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Conor Byrnes of two-time New York Class B state champion Garden City was familiar with the Division I recruiting process well before he committed to attend VMI on Oct. 22.

That’s because his twin brother, Kieran, committed to Villanova back in July, 2012.

Kieran, an attackman, is a feeder/finisher with outstanding field vision and a high lacrosse IQ.

Conor is a physical and aggressive defender with strong footwork and stick skills. His commitment was first reported when it was made by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider special coverage section.

Conor, who is 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, becomes GC’s seventh 2014 commit. He also plays football for the defending Long Island champion Trojans.

Now, here’s a Q&A with Conor on his commitment.

What were the main factors in your decision?
I have always wanted to pursue a military career and play lacrosse at the highest level. After visiting I decided that the structure VMI instills and the camaraderie among the cadets was something I wanted to be a part of.

(VMI Head) Coach (Brian) Anken and (Associate Head) Coach (Curtis) Jaques made me feel welcome and stressed to me that there is much more to the life of a VMI lacrosse player than the physical playing of the game. I feel that I will make a meaningful contribution to the team’s overall success and look forward to the challenges ahead.

What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I considered Towson, Air Force, Navy and the United States Merchant Marine Academy. I visited all four.

What area of your game do you need to work on?
I will continue to improve my footwork, communication, off-ball play and I will work hard to increase my overall strength, explosiveness and speed in order to prepare me for the college game.

How did you get introduced to lacrosse?
I started playing lacrosse at 5 years old with mytwin brother, Kieran. I have also enjoyed playing football and I am currently a member of the Garden City varsity football team.

What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
I play on the Long Island Express 2014 Orange team and I participated in NSCLA Showcase where I was selected to the all-star team, Under Armour 2014 Uncommitted game, Under Armour Shootout, Maverick Showtime, National 175 and Jake Reed’s Nike Blue Chip.

Any final thoughts?
I would like to thank my parents who have always supported me and my 3 brothers who challenge me to always be improving.

I would also like to thank my coaches Tom Flatley and Steve Finnell at Garden City High School and Jack Moran, Gene Isnardi and Jamie Allen with the Long Island Express.

Lastly, I would like to thank John Furia and his staff at Xceleration Sports Training who have helped me with my strength and conditioning program and all the other players, coaches and teachers who have challenged me to work hard, set goals, and never give up.