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What do you get when you combine stick skills, speed and an unselfish style of play?

If you’re a high school player, namely, a bright college future.

That’s the case with Tucker DePaola.

The senior attackman at Blind Brook High School (N.Y.) verbally committed earlier this week to Haverford College, a decision first reported by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider special coverage section.

The 5-foot-10, 160-pound senior is a smooth lefty who is effective at dodging from X to either pass or shoot, who is a quick and effective inside finisher.

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

What were the main factors in your decision?
Haverford is a school that offers a rare combination of being one of the best academic schools in the nation, while also fielding one of the top lacrosse teams in the country. Also, (Haverford Head) Coach (Colin) Bathory made me feel very comfortable the second I stepped on campus.

What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
Bowdoin, Colby and Hamilton.

What area of your game do you need to work on?
One area of my game I would like to work on is my off hand. I feel at the next level, it is essential to be equally skilled with my stick in both hands.

How did you get introduced to lacrosse and what other sports have you played?
I was introduced to lacrosse in the fourth grade by my mom, who was a player at Rye in her high school years. In the offseason, I play receiver and kick and punt for the Blind Brook football team. I also play club soccer in the spring.

What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
This summer, I played for Team Superstar and played at the Lehigh Laxfest, Bigtime Shootout, Evolution Games, UMass and Yale tournaments. I also played at the Empire State Cup, Elite 180 and Good to Great showcases.

Any final thoughts?
I would like to thank my parents, family and friends for all of their support over the years. I would also like to thank all of my Blind Brook and Superstar teammates over the years for the fun times and memorable seasons.

I would also like to thank (Blind Brook Head) Coach (Brian) Smith for motivating me to keep working hard and for all of his helpful insight over the years. Additionally, I would like to thank Coach (Roy) Colsey and Coach (Vin) D’Andraia at Team Superstar for helping me develop my skills in the summer and fall over the past two years.

Lastly, I would like to thank Salisbury alum, Dean Rossi (a former Pleasantville HS standout). Dean is a great player, friend and mentor who helped me finetune my skills and build my confidence in anticipation for my summer camps and showcases.