Syracuse Lacrosse: Projecting Randy Staats and Kevin Rice in the MLL Draft

Major League Lacrosse will hold its 2015 draft on Friday in Baltimore and in preparation for the draft Inside Lacrosse has come out with its 2015 Major League Lacrosse mock draft. The consensus amongst the IL staff is that Lyle Thompson of the Albany Great Danes will go first overall. As for the Syracuse Orange, Kevin Rice and Randy Staats are two of the top prospects. Rice had the fifth most points per game in the country last year and has 138 points in his three years at Syracuse. Staats had 33 goals and 23 assists in just 14 games and is one of the most accurate shooters in the game right now.

The first round order goes: 1. Florida, 2. Florida, 3. Charlotte, 4. Boston, 5. Boston, 6. Rochester, 7. Rochester, and 8. Denver. It is unlikely that Rice will fall below Rochester's picks, and he will most likely go between pick four and pick seven. Staats is a little trickier to place. He only has had one season at Syracuse and he missed a few games. Furthermore, Staats is a box player, which means he is most comfortable playing around the crease and using a quick-stick, fast-paced style. While that kind of style works in the Syracuse Orange scheme, it may not necessarily work for all field lacrosse teams. There is no question Staats is an immense talent, but his play has to be compatible with whichever team selects him, therefore, don't be surprised if he falls.

Other players who may go in that first round include: Connor Buczek (Cornell, Midfield), Wesley Berg (Denver, Attack), and Will Haus (Duke, Midfield)