Lacrosse is a second tier sport. The best athletes in the world do not play lacrosse. Very good athletes who do not specialize in "lacrosse" can still compete at the Devision 1 level because the best athletes are not playing lacrosse.
College lacrosse coaches want the best athletes they can get ( but in most cases they can't get the best athletes) so they take what they can get. They take very good athletes who also have very good lacrosse skills.
Given the choice, most athletes choose division 1 (BCS) foootball or Division 1 basketball over Devision 1 Lacrosse. (how many have the option?)
Very few of the top Lacrosse/football players from long Island are offered full scholarships to play big time college football or basketball.
Not sure how many Long Island kids have chosen to play Lacrosse at Hopkins or Virginia for a partial scholarship over playing football at Notre Dame, Michigan or Stanford for a full Athletic Scholarship (including tuition, room & board, and all class related material "books").
As the sport continues to grow it will become more important to develop your skills because there will be more "Athletes" playing the game. All things being equal a coach will look to the player with the better skills and the higher IQ.
If you listen to the "stay home" and play only with the kids from your town crowed and the "play multiple sports in HS" crowed I think you will be in for a shock down the road (if the sport continues to grow). If it doesn't grow then it will not matter.
