Nicky Galasso is exchanging his Carolina Blue for the Orange of Syracuse.
The former West Islip High School lacrosse standout has made a verbal commitment to the University of Syracuse, according to a report from Inside Lacrosse. His decision comes less than two weeks after the University of North Carolina granted Galasso a release from the school.
Following the announcement of his release from the Tar Heels, the junior attackman told Lacrosse Magazine, “I just want to experience a college closer to home so my family can get down to more events and watch me perform.”
The move to Syracuse cuts the potential driving travel time to games played by the Orange at the Carrier Dome in half. According to a Google Maps search, a drive from West Islip to Chapel Hill, N.C., is 538 miles and will take nearly 10 hours. The drive from West Islip to Syracuse is 291 miles and should take slightly more than five hours.
Galasso leaving North Carolina has been one of the biggest headlines during the college lacrosse offseason and his decision to attend Syracuse could significantly alter the Division I lacrosse landscape.
A perennial powerhouse, Syracuse is coming off a down year for the school. The Orange finished the season with a 9-7 record, and lost to Duke in the first round of the Men’s Division I tournament this past spring.
A 2010 West Islip High School graduate, Galasso was the nation’s top lacrosse high school recruit that same year and finished his Lions career with 258 goals and 242 assists and four New York State Class A championships. In addition, his 500 career points are the most for any Long Island high school lacrosse player.
