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A total of 11 players from last season’s John Jay team are preparing to start their freshman years on collegiate lacrosse programs.

The 2012 Indians will have to go a long way to approach that number.

But John Jay doubled its number of rising senior commits yesterday when midfielder Brandon Lew gave a verbal commitment to Hamilton College.

The 5-foot-11 Lew is a versatile midfielder with a big upside who excels in unsettled situations.

Here’s a Q&A with Brandon on his commitment.

What were the main factors in your decision to attend Hamilton?
When I visited Hamilton this past winter on Junior Day, it immediately became one of my top choices. The academic opportunities there were more than I could ever ask for, and I fit in right away with the student-athletes that I met.

Also, to be a part of Hamilton’s lacrosse program that is on the rise, with double-digit wins the past two seasons, and now entering the NESCAC, was something that I couldn’t turn down.

I got to know Coach (Scott) Barnard really well over the past year or so, and I wanted the opportunity to learn and grow as a lacrosse player under him.

What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I considered many other schools throughout this process- Williams, Tufts, Middlebury, Bates, Colby, Bowdoin, Haverford and Swarthmore. I visited all of those schools.

What adjustments do you think you will need to make to play at the next level?
To play among the best in the NESCAC, I’ll have to continue to work hard to sharpen my whole game. I definitely need to get stronger, work on my one-on-one defense, and improve my finishing abilities.

What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I’m best at making my plays in the open field, like picking up a ground ball or receiving an outlet on the defensive end, and turning that into transition offense. I can get separation from defenders with my quickness and speed, which also helps me dodge from up top.

What players have helped influence you as you made your way through varsity?
The past two spring seasons, I was fortunate to play behind a class that sent eleven players to college for lacrosse. I was really able to learn from middies like Jake Weil, Forrest Walter and Evan Chen who are all great players taking their talents to the next level.

Coach (Tim) Schurr also taught me so many things that helped me improve and become the player I am today. Also, my club coaches over the years have had huge impacts on me, guys like Paul Carcaterra, Mike McCall and Nick Daniello.

When did you first realize you had the potential to play at the college level?
Over the past two years or so, I have been fortunate to play amongst great competition both at John Jay and with my club teams. When I realized that I was fitting in and even standing out at times, I gained a tremendous amount of confidence and knew that I could take my game to the next level.

* For more info on Brandon, including his highlight video, check out his player profile by clicking here.

Have a recruiting commitment to report? Be sure to email us at info@laxlessons.com.

Follow Joe Lombardi on Twitter @joe_lombardi or by clicking here. Follow LaxLessons @LaxLessons or by clicking here.

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