Top-5 NLL College Prospects to Watch For

The start of the 2017 Champion’s Cup series is still a week away as the lacrosse world has a chance to celebrate the NCAA men’s lacrosse National Championships starting this Saturday.

As we wait for the Georgia Swarm and Saskatchewan Rush to do battle, the college season finale gives us a chance to look to the future.

My National Lacrosse League Draft analyst broadcast partner and IL Indoor writer, Stephen Stamp, gave his insight on the top five NCAA prospects that NLL fans should keep an eye on. Listen to our discussion following the five player profiles below.

5. Anthony Joaquim – Saint Joseph’s Hawks

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 205 lbs

Class Year: Senior

Position: Midfield

Hometown: Guelph, Ontario

Career Highlights:

• Four-year starter
• 2014 Northeast Conference All-Rookie Team
• Tied for 2nd in career games played with the Hawks (62)
• Two-time gold medalist with Team Ontario Field Lacrosse

4. Jake Withers – Ohio State Buckeyes

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 192 lbs

Class Year: Senior

Position: Midfield

Hometown: Peterborough, Ontario

Career Highlights:

• Ohio State’s groundball record holder (334)
• A Buckeye captain in 2017
• 2016 Big Ten Specialist of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten
• Named to the 2014 ECAC All-Rookie Team
• Three-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and twice an Academic All-Big Ten selection
• Led the Big Ten in 2016 for faceoff winning percentage (.607) and groundballs per game (7.27)

3. Austin Shanks – Ohio State Buckeyes

Height: 5’9”

Weight: 185 lbs

Class Year: Senior

Position: Attack

Hometown: Whitby, Ontario

Career Highlights:

• 80-goals, 39-assists for 119-points over his collegiate career.
• Led the Buckeyes in scoring (31-points) in 2016
• Earned National Player of the Week honors in April 2015
• Member of the 2013 Minto Cup winning Whitby Warriors team
  

2. Josh Byrne – Hofstra Pride
   

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 200 lbs

Class Year: Senior

Position: Attack

Hometown: Westminster, British Columbia

Career Highlights:

• A Hofstra captain for 2017
• 2016 All-CCAA First-Team selection
• Led the Pride in goals, assists and points for the 2016 and 2017 seasons
• NJCAA Attackman of the Year (106-points in 12-games) as a member of New York’s Nassau Community College in 2015
• Voted MVP of the BC Junior Lacrosse League

1. Zach Currier – Princeton Tigers

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 180 lbs

Class Year: Senior

Position: Midfield

Hometown: Peterborough, Ontario

Career Highlights:

• 2nd on the team in assists (34) and 3rd in scoring (58-points) for 2017 season
• Led Princeton in groundballs and caused turnovers in 2017 and 2016.
• First-Team All-Ivy League selection and honorable mention All-American in 2016

https://soundcloud.com/nllradio/ncaa-top-5-nll-prospects

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