It didn’t take long for Dino LaValle to show he can play with the big boys.
The Manhasset junior made that pretty clear a couple of years ago.
LaValle, an attackman, has been a standout on the Long Island Sting since the ninth grade.
“Dino was the only ninth-grader we let play up on our U-18 team two years ago,” Sting coach Ken Miller said. “He was that good as a ninth-grader.”
After continuing to develop his skills, Lavalle quickly became a target major Division I recruit. He committed to the admissions process at Brown University on Sunday night.
Known for his stick skills and speed, the 5-foot-10, 160-pound LaValle is also an adept dodger, especially from X, who can feed as well as finish.
Now, here’s a Q&A with Dino on his commitment:
What were the main factors in your decision?
I was really looking for a school that had elite academics in addition to an elite lacrosse program. Brown was one of those few schools that had both.
When I visited Brown in October, I was able to spend time with some of the men on the team and it was obvious that they were a really close-knit group that were extremely dedicated as well. Coach (Lars) Tiffany and his staff were really easy to talk to and I immediately knew it was the right fit.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
Amherst, Bucknell, Dartmouth, Army, Navy, Denver and Middlebury.
What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
My speed and ability to create from X, whether dodging to score or feeding the ball. Also, I believe I have a pretty strong lacrosse IQ.
What areas of your game do you think you need to improve on?
I know I can continue to improve in all aspects of my game, but I’d like to focus on continuing to get bigger and stronger by lifting weights. Also, I believe I can continue to improve my off-ball play.
How does this year’s Manhasset team look? What are the team’s strengths? What players do you think will surprise some people, and what games are you looking forward to the most?
This year’s Manhasset team has a lot of young talent in addition to great senior leadership.
It is an extremely close-knit group of guys all dedicated to winning another state championship. There are a lot of new faces at every position that I think will have a big impact.
We are definitely excited about some of the upcoming big games, such as Calvert Hall, Garden City, Chaminade and Darien.
* For more info on Dino, check out his player profile by clicking here.
* Have a recruiting commitment to report? Email us at info@laxlessons.com.
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Posted In: Long Island lacrosse, Recruiting Rundown, Section 8
I like the team chemistry Set has going this year.