insider

Jimmyoateslax

With National Letter of Intent Fall Signing Week starting on Wednesday, Nov. 13, we’ll be spotlighting the Class of 2014.

For now, we have more on a big 2015 verbal commitment that was first reported yesterday by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider premium coverage section.

It comes from Connecticut and Bethel High School attackman/midfield Jimmy Oates, who has made Mount St Mary’s University his choice.

A two-year varsity player, he had  35 goals and team-leading 20 assists this past season. As a frehsman, he helped Bethel team to its first-ever conference championship and state appearance.Oates

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Oates, a righty, is a high-energy player who thrives in transition.

recruiting_updateNow, here’s a Q&A with Jimmy on his commitment.

What were the main factors in your decision?
I was really looking for a school that was a smaller campus, with a great academic program and great campus life, and The Mount had all of that to offer. Also, I really like the coaching staff of Mount St. Mary’s. Head Coach Tom Gravante runs a great program, and he and his staff are excellent coaches.

What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
Sacred Heart University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Villanova, Marist. I visited all of these schools except Marist.

What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
One of my strengths would be my offensive awareness. I would describe my style as a player who hustles non-stop and plays at a fast pace.

What area of your game do you need to work on?
My off-hand and my lax IQ.

How did you get introduced to lacrosse and what other sports have you played?
I found out about lacrosse when the program was first introduced to my town, and I remember when I was little I was watching Loyola play Villanova on TV, and ever since fifth grade, I thought it would be cool to play lacrosse.

What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
I played my summer ball with Progression Lacrosse, and played for the CT Hurricanes, under the guidance of coach Darryl Delia. I attended King of the Hill, Gait Cup, UMass Mid-Summer Classic, and the Yale Bulldog Tournament. I also attended the Moonlight Showcase.

Any final thoughts?
I would like to thank my parents who have supported my all the way through, and drove me everywhere and did everything for me to get me where I am today. I’d also like to thank my high school coaches, and my summer coaches, who have helped me become a great player, and continue to do so.

Have a recruiting commitment to report? Send an email to info@laxlessons.com, contact Joe Lombardi directly at joe@laxlessons.com or send a Tweet to @Joe_Lombardi or @LaxLessons.

LAXLESSONS Links

Be a Lacrosse Insider

Are you passionate about lacrosse? Do you love being the first to know and always being in the know? Then get access to unprecedented, groundbreaking coverage of summer travel and high school lacrosse and college recruiting now. Become a Lacrosse Insider here.

Recruiting coverage

* Updated tristate recruiting commitment rundown for classes of 2014, ’15, ’16 and ’17

* Class of 2013 commitment rundown by high school/prep school

* Recruiting commitment story archive

* 2012 Fall Signing Week story/photo archive

Apps for iPhone/iPad

* Download for free the new LaxLessons’ playbook Android app in Google play.

* Download for free the new LaxLessons’ playbook iPad/iPhone app in the iTunes store.

* You can subscribe to LaxLessons.com’s playbook, featuring animated drills and plays for your team, by clicking here.

Connect with us

* Follow LaxLessons on Twitter by clicking here.

* Become a Fan of LaxLessons on Facebook now by clicking here.

Subscribe to our free newsletter

Be sure to sign up for our free online newsletter. Just enter your email address on the “Receive Our Newsletter” link on the homepage of LaxLessons.com.

Posted In: Connecticut, Recruiting Rundown, SWC lacrosse

If you liked this article, please take this time to share it with your Facebook friends using the Facebook button (see Facebook post button to the left) or retweet it using Twitter (see retweet button to the left). You may also want to follow us or subscribe to the site to stay up-to-date with this article. If you'd rather follow us from your Facebook account, join our Facebook fan page.

Leave a Reply