Looking past this year’s draft, why 2011 is bigger than 2010, early top 10 prospect rankings, who would you draft?

June 16th, 2010 by Paul Tutka

Orangeville's Adam Jones will be a highly coveted prospect at the 2011 draft. (Photo: Ward Laforme)

Although Cody Jamieson at the top of this year’s National Lacrosse League entry draft has the masses drooling, most pro GM’s and scouts are holding back on going into a full salivating state this year, the 2011 draft expected by many to be richer and deeper in talent than this year’s edition.

High profile picks like Jamieson, Curtis Dickson, Kyle Rubisch and Josh Gillam make this year’s draft pretty top heavy, but expand those three over an entire first round and into a second, and you’ve got the 2011 pro draft. After the jump, check out our early top ten prospects for over a year from now, a first round pool that could easily find a spot in the NLL even today.

(10) Jay Card – Hofstra University & New Westminster Salmonbellies (BCJALL)
One of this year’s most lethal and natural attackers in NCAA ball, Card’s stock could increase depending on what he does with his new teammates in New West, officially transferring from the OLA late last week. Impressing at the last Team Canada camp, Card will need to translate all his recent field accolades onto box courts this summer or he will likely slip outta the best ten, with players like Jeremy Thompson and Mike Pires also potential first rounders many likely already have ranked high.

(9) Trevor Moore – Robert Morris University & Burnaby Lakers (WLA)
Had an absolutely outstanding year with the Junior Adanacs last summer, Moore has some sweet hands and a smooth finish, playing his first year in the WLA with the Lakers this year, coming off a college season that saw Moore lead Robert Morris in point production. Has hit a bit of an early slump after scoring four against Coquitlam in his WLA debut, Moore finds himself suiting up for one of the WLA’s weaker sides in Burnaby, which likely means lots of available minutes, but not as much support as others on this early top ten. If his Senior numbers don’t match up exactly with some of this pool’s other top guns, don’t let the digits fool you, the kid is legit.

(8) Jamie Lincoln – Hofstra University & Langley Thunder (WLA)
Although he still hasn’t shown up anywhere officially this summer, Lincoln is a very much known commodity, a former Calgary Roughnecks second round draft pick prior to fully committing to college ball, Lincoln’s onfloor stock has shot up since, putting up huge number alongside Card at Hofstra, impressive during his first couple seasons in the WLA as well.

(7) Corbyn Tao – Robert Morris University & New Westminster Salmonbellies (WLA)
A WLA first round pick a couple months back, one of the best ball players at last year’s BCJALL prospects game, Tao is an unselfish offensive worker that has great vision on the floor but can also put the ball in the back of the cage. Very versatile forward that is getting quality minutes and experience with one of the best Senior A sides in the country this summer.

(6) Andrew Suitor - RIT & Orangeville Northmen (OLA Jr. A)
His tenacious, balls to the wall style have some tagging Suitor as the next Geoff Snider, a top shelf fighter (check out Suitor and NLLer Rory Smith going toe-to-toe two summers back) and face-off guy that can play some seriously good lacrosse too. He’s been a backbone player during both Orangeville Minto Cup seasons over the last two years and has a rep as being one of the best ‘team guys’ in the sport. Gritty, mean and would do anything asked of him to secure the W. Was rumoured to potentially be going into the draft early even last year, Suitor is likely a top ten player on every team’s watch list presently.

(5) Jordan McBride – Stony Brook University & New Westminster Salmonbellies (WLA)
A scoring ace with the New West Juniors, New West Seniors and sitting on a ridiculous 134 goals during his first three seasons with the Seawolves, McBride might be 2011’s most polished, pro ready forward, excelling in the WLA and already showing he can produce against NLL level talent. Might even be a couple spots higher on a lot of team’s early draft rankings.

(4) Evan Kirk – Hobart College & Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks (MSL)
Kirk will likely be the most coveted pro keeper prospect since Matt Vinc, and depending on who’s drafting, could potentially go within the top three. He’s arguably been one of the best MSL goaltenders over the past two years and is athletic and versatile enough to easily step into NLL cages. With so many current keepers in the NLL some of the oldest ball players in the league, and keepers of Kirk’s level a rarity these days, you better believe almost every team would consider taking him no matter who their current starter is.

(3) Kevin Crowley – Stony Brook University & Burnaby Lakers (WLA)
The WLA’s most recent first overall pick, Crowley could potentially be some scouts first overall NLL favourite as well, an Insider ‘09 All-Canadian Second Team member, Crowley was hands down one of the biggest impact Junior A ball players in Canada last year. A good sized, dynamic, offensive finisher, Crowley’s stock might actually drop if he doesn’t suit up in the WLA this year or next, rumoured to be a holdout with Burnaby right now. Played some quality minutes and definitely looked like he belonged while playing as a callup with the Bellies at last year’s Mann Cup.

(2) Stephen Keogh – Syracuse University & Ajax-Pickering Rock (MSL)
A Minto MVP two seasons back and scoring in bulk and quality for the Orange, Keogh is a composed, mature, versatile forward who at this point could easily be ranked first too. Insider has talked to several NLL team decision makers that are dying at a crack to draft Keogh, recently taken first in the Barrie Lakeshores dispersal draft. Both Keogh and the guy ranked next/below were short listers for this year’s Team Canada crew. Could he take Merrick Thomson’s spot if concussion issues continue to keep the Philadelphia Wings forward on the sidelines leading into their trip to Manchester? McBride, above, was also a last minute Team Canada cut that could still potentially factor into the national team mix, one would think.

(1) Adam Jones – Canisius College & Orangeville Northmen (OLA Jr. A)
He might miss more regular season time than some of the bigger names have in recent seasons, but Adam Jones can definitely be mentioned in the same breath as guys like Jamieson, Shawn Evans, Alex Gajic, Garrett Billings and the rest of 00’s top impact Junior A ball players. He’s been Insider’s Playoff Performer of the Year the past two summers, our Junior of the Year last year and has been Canisius’ main scoring threat since his freshmen year. A leader, clutch scorer and one of the biggest winners in the game, Jones is Insider’s early favourite #1 pick for 2011’s loaded pro draft.

From our early projected top five, who would you draft with the first overall pick in 2011?