Grayson Burns knows that championship feeling and wants to keep feeling it.
The Jamesville-DeWitt sophomore was a member of the Christian Brothers Academy/Jamesville-DeWitt hockey team that won the New York state hockey championship for the first time in history last winter, beating John Jay-Cross River 4-2 in the title game.
Playing one of the state’s premier lacrosse programs should allow Burns to have a good chance at accomplishing the same feat in another sport.
Then, there’s college.
Burns decided where he will be pursuing titles at the next level last week, verbally committing to Bucknell, a decision first reported by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider premium coverage section.
A highly skilled lefty attackman/midfielder, the 5-foot-9, 175-pound Burns is an aggressive player with a high lacrosse IQ.
Burns also has the bloodlines. His father, Greg Burns, was a three-time All-American at Syracuse University from 1987 to 1990. He is also the cousin of Harvard’s Deke Burns.
Now, here’s a Q&A with Grayson on his commitment.
What were the main factors in your decision?
Academics have always played a big role in my life and Bucknell is a school where I understand I can excel in classroom as well on the field.
I also felt that I clicked with the coaching staff when we met for the first time, and I also really enjoyed the campus and how nice all the people were there.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I considered attending Cornell, Colgate, Providence, Holy Cross and Hobart.
What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I believe I have a good IQ of the game and knowing where to be on the field. I also think I get along well with my teammates and communicate well on the field with them. I would describe my game as being more of an off-ball player and scrappy on loose balls.
What area of your game do you need to work on?
I know I need to work on becoming more comfortable with my opposite hand and I think I need to improve with my lateral footwork.
How did you get introduced to lacrosse?
My dad introduced me to the game at a very young age and I fell in love with it. I also have to thank my cousins for everything worked on with me and my game. Lacrosse runs in the family and I’m thankful for always having them there to work with me.
What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
I play travel lacrosse for Orange Crush in upstate New York. This past summer, I played in the Orange Crush Showcase, Jake Reed’s Nike Blue Chip and Maverick Showtime.
Any final thoughts?
First and for most I want to thank my parents for all the time they put in and everything they have done with me over the past 16 years. I also want to thank my varsity lacrosse coach, Jamie Archer, for helping me along the way.
I want to thank the Bucknell coaching staff for giving me the oppurtunity to be a Bison in the upcoming years.
Lastly, I want to thank Deke Burns and Ryan Durkin, who have been like brothers to me my whole life.
* Preseason player perspective archive
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Posted In: Central New York Lacrosse, Recruiting Rundown, Section 3, Upstate New York Lacrosse
