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The Universiy of Hartford’s first Class of 2018 commitment comes from a standout from both Long Island and the Hudson Valley.
Confused?
Trinity-Pawling School sophomore defender/longstick midfielder Michael Nastasi committed to the Hawks, earlier this week, a decision first reported by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider premium coverage section.
Nastasi is a transfer from Long Island power West Islip.
The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Nastasi, a righty, is an aggressive player who thrives in transition and who can also create offensive opportunities. He is a strong stick-handler. He also plays football.
Now, here’s a Q&A with Michael on his commitment.
What were the main factors in your decision?
There were many factors that affected my decision such as location, school size, academics, but I think the No. 1 thing that influenced me was the coaching staff.
(Hartford Head) Coach (Peter) Lawrence is awesome and so is (Associate Head) Coach (Ryan) Martin and they really made me feel comfortable and that I would be an important part of the future of Hartford lacrosse.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I considered and visited Rutgers, Providence and Fairfield.
Have you decided what academic major you plan to pursue?
I plan on enrolling at the Barney School of Business at Hartford and I plan to study finance.
What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I think the strongest part of my game is my ability to push transition and create offense from the defensive side of the field.
I can handle the ball very well and I am pretty crafty around the cage with my long pole. I would describe my style of play as aggressive and up tempo.
What area of your game do you need to work on?
I would like to be a stronger one-on-one defenseman. I am a little inconsistent sometimes with my 1 v 1 play and I also try and work hard to be a better off ball player and communicate better.
How did you get introduced to lacrosse and what other sports have you played?
Lacrosse is a huge sport in my town and I started playing in fourth grade.
I have been playing football since I was 6 years old, and I have also played basketball and volleyball.
What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
I play for 3d Tri State 2018 for Coach Dave Dobbins. This past summer I went to Maverik Showtime, Prep School Showcase and 3d National Camp.
Any final thoughts and people you want to thank for helping you reach this point?
I’m just really proud and excited about my commitment to Hartford and I want to say thank you to my club coach Dave Dobbins, my high school coach Nic Bell and my parents for being so supportive of me playing lacrosse over the years.
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Posted In: Hudson Valley, Long Island lacrosse, Recruiting Rundown
