I think people over estimate top talent and system. If players ratings and hype were everything ND and a duke would be better. Fit is everything
Agreed. In my experience, girls from outside of LI do not 'fit' well at a place like SB or Hofstra, or even an Adelphi. It's not that they aren't talented, it's just a different culture. The 'outside' girls think they're going to like it, but when they get there reality hits and they realize it's not what they thought, and are very prone to leave after freshman year. So, JS HAS to pull from LI mostly because he's not going to get much talent from anywhere else. And when you have to pull your resources from a single area eventually it will dry up. Also, what happens when he has a bad season? The local talent will then just go somewhere else, where the coach isn't difficult to tolerate, and the area is nicer. Ut's gonna happen.
Why would LI dry up? New class graduates every year.
In a macro-sense the statement is true, but not the near future. Here are two reasons why. The lower grade classes in Long Island towns with strong lacrosse programs are at all time lows. Smaller pools of talent will result in weaker overall players. In addition other traditional Long Island towns are having children age population swings to cultures that are not lacrosse oriented. The combination will have an affect on the overall quality of talent on Long Island.
I guess you're referring to Manhasset here? I don't know of any other traditionally strong towns that are experiencing significant changes.
To a certain degree yes. It's not only the traditionally strong but other programs with competitive to less competitive programs. Syosset has a changing cultural population that is not lacrosse oriented. Jericho, a small, well regarded district, while not a lacrosse powerhouse, has actually a referendum to do away with all sports and go to a seven day a week schedule. The rate of population growth in the hispanic cultures far exceeds any other cultural group and is not lacrosse oriented. East Islip's kindergarten class is the smallest in decades yet has the highest hispanic percentage. There are other districts also experiencing this change.
Another issue is Long Island is trending older. The net migration of young, white (I have to say it; it's the demographic of lacrosse) young folks away from Long Island is very high. Young people are not looking to live in an area of high cost; housing, taxes, utilities. This too will have an affect over a period of time.
