Sophomore Jesse Leung might seem to be a man of few words, but it does not stop him from being one of the fiercest players on the field or rink.

As a member of the boys varsity lacrosse and hockey teams, Leung’s speed, awareness, emphasis on teamwork and finesse attracted the attention of lacrosse coaches from Division I universities, specifically the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Leung has verbally committed to UMass Amherst, which means he has unofficially agreed to attend school there. He said that it was a big decision for him to make, but it felt like the right one, because he liked the structure of the UMass Amherst team.

“I talked to my parents about it and I talked to my coaches, and for me, UMass was a place I wanted to go to college and the coach was someone I wanted to play for. I really liked the way the team was run, and the team has bonded with each other and the school,” Leung said.

According to George Leung, Jesse’s father, Leung also received a scholarship to UMass.

In Leung’s first year of high school lacrosse, his real skill was the ability to learn and be smart during games, high school boys varsity lacrosse coach Steve Zella said.

“He’s a student in the game, and he wants to learn, and he picks it right up,” Zella said. “He’s been playing for a long time. Jesse is probably the best freshman that’s played for me.”

Zella said that he never had such a young player be committed to a Division I program before.

He added that Leung scored 41 goals and had 34 assists during his freshman season.

“What makes him stand out from other people is he’s such a quiet and humble kid,” Zella said. “You would look at him, and you wouldn’t expect that he has 75 points as a freshman. He’s a huge predator on the field. He’s a very, very special player.”

During lacrosse games, quietness doesn’t get in the way, junior Clay Goldthwait, Leung’s teammate, said. He said Leung consistently tries to get teammates involved in the game.

“But then he gets on the field, and he’s out there and doing a lot for the team. It’s the same person, but he just plays differently than he acts,” Goldthwait said.

Off the field, Leung is laid-back and quiet, but on the field he becomes more active to bring teammates together, Zella said.

“This kid’s really ready to play lacrosse,” Zella said. “He cares about the teammates just as much as he cares about himself. He’s definitely a high-level player on the field.”

Leung said that lacrosse is a special sport in that it is very team-based and fast. He also said that he is looking forward to continuing his lacrosse career at UMass.

“I think the sport and the coaches and teammates around me have made me a better person: more respectful of people around me, and of what’s around me,” Leung said. “It’s opened a lot of doors for me, and I’m very thankful for that.”

Lizzy Filine can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.