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DRAFT PROIFLE: SID SMITH

09/07/2009

Copy by Peter Flynn for NLL.com

Sid Smith, the six foot, two hundred twenty five pound Six Nations, Ontartio native, is one of the top prospects for the 2009 NLL Entry Draft. The Syracuse Orange and Six Nations Chiefs member has the potential to be a game changing defenseman in the NLL.

Smith was born and raised on the Six Nations Indian reservation near the Grand River of Ontario. Smith later enrolled at Onondaga Community College for two years. During the 2006 season Smith helped lead Onondaga to an 18-0 record and a NJCAA national title. Smith spent his next year at Onondaga working on his grades.

Smith moved on from Onondaga Community College to Syracuse University. Smith had a very successful lacrosse campaign in Syracuse during the 2008 season. He started all 18 games and collected 37 groundballs on a stellar Orange defense that only allowed an average of 7.62 goals per game and won the NCAA Division I National championship. Smith's efforts were rewarded in 2008 when he was named as an USILA Honorable Mention All-American and to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team.

Sid improved on his stellar 2008 season with an even more impressive 2009. Smith again started every game and collected 39 ground balls on an Orange Defense that let up just 7.38 goals per game. Smith helped the Orange win back to back National championships when he caused a Cornell turnover and picked up the ground ball that set up a Cody Jamieson over time goal in the 2009 Division I National Championship. In a recent article by ESPN's Dana O'Neil Syracuse coach John Desko commented on the play by saying "Sid is a lacrosse player," and "He understands the game, and he knew the situation and knew what he had to do. He just made a great play."

Smith has also had an impressive indoor lacrosse career. In 2006 Smith played on an Iroquois National team that reached the finals of the ILF World Indoor Lacrosse Championship. Smith played Ontario Junior A Lacrosse for the Six Nations Arrows Express in 2006 and 2007. He led the Arrows Express to a Minto Cup championship appearance in 2006 and won the Jim Bishop Memorial Award for the tournament's Most Sportsmanlike Player. In 2007 Smith proved his leadership abilities by leading the Arrows Express to a Minto Cup title as the team captain. That year Smith received the John 'Gus' McCauley Memorial Trophy as the Ontario Junior 'A' League's Defender of the Year and the Longboat Award as Canada's top Aboriginal athlete. In 2009 Smith went on to play Major Series Lacrosse for the Six Nations Chiefs. With the Chiefs Smith proved his versatility by going 32-59 on face offs while continuing to be one of the top defensemen in the league. Smith helped the Chiefs to a league best 13-5 record in 2009.
Sid Smith's high quality of play has been recognized by players and coaches alike. In a recent article by NLL Insider's Bob Chavez Smith's Syracuse Orange and Six Nations Chiefs teammate Cody Jamieson said about Smith "I learn a lot by just watching him" and "He's got that calm presence and he doesn't get too jacked up." In an article by Inside Lacrosse's Mark Medina Smith's Syracuse teammates Evan Brady, Kyle Guadagnolo, and John Galloway have complimented Smith by calling him a "very smart player" a "vacuum" around loose balls and that he plays like he has "blinders on". In that same article Smith's coach at Onondaga Community College Chuck Wilbur praises Smith by saying "As far as communicating with teammates, he's not just talking to one guy. You can hear him communicating ... Sid knows the game real well. If you tell him something once, he'll pick it up real quick because he's a sponge." Smith also shows confidence in himself in the Mark Medina article when Smith is quoted as saying "I always feel like I can get (a groundball) even if there's a guy about to pick it up," Smith says. "I always feel like I can check him. I can always get the ball. Effort is half the battle also in communicating. You need to know where the slide's coming from and having confidence in your teammates that they can make that slide if you get beat."

Sid Smith will certainly be one of the top draft picks in the 2009 NLL entry draft which takes place September 9th at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo New York.