The 2015 Major League Lacrosse Draft was held in Baltimore, Md.
The 2015 Major League Lacrosse Draft took place in Baltimore, Md. on Friday, Jan. 23 at the US Lacrosse National Convention and LaxRecords.com is looking at the players’ personal performances during their high school and college careers.
MLL Draft Coverage: Rounds 1 – 4 | Rounds 5 – 8 | MLL Record Book
Round 1
No. 1 Florida: LYLE THOMPSON, Sr., Attack
Albany (N.Y.)/Lafayette (N.Y.), 2008 – 2011
Lyle Thompson is one of the most prolific high school scorers in history. (Credit Syracuse Athletics).
College: No. 1 in NCAA with an average of 7.11 points per game. Thompson had 128 points on 77 assists and 51 goals as a junior with Albany. Through three college seasons, Thompson has 279 career points on 156 assists and 123 goals. The current senior is just 79 points away from becoming the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history. He would surpass Rob Pannell, who played at Cornell from 2009 to 2013.
High School: Thompson was equally prolific in high school, coming in at No. 8 on the all-time points list with 511 (individual goals and assists are missing). The attackman was a 2011 Under Armour All-American and a three-time First All-Central New York selection. He also earned league MVP and First Team All-Northern honors. (Albany bio)
No. 2 Florida: CONNOR BUCZEK, Sr., Midfield
Cornell/St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio), 2008 – 2011
College: Buczek was named the Ivy League Player of the Year as a junior and was a unanimous first-team All-Ivy and first-team All-American. He was a Tewaaraton Trophy nominee after finishing the season ranked third on the team in goals (30) and eighth in the Ivy League in goals per game (1.88). He was also third on the team in assists (17), and third overall in points (47).
High School: The 2011 graduate finished his career with 410 career points to become the all-time leader in Ohio. LaxRecords.com is missing his goals/assists breakdown. The midfielder was a member of the United States U19 men’s lacrosse team that won the gold medal at the 2012 IFL U19 World Championship and a two-time All-American.
No. 3 Charlotte: WILL HAUS, Sr., Midfield
Duke/Palmyra Area (Palmyra, Pa.), 2008 – 2011
College: The third pick in the draft is a two-time USILA Honorable Mention All-American. Haus was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team last season after totaling 15 points on 11 goals and four assists during Duke’s run to the National Championship. He had 44 ground balls last season and scored a critical goal in the championship win over Notre Dame.
High School: Haus was a four-year letter winner (he played his final two seasons at Palmyra) and a three-time All-Conference selection, including his final two years in the Mid Penn Conference. He finished his senior season with 47 goals and 34 assists after registering 47 goals and 23 assists as a junior with Palmyra, earning All-America recognition as a junior and senior. He was selected to The Patriot News lacrosse all-star first team as a junior and a senior.
No. 4 Boston: RYAN TUCKER, Midfield
Virginia/Gilman (Baltimore, Md.), 2008 – 2011
Ryan Tucker was a high school All-American at Gilman.
College: Tucker has 58 ground balls, 52 goals and 13 assists through three years at Virginia. The midfielder appeared in 16 games as a freshman, started 12 as a sophomore and started in all 15 games as a junior. He is a two-time All-ACC Academic Team selection. He scored a career high five goals against Rutgers on Feb. 22, 2014.
High School: The son of John and Janine Tucker was part of the inaugural Warrior 40 as one of the best high school underclassmen in the nation and won the fastest shot competition with a 97-mph shot. He was Inside Lacrosse’s No. 10 recruit as a senior and was an Under Armour All-American. He had 52 ground balls and 25 goals as a senior at Gilman and was an All-MIAA A selection.
No. 5 Boston: JOHN GLESENER, Sr., Attack
Army/West Genesee (N.Y.), 2007 – 2010
College: The senior led Army in goals and points last season; totaling 43 goals and 57 points. Glesener was nominated for the Tewaaraton Award and named a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Third Team All-American. He ranked as the No. 4 scorer in the nation last season with a 3.07 goals per game average.
High School: Glesener was an US Lacrosse and Under Armour All-American selection in 2010 while at West Genesee. He was also named West Genny’s Most Valuable Player and First Team All-Central New York as a senior. The attackman helped West Genesee to the 2008 Class A NYS championship.
No. 6 Rochester: JESSE KING, Midfield
Ohio State/Claremont Secondary (Canada), 2008 – 2011
College: King has totaled 131 points on 77 goals and 54 assists through his first three seasons at Ohio State. King was second on team with career-high 32 goals, 23 assists and 55 points last season and had multiple tallies in 11 outings and multiple points in all but three games in 2013.
High School: King was the British Columbia Intermediate Lacrosse League MVP award winner while leading his team to the BCILL Championship. He was a member of 2010 high school field lacrosse championship squad and named tournament MVP and a two-time Claremont Team MVP after leading the squad in scoring with 108 points in 19 games.
No. 7 Rochester: JACK NEAR, Midfield
Notre Dame/Bronxville (N.Y.), 2008 – 2011
College: According to his Notre Dame bio, Near has notched three goals, one assist and 39 ground balls in 30 career games.
High School: Near was named his team MVP as a sophomore and earned Captain status as both a junior and senior while at Bronxville. He helped his team to conference championships in 2010 and 2011.
No. 8 Denver: NIKKO PONTRELLO, Sr., Attack
Loyola (Md.)/St. Augustine Prep (N.J.)
College: No. 20 overall in Division I with 3.71 points per game. Tallied a total of 51 goals and 12 assists in 17 games. Was fifth in Division I with 3.00 goals per game average.
High School: Pontrello graduated as the Hermits all-time assists leader and totaled 174 points during his junior and senior seasons. He earned a spot on LaxRecords.com 2011 Best Known Performances list during his senior year by tallying 56 assists. The attackman earned All-State, All-Conference and All-Philadelphia Inquirer First Team performer honors as a junior. (College bio)
Round 2
No. 9 Charlotte: JOEY SANKEY, Sr., Attack
North Carolina/Penn Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.), 2008 – 2011
Joey Sankey was an Under Armour All-American.
College: The Tarheel tied for 18th overall with 3.80 points per game. Sankey had 57 points on 33 goals and 24 assists last season.
High School: Tallied 109 points during his senior season, on the strength of 58 goals and 51 assists. The attacker finished his career with 342 points, which puts him second in Pennsylvania behind Mannheim Township’s Tim Stratton (589 points). Sankey was a 2011 Under Armour All-American in addition to earning US Lacrosse All-American honors in 2010 and 2011.
No. 10 New York: MICHAEL PELLEGRINO, Sr., Defense
Johns Hopkins/Connetquot (N.Y.), 2008 – 2011
College: Pellegrino is a second-year captain, making him just the 13th Johns Hopkins player since 1949 to be selected as a captain more than once. He enters his final season with 98 ground balls and 38 caused turnovers in his career. His 98 ground balls are the most of any non-face-off specialist on the team.
High School: Pellegrino had more than 100 ground balls in each of the last two years and totaled more than 350 in career while at Connetquot. He was a 2011 Under Armour All-American and helped his team to the Suffolk County semifinals in each of his final three seasons.
No. 11 New York: RYAN WALSH, Sr., Attack
Colgate/Wantagh (N.Y.), 2008 – 2011
College: The No. 11 overall pick was named to All-Patriot League Second Team after claiming Raiders’ scoring triple crown in which he led the team with 45 points, 31 goals and tied for the team lead with 14 assists. Through three seasons, Walsh has 153 points on 106 goals and 47 assists.
High School: Walsh tallied 257 points on 157 goals and 100 assists in his high school career. He recorded 52 goals and 24 assists during his senior year and was the captain of the team. He was a member of the Long Island Empire team that won a gold medal at 2010 New York State Empire Games.
No. 12 Boston: WELLS STANWICK, Sr., Attack
Johns Hopkins/Boys’ Latin (Baltimore, Md.), 2008 – 2011
Stanwick has been a star at every stop in his career.
College: Stannic was No. 8 overall in the nation in scoring with 4.19 points per game last season. He had 67 points on 44 assists and 23 goals and is Johns Hopkins’ career active leader in points (137) and assists (81) entering the 2015 season. Overall, he ranks 26th in school history in points and 11th in assists and will carry a 19-game point-scoring streak into the 2015 season.
High School: There was not much Stanwick did not do in high school at Boys’ Latin. He was a finalist for the C. Markland Kelly Award (awarded to Maryland’s top high school lacrosse player), earned a spot on the Under Armour All-American team and was a two-time First Team All-Baltimore Metro selection. He helped lead the Lakers to the MIAA “A” championship as a junior. Stanwick finished his high school career with 165 assists and 116 goals.
No. 13 Florida: CHAD TUTTON, Sr., Midfield
North Carolina/Hill Academy (Canada), 2008 – 2011
College: Tutton enters the 2014 season with a 13-game goal-scoring streak that equals the 12th longest streak in UNC history. He has at least one point in 26 of the past 27 games and has scored a goal in 25 of the past 26 games. The midfielder is a preseason first-team Face-Off Yearbook All-America selection as an offensive midfielder and was named to coaches preseason All-ACC Team.
High School: Tutton was Hill Academy’s leading scorer in 2010. In 2009, he played for the Canadian National Box Lacrosse silver medalists in the Founders Cup as a member of Clarington Green Gaels and the previous year was on the Canadian National Gold Medal championship team (Team Ontario Box Lacrosse) and the Ontario Summer Games gold medal title-winning squad (Whitby Warriors).
No. 14 Chesapeake: ERIK ADAMSON, Sr., Midfield
Denver/Foothill-Santa Ana (Santa Ana, Calif.), 2008 – 2011
College: Through his first three seasons, Adamson has played in 48 games, totaling 102 points on 76 goals and 26 assists. He earned First Team All-Big East honors in addition to USILA Honorable Mention All-American honors after his junior year.
High School: Adamson was the No. 10 goal scorer in the nation in 2011 with 76 goals for Foothill-Santa Ana. He earned both US Lacrosse All-America and All-County honors his senior year in addition to MVP of Orange County.
No. 15 Rochester: No selection
No. 16 Denver: WES BERG, Sr., Midfield
Denver/Charles Best Secondary (Canada), 2008 – 2011
College: The midfielder has 167 career points on 120 goals and 47 assists in his career and was the No. 22 leading scorer in the NCAA last season with 2.53 goals per game.
High School: Berg played offense for club box lacrosse for 15 years and as an attackman in club field lacrosse for four. He was a three-sport athlete at Charles Best Secondary. He earned First Team All-Big East honors in addition to earning a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament team last season. Berg was also a Tewaaraton Award nominee last year.
Round 3
No. 17 Chesapeake: HENRY SCHOONMAKER, Sr., Midfield
Syracuse/Lincoln (Portland, Ore.), 2008 – 2011
College: Through his junior year, Schoonmaker has 47 career points on 38 goals and nine assists. He also has 57 career ground balls. He enters 2015 as an Inside Lacrosse Preseason Honorable Mention All-American and team Co-Captain.
High School: Schoonmaker finished his scholastic career with 103 goals and 58 assists after a senior year in which he totaled Tallied 68 goals and 35 assists. He led Lincoln to a state championship in 2008 and 2010 and was a 2010 U.S. Lacrosse All-American and Oregon State Player of the Year.
No. 18 Florida: JOE LOCASCIO, Sr., Midfield
Maryland/St. Anthony’s (South Huntington, N.Y.), 2008 – 2011
College: The midfielder had a breakout junior season for the Terrapins; totaling 20 goals. He only had 10 career goals through his first two years.
High School: LoCascio was a two-time letter winner for St. Anthony’s and helped lead the Friars to back-to-back NSCHSLAA titles and a 38-5 record over his two seasons. He finished his career with 155 career ground balls, 47 goals and 43 assists. As senior, LoCascio was named to the 2011 Under Armour High School All-American team.
No. 19 Chesapeake: MATT DONOVAN, Midfield
Cornell/Seton Hall Prep (N.J.)/Lawrenceville (N.J.), 2007 – 2011
College: Donovan was named the Ivy League’s Rookie of the Year in 2012 and earned Second Team All-Ivy in the same year.
High School: After helping Seton Hall to the Essex County tournament in 2010, Donovan led Lawrenceville to the NJISAA championship and the MAPL championship in 2011. Donovan was named first-team all-state and was selected for the Inter-AC Invitational All-Tournament team in 2011. He also won Lawrenceville’s Pershing Trophy for lacrosse.
No. 20 New York: HAKEEM LECKY, Sr., Midfield
Syracuse/Duxbury (Mass.)/ Avon Old Farms (Conn.), 2006 – 2010
College: A Co-Captain heading into his senior year, Lecky has 33 career points on 29 goals and four assists. He has 22 ground balls and has scored at least one goal in each of the last five games of his junior year.
High School: Lecky registered 27 goals, 15 assists and 58 ground balls as a senior at Duxbury and was named to the All-Patriot League First Team. He was a 2009 Under Armour and U.S. Lacrosse All-American. During his one year at Avon Old Farms, the midfielder helped lead the team to a 15-3 record and the 2010 Founder’s League title.
No. 21 Rochester: JORDAN STEVENS, Sr., Defense
Cornell/Smithtown West (Smithtown, N.Y.), 2008 – 2011
College: The No. 21 overall selection earned First Team All-Ivy League and All-America Honorable Mention honors as one of the top cover men in the Ivy League last season. Stevens ranked second on the team in ground balls (3.25 per game) and caused turnovers (1.19 per game).
High School: Stevens was a four-year starter at Smithtown HS West, and was the team captain during his senior season. He was also a member of the Long Island Empire State team.
No. 22 Ohio: JIMMY BITTER, Sr., Attack
North Carolina/Deerfield Academy (Deerfield, Mass.), 2008 – 2011
Jimmy Bitter was one of the first Warrior 40 participants.
College: Bitter has 89 career goals after a junior season in which he tallied 30. He was the No. 48 leading scorer in the NCAA last season with 2.14 goals per game.
High School: As a senior at Deerfield Academy, Bitter led the team in scoring with 75 points on 52 goals and 23 assists. He won the Stephen Lindsay Award as the most valuable attackman in Western New England Division I in 2011 and was an Under Armour All-American selection. Bitter was a three-time All-New England selection and the team’s leading scorer as both a sophomore and senior. Deerfield lost only two games in his career and won the Western New England title his sophomore campaign.
Round 4
No. 23 Florida: KEVIN RICE, Sr., Attack
Syracuse/Skaneateles (N.Y.), 2008 – 2011
College: Ranked at No. 5 overall and only behind Thompson for underclassmen in NCAA points per game. Rice averaged 5.00 points per game with 80 points on 44 assists and 36 goals.
High School: Rice was a 2011 Under Armour and U.S. Lacrosse All-American and was selected to play in the 2011 Champion All-American Showcase. As a senior at Skaneateles (N.Y.), Rice led Central New York in scoring with 136 points on 70 goals and 66 assists. During his time in high school, Rice helped the Lakers to three league championships and a 2010 Section III title. He completed his high school career with 184 goals and 117 assists and earned the 2011 Auburn Citizen Player of the Year.
No. 24 Chesapeake: CHARLIE RAFFA, Sr., FOGO
Maryland/St. Anthony’s (South Huntington, N.Y.), 2008 – 2011
College: Raffa has won 373 of 612 face offs through his first three seasons; good for a .609 win percentage. He earned USILA Second Team All-American All-ACC honors in 2014.
High School: Raffa was selected to the U.S. Under-19 National Team and was a member of the 2011 Under Armour High School All-American team. Inside Lacrosse ranked Raffa as the 78th overall recruit. He returned from injury to be named MVP of the NSCHSAA championship game after scoring two goals and was the 2011 NSCHSAA Face-off Midfielder of the Year.
No. 25 Chesapeake: CALLUM ROBINSON, Sr., Defense
Stevenson/Sacred Heart (N.Y.), 2004 – 2008
College: Was second on the Mustangs with 36 caused turnovers and was third with 74 ground balls. He earned 2014 All-Commonwealth Conference First Team and 2014 USILA Second Team All-American honors.
High School: Originally from Perth, Western Australia. No high school data available.
No. 26 Charlotte: KEVIN MASSA, Sr., FOGO
Bryant/John Glenn (Elwood, N.Y.), 2008 – 2011
College: Massa has won a career high 24 face-offs twice in his Bryant career. The last time cam against Quinnipiac on March 30, 2013. He as a Tewaaraton Award Semifinalist last season and a USILA First Team All-American.
High School: Massa led John Glenn to the Class C Suffolk County Championship in 2010 and received the school’s most outstanding athlete award for his senior year. He was a 2011 All-Suffolk County selection.
No. 27 Ohio: RYAN IZZO, Sr., Midfield
UMass/Walpole (Mass.), 2007 – 2010
College: A redshirt senior with 83 career ground balls and 22 caused turnovers. Is had a career high seven ground balls against North Carolina on Feb. 16, 2013.
High School: Izzo totaled 180 points on 131 goals and 49 assists in his high school career. As a senior, he recorded 38 goals and 16 assists while winning more than 60 percent of the face-offs he took. He also holds the Commonwealth of Massachusetts scholastic football scoring and touchdown records with 722 career points and 101 touchdowns.
No. 28 New York: MATT POILLON, Sr., Goalie
Lehigh/Mount Sinai (N.Y.), 2008 – 2011
College: In three years, Pollen has 475 career saves and has allowed an average of just 7.25 goals per game. He has a 37-11 career record. He was the No. 50 player in the NCAA last season with 9.24 saves per game after making 157 saves.
High School: Pollen was a four-year varsity lacrosse player, earning All-Division/All-County honors three times and team MVP twice during his time at Mount Sinai. The goalie was the team 2011 Outstanding Athlete of the Year in addition to a Suffolk County Athlete of the Year nominee and North Shore Sun Athlete of the Year.
No. 29 Rochester: RANDY STAATS, Sr., Attack
Syracuse/McKinnon Park Secondary (Canada), 2007 – 2010
College: In his first season with Syracuse, Staats was a Tewaaraton Award nominee as national player of the year and earned All-ACC Tournament Team honors. He was third on the team in goals (33), second in assists (23) and second in points (56).
High School: Staats high school numbers are not easily discovered, but he attended Onondaga Community College from 2012 to 2013 and was a two-time NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-American. He led the NJCAA in scoring with 139 points (57 goals, 82 assists) in 2012 and 156 points (73 goals, 83 assists) in 2013.
No. 30 Denver: CARSON CANNON, Sr., Defense
Denver/Stillwater Area (Oak Park Heights, Minn.), 2008 – 2011
College: Cannon has played in 52 games for the Pioneers, causing 20 turnovers and grabbing 44 ground balls over his career. He was a First Team All-ECAC selection in 2013.
High School: Cannon was named Captain during his senior year at Stillwater Area after earning All-State Honorable Mention during his junior season. A two-sport star, Cannon tallied 376 yards on 27 receptions for the football team during his senior year.