Smithtown East boys lacrosse star Cameron James wins prestigious Lt. Ray Enners Award

When Smithtown East boys lacrosse coach Kevin Huff was going through the team’s locker room at the end of the team’s season, he found a list in senior captain Cameron James’ locker.

The list, handwritten by James during the winter, included several goals, separated by individual and team achievements. He checked off a few of the former, like a 100-point season, and several of the latter with the Bulls earning the No. 1 seed and winning their first county title since 2015.

But the list also included a few examples of what makes James a uniquely special talent. “Stay positive. Give the team my all. Resolve any inter-squad issues. Have fun.”

All were checked off. And before James left Holbrook’s Villa Lombardi’s Monday at the Suffolk County Lacrosse Coaches’ Association awards dinner, he checked off one more achievement on his list as he was named the 2026 recipient of the Lt. Ray Enners Award.

The award, which debuted in 1970, is given to the top lacrosse player in the county each year who “best exemplifies courage, teamwork, skill and leadership,” according to the award’s website.

“It was my biggest goal, besides winning a championship, so to just hear my name announced with all the history of the award and the great players in the past, it’s a real weight off my chest,” James said. “It’s what I’ve been working for up until this point.”

Enners, a football, basketball and lacrosse captain for Half Hollow Hills before attending West Point, was killed in action on Sept. 18, 1968, in North Vietnam. The 22-year-old carried a wounded squad leader to safety and was fatally wounded while leading an attack.

Enners was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for his heroism.

James is the fourth recipient from Smithtown East to win the award and the first since Gerard Arceri in 2016. With 64 goals, 40 assists and 78 ground balls, the Johns Hopkins commit led Smithtown East to a 15-4 record.

“I’ve been coaching for over 40 years, and I hate to say this all the time, but I’ve never had a complete player like Cameron,” Huff said. “I’ve had players who have been really good, players that were athletic, but he is the whole package.”

SCLA, Kaelyn’s Krusaders, debut new scholarship

When Lindenhurst senior Kaelyn McCandless was 8 years old, doctors found a high-grade malignant brain tumor on her motor strip, which controls movement. Almost a decade later, she continues to inspire others with her battle and spirit on Lindenhurst’s sideline as the team’s official scorekeeper alongside her father, boys lacrosse coach Tommy McCandless.

“From the very beginning, throughout my journey and even now, I’ve been surrounded by an incredible amount of love and support,” Kaelyn McCandless said. ”My community has stood by my side every step of the way.”

On Monday, the McCandless’ foundation, Kaelyn’s Krusaders, and the Suffolk County Lacrosse Association, debuted the Kaelyn McCandless Krusader Scholarship, worth $3,000, at the awards dinner.

Mount Sinai’s Sean Oakes, a junior goalie who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called pediatric follicular lymphoma in the fall, became the first recipient of the award. His coach, Harold Drumm, introduced him as “a wonderful young man, dedicated to his team and community.”

“It means a lot to me,” Oakes said of winning the award. “I’m very grateful to live and be playing lacrosse despite my diagnosis. I'm very grateful, I’m very lucky and I hope to keep getting better and better.”