Syracuse lacrosse continues MLL Draft success with Nick Mellen selection
By Neil Adler
Syracuse lacrosse has seen more of its players taken in the MLL Draft than any other program, with Nick Mellen adding to the Orange’s total.
Syracuse lacrosse finished the abbreviated 2020 campaign ranked as the No. 1 squad in the country, and earlier this week the Orange maintained its dominance in the Major League Lacrosse Draft, when two-time All-American Nick Mellen got chosen fourth overall by the Boston Cannons.
Mellen, one of the country’s top cover defenders since joining the ‘Cuse from West Genesee High School in nearby Camillus, N.Y., is the highest Syracuse player selected since Nick Mariano also got taken fourth in the 2017 draft, per the cuse.com announcement.
First and foremost, a big congrats to Mellen, a redshirt senior and team captain who missed the last four games of the 2020 season after suffering an injury versus Colgate. The 5-foot-9 Mellen had previously announced that he would not return to the Hill for a sixth stanza of eligibility with the Orange.
Syracuse’s prosperity in the MLL Draft is unrivaled. The press release states that the Cannons picking Mellen represents the 64th Orange guy drafted and the 21st first-round selection. Both amounts are the most of any school since the draft’s inception 20 years ago.
In Boston, Mellen will link up with two former ‘Cuse stars, Tyson Bomberry and Randy Staats, on the Cannons’ active roster.
Mellen, who is pursuing a Master’s degree in information and technology management and received a Syracuse University scholar-athlete of the week honor on April 27, wrapped up his stellar Orange career ranking fifth in ‘Cuse history with 55 caused turnovers.
Named an All-American by the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association on two occasions, Mellen made the Tewaaraton Award watch list ahead of the 2020 term.
The novel coronavirus pandemic halted the most-recent season, in which Syracuse went 5-0 and ended things at No. 1 in the Inside Lacrosse/Maverik Media Poll.
The MLL’s upcoming stanza, originally scheduled to begin in a few weeks, has also gotten delayed due to the pandemic.