ualbany mlax 2024 MLAX Student-Athletes Signed

[cwdickens]

1 hour ago, dslyank said:

Anyone know grayed_danes_nil? Maybe INVITE him to this blog? He seems to provide excellent knowledge of the program and recruits. Perhaps people on the blog can/could provide him potential  NIL resources?? Some people prefer NOT to use social media-instagram etc.

Yes, he and I communicate via Instagram, primarily. He is aware of this forum, however; he prefers to share his information via Instagram and perhaps other social media platforms.  He is an UAlbany graduate and lacrosse player.  While he does not live in the Albany area, he attends most of the MLAX games and many of the WLAX matches and his interest in lacrosse is much broader than just the games, the wins and losses.

[cwdickens]

Grayed_Danes_NIL reports another student-athlete for MLAX: Coaches really focused on bringing in some athletic defenseman in this class and here’s another good one. This is Brady Quill out of Hilton High School in the Rochester suburbs.

Brady is a 5’ 10” (maybe 5’11” in low gravity) 180 pound lefty takeaway specialist. Really solid technique and loves to matchup one on one with whoever is brave enough to test him.

What’s interesting in watching film of all the defenders in this class is that they all have a slightly different skill set they bring to the table. Really looking forward to seeing this group compete.

Plus, (and you know I’m going to play the Upstate card here) he a Rochester boy which is almost Central NY. So I’m expecting him to be a little…I don’t know, off. You know, not right in the head - but in a good way. Maybe that was just me.

Anyways, welcome to the family Brady - embrace the journey.

[dslyank]

22 hours ago, cwdickens said:

Yes, he and I communicate via Instagram, primarily. He is aware of this forum, however; he prefers to share his information via Instagram and perhaps other social media platforms.  He is an UAlbany graduate and lacrosse player.  While he does not live in the Albany area, he attends most of the MLAX games and many of the WLAX matches and his interest in lacrosse is much broader than just the games, the wins and losses.

While I respect his desire to build UA lacrosse through social media; I feel he is missing an audience of supporters and possibly NIL resources by NOT participating in this blog. Would appreciate it, if you would encourage him to give the blog a try. Thanks.

[cwdickens]

2 hours ago, dslyank said:

While I respect his desire to build UA lacrosse through social media; I feel he is missing an audience of supporters and possibly NIL resources by NOT participating in this blog. Would appreciate it, if you would encourage him to give the blog a try. Thanks.

I have shared the concept that this forum could benefit from his input.  His view, the forum can follow him in his preferred medias.  Grayed_Dane_NIL has a large audience of former lacrosse players, alumni, student athletes and coaches.  

[BestDaneSinceHamlet]

3 hours ago, cwdickens said:

I have shared the concept that this forum could benefit from his input.  His view, the forum can follow him in his preferred medias.  Grayed_Dane_NIL has a large audience of former lacrosse players, alumni, student athletes and coaches.  

You fish where the fish are.  If him being on this blog takes away time from actually promoting it to a FAR FAR FAR FAR (you get the idea) larger audience..let him drop his pole wherever the hell he wants. He's doing good work.

[dslyank]

On 6/4/2024 at 12:53 PM, cwdickens said:

I have shared the concept that this forum could benefit from his input.  His view, the forum can follow him in his preferred medias.  Grayed_Dane_NIL has a large audience of former lacrosse players, alumni, student athletes and coaches.  

For what it's worth and NOT to question Grayed's optimism; but Barnard, O'keefe, Smith, and Kelly are according to Inside Lax, 3 star recruits at best. Everyone else have no stars or have not been rated. While I absolutely agree, with who we have coming back and with a class that appears promising, that there is a lot of excitement for 24/25 season. IMHO UA should improve on their final #18 ranking and may even break into the top 10 again. But final four in the day of the portal and NIL, the Rich always get Richer; pretty tough for UA to crack the nut again???????

[cwdickens]

Once again, a special thanks to Grayed_Dane_NIL, this student-athlete is special in the goalie position, a huge Great Dane welcome.

Iron sharpens iron - so bringing in goalie Brady Smith out of Bayport Blue Point High School should bring out the best in this entire group.

Bayport was terrific this year winning the State Championship with only one blemish on their resume. Smith had an outstanding season never yielding double digit goals and making 12 saves in the State championship game.

Interesting that both Brady and returning starter Landon Whitney are lefties, but Smith is taller coming in at 6’0” so they look different on tape. You have to be a special breed to be a lacrosse goalie - not just because you got guys hurling hard rubber balls 100 mph at your head (or worse) - but because on a team you gotta ride with only one at a time. Sometimes that decision doesn’t make a whole lot of sense on the outside so you just gotta suck it up, be a good teammate, and be ready if your name is called. And very rarely do we go through a season where another name isn’t called at some point (ie NJIT game).

Bring your A game young man - welcome to the family.

Opinion: Would we like to have some Inside Lacrosse 5-star athletes?  Absolutely, however, the days of the Thompsons are not likely to occur soon and what we need are athletes that enjoyed success in high school and are looking to bring their past success to our future success.  This year's class exemplifies this.

[cwdickens]

From INSIDE LACROSS, via the Transfer Portal, transferring from Towson to UAlbany, Rocco Mareno, Face-off Specialist.

This fills an important need for next year.

Rocco, welcome to Great Dane Nation.

[BestDaneSinceHamlet]

On 6/12/2024 at 3:50 PM, cwdickens said:

From INSIDE LACROSS, via the Transfer Portal, transferring from Towson to UAlbany, Rocco Mareno, Face-off Specialist.

This fills an important need for next year.

Rocco, welcome to Great Dane Nation.

More importantly, on a team with loads of young talent, that proved themselves last year, as they got better as the year went along...no one left.  

 

[cwdickens]

2 hours ago, BestDaneSinceHamlet said:

More importantly, on a team with loads of young talent, that proved themselves last year, as they got better as the year went along...no one left.  

 

Actually, 3 Albany MLAX players have entered the Transfer Portal, none have transferred to another school, to date. 

The players are:

• Chris Crapanzano, M, Gr
• John Prizzi, M, Gr
• John VanValkenburgh, G, Sr.

In my opinion, no surprises here because of the remaining talent and the incoming talent.  Further, these student-athletes may withdraw from the portal.

 

[cwdickens]

In comparison, some D1 schools may have to rebuild significantly if all in the portal move on.  Potential schools for rebuilding may include Stony Brook, Hobart, Mount St Mary's, Merrimac and High Point.

[HOF2013]

On 6/13/2024 at 6:14 PM, BestDaneSinceHamlet said:

More importantly, on a team with loads of young talent, that proved themselves last year, as they got better as the year went along...no one left.  

 

He's a local kid too!

[cwdickens]

57 minutes ago, HOF2013 said:

He's a local kid too!

Just a FYI, we are talking about Rocco Mareno, FO, transferring in from Towson, hometown, Glenville, NY, High School: Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.  You know our coaches are familiar with him and very likely recruited him during his high school years.

Over the years, BH-BL has very good to UAlbany sports programs.

Edited June 15 by cwdickens
clarify

[cwdickens]

Grayed_dane_NIL has identified another incoming Freshman for MLAX.

 

Really excited to watch this incoming Dane develop - this is Mason Sanden. He’s a 5’ 10” , 175 lb attack/midfielder out of lacrosse hotbed Salamanca NY.

Reminds me a little of Ron John (also Larsen Sundown for those who follow western NY lacrosse) - so I naturally project him out to be a midfielder at the next level. Athletic, plays with his head up and can shoot/feed equally well which makes him dangerous with the ball in his stick.

I put him in that category of players who just live for lacrosse 24/7. He plays with a joy that you can’t teach. Think he’s going to fit well with a wide open offense.

Welcome to the family.

My opinion: Recruitment seems to be hitting all cylinders and went to the portal for a Face-off Specialist, most likely to grab some we wanted in the past.

[HOF2013]

21 hours ago, cwdickens said:

Grayed_dane_NIL has identified another incoming Freshman for MLAX.

 

Really excited to watch this incoming Dane develop - this is Mason Sanden. He’s a 5’ 10” , 175 lb attack/midfielder out of lacrosse hotbed Salamanca NY.

Reminds me a little of Ron John (also Larsen Sundown for those who follow western NY lacrosse) - so I naturally project him out to be a midfielder at the next level. Athletic, plays with his head up and can shoot/feed equally well which makes him dangerous with the ball in his stick.

I put him in that category of players who just live for lacrosse 24/7. He plays with a joy that you can’t teach. Think he’s going to fit well with a wide open offense.

Welcome to the family.

My opinion: Recruitment seems to be hitting all cylinders and went to the portal for a Face-off Specialist, most likely to grab some we wanted in the past.

Was at Western Reserve Academy in Ohio last year - was on the Inside Lacrosse committed list on 09/11/2023