The decision came almost two full years ago.
That’s when Pat McCormick, a versatile lefty attackman from Hicksville High School (N.Y.), verbally committed to the University of North Carolina.
With the accelerated recruiting process that started when we first reported that Syosset (N.Y.) goaltender Ryan Feit became the first-ever sophomore to verbally commit back in 2010, deciding on a college destination two or more years before signing a National Letter of Intent as a senior has become common for lacrosse recruits.
Including McCormick.
“I’ve been anticipating signing day since the first day that I committed to UNC,” he said.
On Wednesday, Nov. 23, the first day of National Letter of Intent Fall Signing Week, McCormick put pen to paper, making his verbal binding.
“It felt incredible to finally make it official after almost two years,” he said. “I’ve dreamed about signing my NLI to play lacrosse for North Carolina since I was in elementary school, and to make that dream become a reality, is surreal. It also made me even more excited to get on campus in Chapel Hill, next fall.”
McCormick signed his NLI in the Hicksville athletic office after school at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
“I was supported by a couple of my best friends, my parents, my high school coach, as well as my school’s athletic director,” he said.
Then, it was time to relax — and celebrate — for a few precious hours.
“I went out to dinner with my mom, dad, brother and my girlfriend to one of my favorite restaurants, La Famiglia (in neighboring Plainview, N.Y.),” McCormick said.
Then, after ending one of the most memorable days of his life, McCormick had a few moments to reflect.
“I cant thank everyone who has helped me along the way enough,” he said. “I wouldn’t be the player, and most importantly the person, I’ve become today without them.”
Send us your Signing Week photos
Be sure to send photos of your Fall Signing Week events to us at info@laxlessons.com or directly to Joe Lombardi at joe@laxlessons.com or post them on Twitter with our @LaxLessons tag or to Joe Lombardi @Joe_Lombardi.
* 2013 National Letter of Intent Fall Signing Week story/photo archive
LAXLESSONS Links
Be a Lacrosse Insider
Are you passionate about lacrosse? Do you love being the first to know and always being in the know? Then get access to unprecedented, groundbreaking coverage of summer travel and high school lacrosse and college recruiting now. Become a Lacrosse Insider here.
Recruiting coverage
* Updated tristate recruiting commitment rundown for classes of 2014, ’15, ’16 and ’17
* Class of 2013 commitment rundown by high school/prep school
Lacrosse Insider: Tristate Division I senior (Class of 2014) commitments by college
Lacrosse Insider: Tristate Division I junior (Class of 2015) commitments by college
Lacrosse Insider: Tristate Division I sophomore (Class of 2016) commitments by college
* Recruiting commitment story archive
* 2012 Fall Signing Week story/photo archive
Apps for iPhone/iPad
* Download for free the new LaxLessons’ playbook Android app in Google play.
* Download for free the new LaxLessons’ playbook iPad/iPhone app in the iTunes store.
Connect with us
* Follow LaxLessons on Twitter by clicking here.
* Become a Fan of LaxLessons on Facebook now by clicking here.
Subscribe to our free newsletter
Be sure to sign up for our free online newsletter. Just enter your email address on the “Receive Our Newsletter” link on the homepage of LaxLessons.com.
Posted In: 2013 National Letter of Intent Fall Signing Week, Long Island lacrosse, Recruiting Rundown, Section 8