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Starsia Announces 2016 Recruiting Class
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Nov. 19, 2015
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia men’s lacrosse head coach Dom Starsia announced the signing of 11 student-athletes to national letters of intent for the 2016-17 academic year.
Joining the Cavaliers next fall are Dox Aitken (Villanova, Pa.), Luke Brugel (Great Falls, Va.), Jared Conners (Pittsford, N.Y.), Luke Desperito (Wilmington, Del.), Mitch Gordon (Glen Arm, Md.), Michael Kraus (New Canaan, Conn.), Wade Maloney (Rumson, N.J.), Milan Murray (Abington, Mass.), Sam Offutt (Arlington, Va.), Jack Reilly (Berwyn, Pa.) and Griffin Thompson (Princeton, N.J.).
“It always gives me great pleasure to introduce a new recruiting class to the fans of Virginia lacrosse,” said Starsia. “This announcement reflects the effort of everyone in our office throughout these past few years. We are always looking for young men who will be exemplary representatives of the University, diligent students and motivated athletes. Every one of these young men has been selected as an Under Armour All-Star during his high school career.”
Aitken is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound midfielder from Villanova, Pa. Aitken was named a second-team American Family Insurance All-USA selection at Haverford after racking up 46 goals, six assists and 56 ground balls as a junior in 2015. Aitken helped Haverford to a 26-0 record as the Fords finished No. 1 in the final Super 25 rankings provided by 3d Rising and won All-USA Boys Lacrosse Team of the Year accolades. Inside Lacrosse ranks Aitken as its No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2016 and is on the U19 USA squad that will play at the World Championships next summer in Coquitlam, British Columbia. He also plays football at Haverford where he caught 27 passes for 474 yards and five touchdowns as a junior in 2014. He also tallied 34 tackles and punted for Haverford. Aitken is high school teammates with fellow UVA signee Luke Desperito. Aitken was also high school teammates with current UVA freshman Phil Poquie. He also attended the same high school as current UVA junior Will McNamara.
Brugel is a 5-foot-11, 195-pound midfielder and face-off specialist from Great Falls, Va. Brugel earned first-team VISAA all-state honors in 2015 at Paul VI, helping the Panthers go 16-7 and advance to the WCAC championship game. He was high school teammates with current UVA freshman Ryan Lamb.
Conners is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound defenseman from Pittsford, N.Y. Connors is a 2015 high school All-American. He is the only high school pole on the U19 USA squad that will play at the World Championships next summer in Coquitlam, British Columbia. Conners is a 2014 and 2015 all-county selection and a 2015 Under Armour All-Star. Conners helped Pittsford High School win the Section V Class A championship in 2015 with a 19-1 record. Conners is the No. 27 recruit in the nation by Inside Lacrosse. He also plays hockey.
Desperito is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound midfielder from Wilmington, Del. A 2014 Under Armour All-Star, Desperito is teammates at Haverford with current UVA signee Dox Aitken. He was also high school teammates with current UVA freshman Phil Poquie. He also attended the same high school as current UVA junior Will McNamara. Desperito was a tight end and outside linebacker on the Haverford football team that won the 2014 Inter-AC championship.
Gordon is a 6-foot-1, 175-pound attackman from Glen Arm, Md. A 2014 and 2015 Under Armour All-Star, Inside Lacrosse lists Gordon as the No. 6 overall prospect in the Class of 2016 out of St. Paul’s. Gordon helped St. Paul’s to a 13-6 record in 2015 and a semifinal appearance in the MIAA Tournament.
Kraus is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound attackman from New Canaan, Conn. A 2014 and 2015 Under Armour All-Star, Kraus also earned first-team all-state honors at New Canaan High School in 2014 and 2015. He currently is doing a post-graduate year at the Taft School in Watertown, Conn. While at New Canaan High School Kraus was an All-American on his way to helping the Rams win a state championship. He set a program record in 2015 with 108 points. Kraus also played football at New Canaan as a wide receiver and defensive back, helping the Rams to a 2014 state title. His father, Steve Kraus, was a two-time lacrosse All-American at UVA and still holds the career face-off win record at 68 percent (325-of-478). Kraus’ uncle, Andy Kraus, was a three-time All-American at UVA and currently sits No. 2 all-time in program history with 327 ground balls, which ranked the most upon graduation.
Maloney is a 6-foot, 190-pound midfielder from Rumson, N.J. Maloney scored 34 goals and added 15 assists with 39 ground balls as a junior at the Lawrenceville School. Maloney posted 19 goals and 24 assists with 60 ground balls as a sophomore and enters his senior season with 59 career goals and 102 career points. Maloney is high school teammates with fellow UVA signee, Griffin Thompson. Maloney’s father, Tom, was a midfielder for Starsia at Brown.
Murray is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound midfielder from Abington, Mass. Murray is a 2015 Under Armour All-Star. He is the No. 37 recruit in the nation by Inside Lacrosse. He helped Thayer Academy to the 2014 New England ISL championship and an 18-1 record.
Offutt is a 5-foot-11, 180-pound midfielder from Arlington, Va. Offutt scored 16 goals, dished out eight assists and picked up 34 ground balls in 2015 to help Gonzaga win the WCAC championship over Paul VI. Ouffutt is listed as the No. 43 recruit in the nation by Inside Lacrosse. He was a teammate in 2013 and 2014 at Landon with current UVA midfielder Jack Falk. Offutt also was teammates with current Cavaliers Michael Rhoads and Jason Murphy in 2013 at Landon.
Reilly is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound defenseman from Berwyn, Pa. Reilly helped Conestoga High School to a 14-11 record with his 63 ground balls. Named the Pioneers’ most valuable player, Reilly earned first-team All-Main Line honors. Reilly also was a member of the Under Armour Philly Underclassman team and made honorable mention All-USA.
Thompson is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound goalie from Princeton, N.J. Thompson missed the 2015 season with an injury at the Lawrenceville School, but made 202 saves as a sophomore for the Big Red. Thompson enters his senior season with 303 career saves. He is currently a high school teammate with fellow UVA signee Wade Maloney.
“There is good balance by position in this modest-size class and exceptional multi-sport athletes up and down the field,” said Starsia. “Most importantly, I have become even more impressed with these young men and their families while getting to know them better. This is a group that will work very hard as we pursue the annual goals for Virginia lacrosse. Welcome to the UVA Class of 2020.”