NLL Rookie Watch

Back in September a fresh crop of bright eyed prospects were welcomed into the National Lacrosse League via the entry draft. Fast forward to mid-January and I felt it was time to check up on how these heralded future potential stars are making out against the world’s top lacrosse talent.

As a refresher:

First Round – 2018 NLL Draft

1. Buffalo – Josh Byrne (Hofstra University)
2. Rochester – Jake Withers (Ohio State University)
3. Calgary – Zach Currier Princeton University
4. Georgia (from New England) – Zed Williams (University of Virginia)
5. Rochester (from Colorado) – Austin Shanks (Ohio State University)
6. Rochester (from Vancouver) – Eric Fannell (Ohio State University)
7. Georgia (from Toronto) – Trade to New England – Colton Watkinson (Limestone College)
8. New England (from Saskatchewan) – Anthony Joaquim (St. Joseph’s University)
9. Georgia – To Calgary – Tyler Pace (University of Denver)
10. New England (from Georgia) (compensatory selection) – JP Kealey (Robert Morris University)
11. Calgary (compensatory selection) – Ryan Martel (Langley Thunder)

Complete draft results: http://bit.ly/2ymqjqs

Players selected in the first round are expected to be impact performers, while those taken later on are more on the flyer or developmental side. That’s what makes the Toronto Rock’s Dan Craig early season success so intriguing since he was taken with the third last pick of the entire draft, 57th overall.

IL Indoor’s Stephen Stamp and I discuss Craig’s story along with progress reports on some of the NLL’s highest touted rookies.

https://soundcloud.com/nllradio/nll-rookie-watch-11618

The inaugural campaigns for these former collegiate and junior stars is far from over. I’ll be reporting back on their progress as 2018 carries on.

Andy McNamara has been a play-by-play commentator for the NLL on TSN, NLLTV.com, and world lacrosse tournaments since 2011. He’s also a sport talk host and anchor on TSN 1050 sports radio. Follow Andy on twitter @AndyMc81.