Defending New York Class A state champion and consensus nationally top-ranked Ward Melville has its first Class of 2016 commitment.
It came from midfielder Matt O’Rourk, whose verbal to Air Force last week was first reported by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider premium coverage section.
The 5-foot-9, 165-pound O’Rourk is an outstanding shooter with a high lacrosse IQ and good field vision. You can watch his highlight reel here.
He made the all-star game at the Southeastern Showcase in Atlanta and also participated at the National Invitational 175 Showcase. He has been invited and will be participating in the 2014 Maverik Showtime Lacrosse National Recruiting Spotlight.
A member of the Ward Melville Patriot Elite travel program, he played in the Blue and Gold Fall Showcase and Shoreham Wading River Fall Classic.
Now, here’s a Q&A with Matt on his commitment.
What were the main factors in your decision?
My uncle is a graduate of the Air Force Academy and I have always admired both him and his career as a pilot. I love the prestige of the school and the many post graduate career opportunities as well as the network of alumni that the academy has to offer. I loved the coaches’ philosophies and felt like I would be a good fit for their lacrosse program.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
Georgetown, Fairfield, Bryant, Ohio State and Lehigh.
What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I think my overall lacrosse IQ and vision on the field are my strongest assets. I am quick between the lines, strong with both groundballs and transitioning of the ball. I think I also have a hard accurate shot.
What area of your game do you need to work on?
Defense. I am primarily used as an offensive midfielder and for transitioning of the ball from defense to offense and would like to broaden my defensive game to become more of an all-around player.
How did you get introduced to lacrosse and what other sports have you played?
My father (Patrick O’Rourk) introduced me to lacrosse when I was in first grade. My dad, his sister and his three brothers were all lacrosse players and played for Ward Melville High School. Lacrosse has always been a big part of our family’s life.
I have also played soccer since kindergarten — both on travel teams and for school. This year, I played on Ward Melville’s varsity team.
Any final thoughts?
I am fortunate to be a part of the Ward Melville High School team and looking forward to both my high school and college lacrosse careers. I want to thank my parents for always supporting me in everything I do.
They have committed a lot of time, money and energy to support my lacrosse dream to play in college which I am very grateful for.
I would also like to thank Coach (Jay) Negus for helping me through the recruiting process and his support both on and off the field.
Have a recruiting commitment to report? Send an email to info@laxlessons.com, contact Joe Lombardi directly at joe@laxlessons.com or send a Tweet to @Joe_Lombardi or @LaxLessons.
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Posted In: Long Island lacrosse, Recruiting Rundown, Section 11
