If you’ve been checking out our “Updated recruiting review and commitment rundown” each day, you’ve noticed that Division III power Nazareth College has been making its mark on the recruiting scene by landing a pair of recruits from the Hudson Valley.

Both are defensemen.

First, we reported both there, and in a separate post, on the commitment of Mahopac’s Vincent Parrillo.

Today, we focus on Hen Hud standout Albert “AJ” Small, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound right-handed defenseman.

Here a Q&A with AJ on his commitment:

What were the main factors in your decision to attend Nazareth?
Nazareth has a great physical therapy program that I’ve been accepted to, in addition to having a top D-III lacrosse program

What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I considered and visited Ithaca, Union and Washington.

What adjustments do you think you will need to make to play at the next level?
I need to work on my foot speed and stick skills

What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I’m an aggressive defenseman who can create turnovers and then clear the ball using my speed

What players have you looked up to as you have moved up through the varsity ranks?
I styled my play after Marc Roberts, a (former) Hen Hud defenseman, who is playing at Ithaca

When did you first realize you had the potential to play at the college level?
As a freshmen on the varsity team, I was playing against college bound players and saw that I could hold my own.

* For background info on AJ, check out his recruit profile by clicking here.

* Be sure to report any recruiting news to us at info@laxlessons.com.

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Posted In: Player's perspective, Section 1

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3 Responses to “Hen Hud’s Small hopes to come up big at Nazareth”

  1. hey good job says:

    5’10” 190? This must be a different AJ. lol.

    AJ is truly one of the good guys in Sec One lax and his teammates all love him because he hustles and has mad crazy stick skills. His parents are awesome lax parents.

    Congrats Lew. Another WR guy along with Vinny Perillo.
    Get Zavarella, Christiansen and D’Allesio and you can send the whole Westrock defense up there. lol.

    Happy New Year everybody. Congrats to AJ and family.

  2. CLax says:

    Congrats AJ!

  3. greggyp says:

    AJ is my main CHAABOIII so naturally ima congrat him

Leave a Reply to CLax