With the MLL Collegiate Draft coming tomorrow night at 8:30pm FLN is going to highlight some thoughts on it.  I will be making the trip to Baltimore for the 2015 US Lacrosse National Convention and the Draft is the headline event of the Friday schedule and will report in during the entire weekend with my experiences.  I will also be covering the draft with live updates so keep checking back here during the night and tomorrow morning to get the latest information on who is going to becoming to South Florida! The Launch are remarkably positioned for this year’s draft in that they hold the 1st AND 2nd overall picks, as part of their package of having 5 of the first 18 picks overall!  They draft 5th in Round 2 (#13 overall) and 2nd and 3rd in Round 3 (17th and 18th overall since Rochester is forfeiting their 2nd round pick).  It should be a very interesting night for Coach Stan Ross as he looks to add top level talent to this year’s roster.  The Launch do not have a 4th round pick but pick #2 in Rounds 5 through 8 to complete the picture.  Trades do happen in this draft on draft day so some fireworks could be possible. The consensus top player available is Lyle Thompson, the defending Tewaaraton Trophy winner of Albany (with brother Myles).  One of the most dynamic talents to come along in many years. One factor in deciding on drafting him is his availability since he plans on playing the NLL season.  An interesting choice to deal with but since the Launch hold so many top picks it is easier for them to handle that issue then other teams would be. Lyle Thompson Bio: http://www.ualbanysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205388918 Connor Buczek Bio: http://www.cornellbigred.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=34490   The Draft will be televised online via ESPN3, starting at 8:30pm. http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/2327016/2015-Major-League-Lacrosse-Draft   Quint Kessenich tweeted out his first and second round Mock Draft two days ago and here is his take on it: https://twitter.com/QKessenich Kessenich has Lyle Thompson and Connor Buczek, the Cornell Middie as going to Florida in the top 2 slots and Bellarmine Defender Bobby Schmitt coming to Florida with the 13th overall pick, #5 in the second round.   Inside Lacrosse chimed in with their own first round mock drafts: http://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/inside-lacrosse-staff-mll-mock-draft/30586  

The IL Staff Picks

	Foy	Kinnear	Shannon	Babo	Rosenthall	Devitte
1. FLA	Lyle Thompson	Lyle Thompson	Lyle Thompson	Lyle Thompson	Lyle Thompson	Lyle Thompson
2. FLA	Connor Buczek	Connor Buczek	Jesse King	John Glesener	Connor Buczek	Connor Buczek
3. CHAR	Wes Berg	Wes Berg	Will Haus	Connor Buczek	Nikko Pontrello	Jesse King
4. BOS	Kevin Rice	Jesse King	Connor Buczek	Kevin Rice	Wes Berg	Kevin Rice
5. BOS	Ryan Tucker	Joey Sankey	Ryan Walsh	Jesse King	Ryan Tucker	Will Haus
6. ROC	Randy Staats	Kevin Rice	Randy Staats	Randy Staats	Jesse King	Matt Donovan
7. ROS	Jesse King	Randy Staats	Kevin Rice	Joey Sankey	Erik Adamson	Jordan Stevens
8. DEN	Will Haus	Erik Adamson	Wes Berg	Wes Berg	Will Haus	Erik Adamson

  As you can see, there is a lot of agreement on the two Florida picks.  Jesse King is a Canadian lefty Middie from Ohio State and John Glesener is a A/M from Army.  Florida fans might remember that Glesener played in the Orange Bowl Classic when Army played Michigan a few years ago. Having spent some time talking with Coach Ross yesterday I have insight in how he is going to think this through so I am not going to do my own mock draft.  But no matter what it will be an exciting night for the Florida franchise!