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Manhattan College has been making a splash of late in corralling commitments — both among tristate players — as well as beyond the Northeast.
Last week, the Jaspers picked up another big 2016 verbal — literally: Minisink Valley (NY) 6-foot-4 midfielder Luke Hanson, a decision first reported by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider premium coverage section.
Though lanky at 170 pounds, Hanson, a lefty, uses his size to his advantage at both ends of the field.
Now, here’s a Q&A with Luke on his commitment.
What were the main factors in your decision?
There were many factors that took part in my decision to play lacrosse at Manhattan. On my visit, with (Manhattan Head) Coach (Drew) Kelleher, he made it evident that he was going to do everything he can to build the program and help the team to compete at the highest level possible.
His ambition and desire to compete with the best made it clear that he believes in his program and will work as hard as he can, something that I really admired.
Also Manhattan was very close to home, which made it easy for my parents to come watch me play and with its location in regards to the city the school provides endless opportunities for internships and a job coming out of college. I loved the campus and believe it has a lot to provide.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I visited Gettysburg, RPI, Connecticut College and Salisbury, all of which I considered.
I also considered Wagner, Seton Hill, Union and Ohio Wesleyan.
Have you decided what academic major you plan to pursue?
I plan on pursuing Business in college.
What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I still have plenty of parts of my game to work on. But I think my strengths are my ability to see the entire field off a dodge, my speed, my shooting ability, my work ethic and my ambition.
I would describe my style of play as up-tempo and high energy.
What area of your game do you need to work on?
Every area of my game can be improved. Most importantly I think I need to work on my ability to shoot on the run and my dodge to create space from my defender. Also I need to improve with my right hand and my shot placement.
How did you get introduced to lacrosse and what other sports have you played?
I got introduced to lacrosse through my brother. He made a switch from baseball to lacrosse when he was younger and after that I followed him around to tournaments and his varsity games. I was the water boy and ball boy for his team when he played varsity and I quickly fell in love with the game.
I currently play football. But I used to play basketball and enjoy golf on my free time.
What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
I used to play on Hudson Valley Express before doing individual showcases. I participated in National 175, Elite 100, Blue Chip 225, and the Under Armor Upstate Tryouts
Any final thoughts and people you want to thank for helping you reach this point?
First off, I would like to thank my parents. Without them I would not be where I am. They traveled every summer and fall with me for the past six years, paying for these showcases and they gave me the opportunity to be seen by college coaches. Their research to get me to the best showcases possible and always being there to watch me play made the opportunity to play division one lacrosse possible.
I would like to thank my high school coaches Chad Lakeman and Matt Moyles. Both coaches have pushed me to my greatest potential and have always wanted the best for me as a lacrosse player.
Also, I’d like to thank Coach Cameron and Coach Glascott, my Hudson Valley Express coaches who introduced me to summer lacrosse and got me started on the path to be seen by colleges.
Finally, I’d like to thank the Manhattan College lacrosse staff and Coach Kelleher for this amazing opportunity to play division one lacrosse. They made a dream that I did not believe was possible become a reality this summer.
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: Hudson Valley, Recruiting Rundown, Section 9
