Jack Barton is a standout defender from the ADVNC SF & NDP ‘25 team committed to play at the University of North Carolina in the Fall of 2025.

Jack was introduced to lacrosse by his older brother, Paul, who is four years older than Jack. Paul Barton was a standout defenseman on the ADVNC SF & NDP ‘21 team who is a rising senior for the UNC Tar Heels.

“When I was 5 years old, Paul and his best friend took me outside to the wall and gave me a stick for the first time,” Jack Barton recalled. “They challenged me to do one rep of wall ball. I tried it, got it, and it felt great. I really enjoyed lacrosse right away, and soon joined the Grizzlies.”

The Grizzlies led to the Firehawks, and the Firehawks soon led Jack to start playing for ADVNC.

“ADVNC has always been super fun,” Jack said. “Those early Tahoe tournaments really stick out. I remember Matt Higgins had his first BTB goal there, and it was so sick. I also remember trying to play goalie there for the first time. I got creamed by the ball in the chest, and I decided right there that goalie was not for me.”

Jack followed in Paul’s footsteps and started playing defense full time in 7th grade. “I had a bunch of buddies on ADVNC already playing D,” Jack said. “Hampton Galletti, Cole Staley, Matt Schieble, Matt McKane, Ethan Tanner, and Carson Miks. They wanted me to join them. Switching to defense was a lot more fun, and we became a really strong group.”

Jack’s dad, Harris, was an All-American offensive lineman on UNC’s football team. He went on to have an outstanding NFL career for the San Francisco 49ers, becoming a two-time First Team All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl Champion, starring alongside other NFL legends such as Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Ronnie Lott. 

So how did his two boys end up becoming lacrosse players? “When I got to Carolina, I became friends with a lot of the guys on the lacrosse team,” Harris said. “The thing that struck me is what a great family sport lacrosse is. There is such a strong family atmosphere around the game, and it’s so great for families to bring up their kids in lacrosse. My boys didn’t really want to play football. So I showed them lacrosse. It’s been really great for them and for our family.”

Jack played all through middle school and into high school with ADVNC NDP. While the lacrosse was great, he cherishes the friendships and fun times even more. “All the ADVNC coaches are super fun guys,” said Jack. “All the guys on the team are great kids and super fun to be around. Just being at an ADVNC practice is like a reunion with your cousins every time. Seeing guys that go to different schools. Being in the hotels with them at tournaments. Going out to eat. Goofing around. Then getting back on the field with the guys that you want to go to war with the next morning at 8am. I had so much fun with ADVNC.”

Jack gives special mention to his ADVNC teammates, Graham Kaestner, Timmy Donatelli, Henry Rydberg, Atticus Oliven, and Jack Garlinghouse as being huge influences on him and great friends. “G-House and his dad, (Brad Garlinghouse) really helped me love lacrosse,” Jack Barton said. “His dad was one of my first coaches. He would give out the ‘ramma lamma game ball’ to whoever had the most assists. He would emphasize that assists were better than goals. That stuck with me. It really created a great team atmosphere.”

When the time came for Jack’s college recruitment, he was open to all schools, despite the fact that his entire family, from his dad, to his brother, and both of his sisters all went to UNC. “But when I visited Chapel Hill on my first recruiting trip, I had a blast,” Jack said. “All the guys were awesome, and I just knew that’s where I wanted to go. I committed in person, and I am so excited to go to school there next year.”

Jack leaned on his Sacred Heart Prep head coach and ADVNC Founder/CEO Chris Rotelli throughout his recruiting process. “Coach Rotelli has always been great to me,” said Jack. “He’s always very positive, never negative. He’s helped me study film, and he’s always willing to talk.”

Throughout the entire journey, Jack has had his brother, Paul by his side. “He’s always been there for me little by little,” Jack said. “He will help me, pick me up when I’m down, and help me learn what to do next. He’s always willing to play catch, work out and watch film.”

Jack said he and Paul watch a lot of PLL games together during the summer, and they especially admire the play of Whipsnakes’ defender Ajax Zappitello. 

“It’s been so fun watching Paul and Jack love the game of lacrosse together,” said their mom, Meg Barton. “Watching them excel at something they love and be surrounded by a great group of friends has been so positive. Lacrosse is such a great team sport.”

Looking back on the journey, Jack has this advice for younger players who aspire to become great. “Stay hungry and always know there is someone out there who is better than you. Have fun working hard, and enjoy the time while you have it, because it goes by super fast. Be a great teammate, have fun and work hard.”

Meg Barton has this advice for younger families who are considering ADVNC. “Don’t push the young players too hard too quickly. Enjoy the time you get to spend with your child and also make friends with the other parents because you can create some really special friendships. All of these players are lucky to be under Chris Rotelli’s leadership. He’s calm and knows what he’s doing.  On top of helping develop them into a great lacrosse player, he helps your child be a great citizen of the world.”

Harris Barton feels similarly in saying, “Make sure your kid is having fun with lacrosse. They have to want to be great. If they don’t want it, that’s fine too, but if they want to take their game to the next level, they have to be the one who wants it.”