It’s the busiest time of year for major D-I commitments in the nation’s No. 1 hotspot for lacrosse, the NY/NJ/CT tristate region. Get caught up right here, right now.
To say Hunter Batesko is a can’t miss prospect would be stating the obvious.
For starters, the Mountain Lakes High School (NJ) two-way midfielder is 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds.
But beyond his size, Batesko has some impressive skills.
It’s that combination that made him a target of many major Division I programs. He decided last week on the University of Michigan, a decision first reported by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider premium coverage section.
Batesko’s stock soared after he performed well at several showcases, including Maverik Showtime National Lacrosse Recruiting Spotlight and Tri-States.
Batesko, a righty who also excels in football and basketball, is a power dodger with a strong and accurate shot who is dangerous in the open field and who is aggressive both on groundballs and on defense. You can watch his highlight reel here.
Now, here’s a Q&A with Hunter on his commitment.
What were the main factors in your decision?
Every time I have talked to (Michigan Head) Coach (John) Paul or any of the members of the coaching staff, I felt truly wanted.
They were filled with excitement when they picked up the phone to answer my call. It just comes down to that it felt good to be wanted.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I was considering Notre Dame and Maryland. I also visited UVa, UNC, Notre Dame and Maryland.
What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
Being a larger kid, my strength would have to be dodging from the top and shooting when I get the extra step on my defender. My style of play is hustle from start to finish. Going after every groundball, I could scoop up.
What area of your game do you need to work on?
When I am attacking the cage, I need to go more north/south and less east/west.
How did you get introduced to lacrosse?
I got introduced to lacrosse at a very young age because i grew up in a lacrosse town.
What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
The travel teams I play for are Laker Future and Tri-State. I participated in Nike Blue Chip and Maverik Showtime.
Any final thoughts?
I honestly could have not done any of this without my dad. The problem with getting recruiting at such a young age is most kids struggle with dealing with everything, but my dad was always there guiding me through the whole thing and giving me advice along the journey.
Have a recruiting commitment to report? Send an email to info@laxlessons.com, contact Joe Lombardi directly at joe@laxlessons.com or send a Tweet to @Joe_Lombardi or @LaxLessons.
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Posted In: New Jersey lacrosse, Recruiting Rundown
