For Mike McCarthy, his effectiveness at the midfield position is a bit of a balancing act.
The junior at Half Hollow Hills West High School (N.Y.) is effective at shooting on the run, finding open teammates on the fastbreak and using his lacrosse IQ to create scoring chances for his team.
That array of attributes has resulted in a Division I future for McCarthy, who last week verbally committed to Siena College, a decision first reported by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider special coverage section.
The 6-foot, 160-pound McCarthy is a righty whose highlight reel you can watch here.
Now, here’s a Q&A with Mike on his commitment.
What were the main factors in your decision?
I was interested in Siena’s business school, I really liked (Siena Head) Coach (John) Svec and (Assistant) Coach (Rob) Cross, and after visiting the campus, I felt both the school and program were a perfect fit for me.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
Lehigh, Providence, St. Joe’s, Richmond, High Point and Stony Brook.
What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I am a balanced midfielder with good playmaking ability and high lacrosse IQ.
What area of your game do you need to work on?
I feel like all areas of my game can improve.
How did you get introduced to lacrosse and what other sports have you played?
I was introduced to lacrosse as a youth through the Hills Lacrosse program. I have played football and basketball.
What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
I play on the Long Island Outlaws and I attended National Invitational 175, Under Armour Shootout, New England Elite Showcase and Island Uprising.
Any final thoughts?
First, I would like to thank my family for making this all possible, as well as all of my coaches and teammates throughout my lacrosse career so far.
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.