacity and aggressiveness make him a nightmare to go up against between the lines and his coverage is definitely above average for an LSM.

CrabFeast Standout

Both Brotherly Love LSMs loomed large, with Michael Waite (Downingtown East, Pa.) also impressing. (Waite had an assist in the semifinal.) DiBartolomeo, a cancer survivor who earned a ton of playing time for NLFRankings.com No. 2 Malvern Prep this spring, was noticeable for his open-field speed, his diligence on the ground, his elusiveness to get out of trouble and his active stick to harass opponents and to be a constant presence in passing lanes.

Malvern-Haverford Standout

It’s rare that a freshman earns playing time on a team as good as Malvern, but DiBartolomeo more than held his own. He’s been correctly taught that there’s only way to play and it’s all out, all the time, and he does just that. Already a cancer survivor, DiBartolomeo reclassed as a result of missing school due to the cancer treatments and Covid. He’s got more toughness than he knows what to do with, got his stick in passing lanes and showed an advanced understanding of the Friars’ defensive schemes. He’s next in line at Malvern.

“I just think our defense is a highly physical team that loves to get after it, and when we get after it, good things happen,” DiBartolomeo said. “Pressing the ball, getting ground balls, every chance we get, we’re on the ball. Most of the times, we brought them to 80 seconds (on the shot clock) and they had many turnovers off that.”

Major Accolades

2021 One Percent Showcase All-Star
2021 Maverik Showtime All-Star
2020 One Percent Showcase All-Star