GARY GAIT…CHARLIE LOCKWOOD…THE POWELL TRIO…When you consider the most epic traditions throughout the annals of sports history, one of the first that comes to mind to any and every lacrosse pundit is the allure and magic of the #22 jersey on the campus of Syracuse University…
A legacy that traces its origin to 1983 when SunHo Lee first donned the prized numeral in leading the Orange to the program’s first NCAA National crown, in the nearly 40 years that followed, the “Double-2s” has grown into a lineage of undeniable and perennial excellence that has yielded 10 additional NCAA DI titles (*1990 vacated) and witnessed its wearers combine for 24 individual All-American honors (14 of which were 1st team distinction)…The top-3 scorers in school history (Mike Powell– 307, Casey Powell– 287, Ryan Powell -287) all took their turn (the former two doing it in each of their four years; the latter doing it his junior and senior seasons), as did SU’s goal leader (Gary Gait – 192), who put it on for his sophomore through senior campaigns.
On the night of Tuesday, September 15th, 2020, the first words of the next chapter to this storied tale were written when the consensus #1 overall recruit in the 2022 graduating class, attackman extraordinaire, Joey Spallina, announced his intentions to continue his respective academic and athletic careers under the guidance and mentoring of Syracuse alumnus/soon-to-be National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee, John Desko (Head Coach since 1999; four recognized NCs, .750 winning percentage)…The decision was the realization of a lifelong dream (cited in an interview with Inside Lacrosse on the eve of the commitment).
Loyola, the University of Maryland, the University of North Carolina, and the defending (2019) National champion Virginia Cavaliers, were the other main parties that are experiencing heartbreak.
Hailed as a prodigy/phenom from the moment he picked up a stick, when aficionados speak of his knee-buckling, head-turning, awe-inspiring wealth of cultivated (by Father, Joe Sr.) and/or divinely bestowed talents, they do so to the highest of degrees…In many circles, I have even heard the ultimate compliment muttered; that he is the GREATEST prospect of his generation, if not the BEST SCHOLASTIC PLAYER EVER!!!
Such praise and reputation is often accompanied by copious amounts of pressure (both internal and external). However, observing Spallina in his element, you’d never suspect it based on the consistency and pure dominance he has demonstrated at every step and on every stage of the decorated journey that has delivered him to 900 Irving Ave (Carrier Dome).
Born and bred for the big moment, the Mount Sinai High School junior, who until this summer always played up several grade levels as part of the famed Team 91 Crush dynasty, cemented himself as “one to watch” on the national level in 2015, when he emerged with a six-goal, two-assist performance in the championship of the inaugural World Series of Youth Lacrosse (won 19-8 by Crush), live on ESPN…12 years of age at the time and a 5th grader competing alongside and against elite 7th graders (including the likes of teammates Brennan O’Neill, Andrew McAdorey, Aidan Danenza, Xavier Arline, etc.), Spallina finished the week as the tournament’s top scorer with 43 points (25 goals, 18 helpers)…There has been no slowing him down or containing him since and the team crowns have been in tow (recorded 1 goal in the 2018 NLF National finals; notched a pair of goals in the 2019 to help Crush repeat as titlists).
The third straight 91 Crush member to earn IL’s top billing in his class ranking (2020- O’Neill, 2021- McAdorey), because he has always found himself as a king among kings on the travel circuit, perhaps the most indicative examples of how Spallina can impact a game occurred during his first two years on the Mustang varsity…Not forced to share the spotlight, the 2018 and 2019 seasons afforded him the opportunity to be the primary option as both a sniper and a play-maker/quarterback/distributor…Regardless of the particular role asked of him on a given day, the 2019 All-Long Island, All-State, and All-American selection has risen to the occasion…As an 8th grader (2018), he tallied 39 goals and 45 assists for a total of 84 points…One year later, he completely obliterated his previous milestones, increasing his production to the mind-blowing tune of 65 and 66…Given the pace he was on (an average of 107.5/season), had the outbreak of COVID-19 not cost him all of 2020, he was well on his way to becoming LI’s most prolific scorer (Currently held by former West Islip standout, Nick Galasso, who compiled 254 goals and 246 dimes for a grand sum of 500)…Beginning his career in Chapel Hill at UNC, Galasso eventually transferred to Syracuse where he was a 2015 USILA 2nd Team AA.
His status as the headliner of the 2022 cohort immensely secured, Spallina not only refused to rest on any proverbial laurels, but rather capitalized on the limited/abridged summer schedule…Remaining in his typical lights out mode, the quality of his appearances at the Juniors Open (July in Tennessee) and the IL Elite 8 (August 31st in Maryland) represented two bonus bullets in an already commanding and unmatched resume….At the first of these premier events, Spallina joined fellow top-5 prospects, Dom Pietramala (#2, still on the market) and Truitt Sunderland (#4; recently gave a verbal to UVA) en route to propelling their squad (Team Red) to a perfect 5-0 body of work. During the two-day affair in the Volunteer State, his 21 goals, 13 assists, and 34 points swept all categories among invitees…On the last day before college coaches could contact rising 11th graders, Spallina dazzled at Elite 8, concluding his three-outing effort with the points (14) and goals (tied for 1st with 8) lead, while “settling” for the silver medal in assists with 6.
The second Long Islander in the past five days to go Orange, Spallina was preceded by St. Anthony’s Michael Leo (also an attack), who revealed his choice on September 10th…Like his future teammate, Leo also looked outstanding back in July, as his 10 goals, 8 assists and 18 points ranked 4th across the board in TN…The duo will hopefully ignite a trend among their Section 8/11/Catholic peers as just once in the past decade [Galasso in 2015 as mentioned above] has a LIer gone on to be an AA at Syracuse…During this same span, Tom Palasek (Rocky Point), Galasso, J.T. Forkin (Long Beach), and Nick DiPietro (Hills East) were the only Newsday All-Long Island team picks to play for SU.
The landing of the definitive game-changing centerpiece [Spallina] earlier today marked the third consecutive victory on the recruiting front for Desko and his staff…On the 13th, they received a verbal from four-star goalie, Jimmy McCool (New Hampshire); Yesterday, it was five-star middie, Carter Kempney (Carthage, NY)…All in all, Spallina is now the sixth highly touted student-athlete in the ‘Cuse’s explosive class..Midfielder Zach Mercado (TX) and SDM Vincent Trujillo (DC) broke the ice one week apart, on 9/2 and 9/9.
Note: The #22 jersey is presently being worn by 2020 HM All-American, Chase Scanlan. However, it has been reported that as a means of closing the deal, the number will be waiting for Spallina when he arrives in fall ’22.
The (Matt)er Of Fact 