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It didn’t take long for Shawn Smith to make an impact on the John Jay boys lacrosse team.

The midfielder did just that when he earned a spot on the varsity team last year as a freshman.

Now, just over a year later, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound midfielder has decided on his college destination.

Smith has given a verbal commitment to attend the University of Michigan, as first reported earlier this week at Twitter.com/joe_lombardi.

Smith, who has good athleticism to go along with his size (he also stars in hockey), excels in transition and is adept at shooting at run.

Now, here are Shawn’s thoughts on his commitment.

What were the main factors in your decision?
I wanted to go to a school that had a great balance of academics and athletics and Michigan certainly fit that category.

During my visit, (Head) Coach (John) Paul really made me feel at home and I knew that he was the type of person I could see myself being coached by. Also, the fact that Michigan is an up-and-coming program was very appealing to me and something I want to be a part of. Ann Arbor is a beautiful place to go to school as well.

What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I also considered Dartmouth, Yale, Navy, Army and Marquette and I visited all of them.

What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I feel like my greatest strength is my shot. I’m a north-south dodger who likes to get up high and power my way to the net to get a good shot off down the alley. I can also get the ball down the field quickly to steal a few goals in transition.

What areas of your game have you been working to improve on?
I would like to improve my defense to become a better two-way player and become more aggressive on offense. Also, I will need to get bigger and stronger to compete at the Division I level.

Who have been some of the biggest influences on you during your development as a player?
My biggest influences have to be (John Jay Head) Coach (Tim) Schurr, (John Jay Assistant) Coach (Geoff) Nolan and (Prime Time Director) Nick Daniello.

Coach Schurr really emphasizes team defense and has really helped me become more of a well-rounded player. Both Coach Schurr and Coach Nolan have increased my lacrosse IQ significantly in just the two years they’ve been coaching me for. Nick Daniello has been there since Day 1, and has really gone above and beyond to guide me through the recruiting process. I couldn’t be more grateful to be surrounded by them throughout this process.

What travel team did you play on and what were some of the big showcase events you participated in this summer?
I spent this summer playing for the 2014 Prime Time team. I attended NYLA, MVP, Tri-State, and Battle of the Hotbeds with them and earned all-star honors at both MVP and Hotbeds. I also attended individual showcases such as the Moonlight Showcase, Maverik Showtime, and Jake Reed’s Nike Blue Chip.

 * For more info on Shawn, check out his player profile by clicking here.

 Have a recruiting commitment to report? Email us at info@laxlessons.com.

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