Chris Longo with ASA coach Vince Daniels and ASA academic advisor Damien Jones.
During his three years on the varsity team at Somers, Chris Longo was a big part of one of the most established and successful programs in Section 1.
As a collegiate player, he’ll have the chance to build a program from the ground up.
The goaltender has committed to play at ASA College, which will launch a men’s lacrosse team next spring, becoming the first junior college program located in New York City.
The Avengers, who will compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association, will offer athletic scholarships to qualified student-athletes as well as provide housing in athletic dorms.
Former Hofstra University player Vince Daniels is the program’s first head coach. Daniels had been coaching on NYU’s club team the last 10 years, including five years as the Violets’ head coach. Longo becomes his first signed recruit at ASA.
ASA has an enrollment of 5,000 with campuses located in midtown Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Longo, who graduated from Somers in 2010, is excited about the opportunity to help the Avengers launch a lax program.
Here’s a Q&A with Chris on his commitment:
How did you first hear about ASA and what were your thoughts initially?
After speaking with a couple of colleges, they said I needed to get my grades up and that a junior college would be a great way to go. So we started doing some research on junior colleges with lacrosse programs and the first link that came up was ASA.
Initially, I was a little hesitant with it being a brand-new program and the campuses being in Manhattan and Brooklyn because it wasn’t in the hotbed of lacrosse schools, but every school needs to start somewhere and why not ASA? After speaking with Coach Daniels, I believed he and ASA want to make this program a success. Being the school’s very first lacrosse recruit, to me, is an honor and should be very exciting.
What impressed you on your recruiting visit?
First, Coach Daniels’ enthusiasm for the program and that he changed careers to take this position on full time showed me that he wants a successful program. On my recruiting visit, I was taken on a tour of the campus and was able to talk to professors and everyone was very approachable.
I know that many people do not know that I have a learning disability and that without the appropriate accommodations, it is extremely difficult for me academically. During my visit, the head of students with disabilities was asked if he could meet with us, and he came from Manhattan to the Brooklyn campus without hesitation. He took the time to understand what my accommodations are, how I best learn and what ASA needed to provide to make me a success academically. ASA has proven to me that they are committed to me on and off the field.
As the only junior college in New York City now fielding a lax team, what do you think ASA’s potential is as a program?
Personally, I think ASA has the potential to be a very strong program since it is the only NYC program fielding a lax team and this gives student-athletes who would not otherwise have an opportunity that chance to play at a college level. There are more lax players out there that are not going to school for one reason or another. This may be their chance.
ASA’s football program is three years old and is already successful, sending students to D-I colleges. So the school has the commitment to the programs.
It is the recruits that will make the lax program. I know that Coach Daniels has quite a few games already scheduled and there are many junior colleges and prep schools that make it very competitive. We will also be playing games in Maryland.
There are several other players who are from Long Island, Connecticut, of course, NYC and a couple potentially from Canada.
Just like any new program, there will be growing pains along the way and as the very first class, we will probably feel the most. It is what we learn from those pains that will help make ASA successful. What is important is to get ASA’s name out there and to show student-athletes that there are second chances to high school.
* For more info on Chris, 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.
LAXLESSONS Links
Recruiting coverage
* Updated recruiting review and commitment rundown (for classes of 2012, ’13 and ’14)
* Class of 2011 commitment rundown
* For a list of committed players with their profiles up, click here.
* To get your profile up, click here.
Connect with us
* Follow LaxLessons on Twitter by clicking here.
* Become a Fan of LaxLessons on Facebook now by clicking here.
Posted In: Recruiting Rundown
Longo is an outstanding athlete who had many opportuneities to go to D1 schools but his grades were a huge factor…This is a great opportunity for “THE WALL”…Congrats kiddo!
I went to somers with Chris and I played for the SHS girls Varsity team…all of the girls would go to the boys game and watch Chris and the rest of the team play….Longo always had amazing plays which got his teamates and the crowd behind him.
Whether it was one-on-one stuffs or sliding cross crease to make an unbelievable save he was always in the right place at the right time.
Anyways….arguably One of the BEST goalies to come threw Section 1 during his 3 year run!!
Proud of you Chris, good luck!