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University at Albany head coach Scott Marr has made tapping into New York talent one of the recipes to the success he’s enjoyed during his 13-year tenure with the Great Danes.

The formula is in full force as far as Class of 2014 commits go.

Albany now has a total of five commits from New York State.

The Great Danes latest commitment from an Empire State player comes from midfielder Justin Zelen of Hauppauge High School, as first reported last week at Twitter.com/Joe_Lombardi.

Zelen combines strong dodging ability with ideal size and good speed. He’s 6-foot-2, 170-pound.

His introduction to lax came as a youngster when his father took him to a Major League Lacrosse game.

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

What were the main factors in your decision?
The coaching staff, location, and the quality of the education were my main concerns while looking for schools. After my visit to Albany, I knew that was the place for me.

What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
Some schools that showed interest were Stony Brook, Fairfield, Providence and Binghamton. I visited Stony Brook.

What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
My size and speed. I use that to my advantage while downhill dodging from up top to get a quick step on my defender in order to shoot on the run. I also like to play fast and physical.

What area of your game do you need to work on?
I am concentrating on improving the smoothness of my stick skills in my off hand.

How did you get introduced to lacrosse and what other sports have you played?
I was first introduced to the game of lacrosse by my dad when he brought me to a Long Island Lizards game. After watching players at the highest level compete i knew i wanted to start playing. I currently play basketball and used to play football.

What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
I play for Pat Brennan and the Long Island Outlaws and I have participated in Maverick Showtime, Tri-State, Philly Showcase, Nat 175 and many more.

Any final thoughts?
I want to thank both my mom and my dad for always pushing me to be better and critiquing what i have to improve on. I want to thank my coaches (Hauppauge) Jerry Goodfellow, Jim Konen and Greg Foster and (Outlaws) Pat Brennan for supporting me throughout the process and always being there for me.