The 2017 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft will be held Monday, September 18 at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ontario. NLL.com correspondent Stephen Stamp introduces you to some of the players expected to be chosen near the top of the draft in this series, Getting to Know a Prospect.
Getting to Know…Austin Shanks
When you’re watching a game that Austin Shanks is playing in, you may not really notice him right away. In fact, Shanks has a knack for going unnoticed. It’s part of what makes him such a dangerous scorer.
Shanks can lull defenders, waiting until just the right moment to glide into open space, receive a pass and quickly fire it into the net. Whether it’s at the top of the formation, down near the goal line or in the slot where you’d expect the guys on D to be all over him, Shanks often somehow finds a seam where he can take a pass.
In his second MSL season this summer, Shanks stepped up his production from 46 points in 16 games as a rookie to 47 points (23 goals, 24 assists) in just 12 games. There is such a wealth of good righthanded forwards in the NLL that not many rookies at that position are likely to step in and get regular playing time, but Shanks has made it clear that he’s ready to play and to produce.
Name: Austin Shanks
Date of birth: February 24, 1994
Position: Offence
Shooting hand: Right
Jr Team: Whitby Warriors
Sr Team: Brooklin Redmen
College: The Ohio State University
Who was your favourite player growing up? Colin Doyle
What NLL player do you think your game is similar to or do you model your game after? Shayne Jackson (most similar)
What will you bring to the team that drafts you? My passion for the game and my competitiveness to win
What is your biggest accomplishment or the biggest moment of your lacrosse career so far? NCAA Finals
Who would play you in the movie of your life? Derek Ford
