Five 'Cuse Seniors Selected in MLL Draft

BALTIMORE – Syracuse University led all schools with five players selected in the 2015 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Collegiate Draft on Friday, Jan. 23.

Midfielder Henry Schoonmaker was the Orange's first pick, going in the third round (No. 16 overall) to the Chesapeake Bayhawks. The New York Lizards selected midfielder Hakeem Lecky four picks later (No. 20 overall).

With the first pick of the fourth round, and the 23rd overall selection, the Florida Launch took attackman Kevin Rice. Attackman Randy Staats went off the board late in the fourth round (29th overall) to the Rochester Rattlers. Rochester also selected defenseman Sean Young in the fifth round (37th overall).

The Orange's five selections raised the program's number of all-time MLL draftees to 53, the most of any school. Syracuse has had at least one player selected in every draft since the league's inception in 2001.

A 2015 captain, Schoonmaker started 15 games last season and contributed 17 points on 15 goals and two assists. He posted five multi-goal games and scored the winner in overtime in Syracuse's 17-16 victory against Albany. In 52 career games, Schoonmaker has 47 points on 38 goals and nine assists. He's also recovered 57 career ground balls, mainly as one of Syracuse's top faceoff wing players.

Lecky is a two-time Orange captain. He's played 52 games (32 starts) in his first three years and has 33 career points (29 goals, 4 assists). Lecky notched 17 points a year ago, including 15 goals.

Rice is a 2015 Inside Lacrosse Preseason First Team All-American and a preseason All-ACC selection. He totaled 80 points (36 goals, 44 assists) and ranked fifth nationally in points per game (5.0) last season. Rice has 138 points (60 goals, 78 assists) in 42 career games and ranks seventh among active Division I players in career points per game (3.29).

Staats was third on the team in goals (33), second in assists (23) and second in points (56) in 2014. He finished fourth in the ACC and 12th nationally in scoring (4.0 points per game). A crafty finisher, Staats scored at least one goal in 12 of the 14 games he played last season, including four five-goal games.

Young was named to the 2015 Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-America Third Team. He's started 32 consecutive games and totaled 15 ground balls and nine caused turnovers a year ago.

Friday night's draft was held in the Holiday Ballroom at the Baltimore Hilton hotel in conjunction with the U.S. Lacrosse Convention. It featured eight rounds and 60 total selections by the league's eight teams.

Albany attackman Lyle Thompson was the top pick, going No. 1 overall to Florida.

Syracuse University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Hakeem Lecky

Kevin Rice

Henry Schoonmaker

Randy Staats

Sean Young

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