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Josh Haubenstock was all set to head west.

The standout at Ramapo High School in New Jersey verbally committed to the University of Denver late last year.

But the 2015 midfielder has had a change of heart.

Haubenstock has decided to play closer to home, and given a verbal to Colgate University after decommitting from Denver, a decision first reported on Oct. 30 by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider premium coverage section.

The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Haubenstock is an athletic dodger with good quickness who is strong with either hand. You can watch his highlight reel here.

Now, here’s a Q&A with Josh on his decision.

When did you decided to decommit from Denver and why?
My decommitment from Denver stemmed from my decision to be closer to home. My family and I decided towards the end of the summer that it would be best to open up the recruiting process once again. I felt that it would be a better fit for me to choose a school closer to home.

What were the main factors in your decision to attend Colgate?
On my visit, I was able to spend a lot of time with the players, watch a practice, and attend a class. I felt like I fit in socially with the guys, and after watching the practice, athletically as well.

Colgate is a perfect distance from home and is also a great school. Being a Liberal Arts school, Colgate offers a wide variety of majors to choose from.

After spending lots of time with (Colgate Head) Coach (Mike) Murphy, (Assistant) Coach (Mike) Abbott and (Assistant) Coach (Stephen) Toomy, I knew Colgate was where I wanted to be.

What other colleges, in addition to Colgate, were you looking at?
I also considered Lehigh, Penn, Lafayette and Brown.

What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I would describe myself as a fast-paced player who likes to get up and down the field and generate offense. I think my strengths are centered around my dodging ability and stick skills with either hand.

What area of your game do you need to work on?
There is always room for improvement in all aspects of my game; however, I specifically would like to improve my time-and-room shot as well as my ability to dodge from different parts of the field.

How did you get introduced to lacrosse and what other sports have you played?
I began playing lacrosse when I was in kindergarten. I was introduced to lacrosse by my neighbors who ran the recreational program in my town. In addition to lacrosse, I also run cross country.

What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
I have been playing with Leading Edge for the past three years. This summer, my team attended the NSCLA Champions Cup, King of the Hill, Crabfest, Jersey Shootout and Best of the Best.

Any final thoughts?
I would like to thank (Denver Head) Coach (Bill) Tierney, (Denver Assistant) Coach (Matt) Brown and (Denver Assistant) Coach (Dylan) Sheridan for giving me the chance to be a part of the Denver family. They are great coaches and individuals and I wish them best of luck in the future.

I also would like to thank Chris Roy and the rest of the Leading Edge program for helping me through the process once again.

I want to thank my parents for being so supportive and helpful these past couple of months; I would not be in the position I am in today if I did not have them. L

astly, I want to thank Coach Murphy, Abbott and Toomy for giving me the opportunity to be a part of their program.