(Friday, Sept. 25) – With a league-high four first-round draft picks in its pocket, the National Lacrosse League’s (NLL) Georgia Swarm is gearing up for a historic night this coming Monday when the 2015 NLL Draft takes place in Toronto at 7 p.m. ET.
Through strategic roster moves over the years, the Swarm has put themselves in a position to acquire four players amongst the Top 6 overall selections with picks Nos. 1, 3, 5, and 6. The team also holds the No. 20 overall selection in the second-round in what is considered one of the best draft pools in league history. Fans can watch the NLL Draft live on NLL.com.
Prospects such as Wesley Berg (University of Denver), Graeme Hossack (Lindenwood University), Jesse King (Ohio State University), Randy Staats (Syracuse University) and Lyle Thompson (University at Albany) help highlight the deep and heralded draft class featuring many potential future NLL stars.
“This is probably the most exciting time in the history of our franchise,” Swarm Owner and General Manager John Arlotta said. “We are moving the franchise to Georgia at the same time that we have four first-round picks in what many people believe is the best draft in the history of the National Lacrosse League. We also have one second-round pick, which means we have five of the Top 20 picks in this year’s draft. In summary, we will be a significantly improved team after Monday night regardless of which players we are actually able to draft.”
The Georgia Swarm will begin their inaugural season with a road showdown on New Year’s Day against the Colorado Mammoth at Pepsi Center. The Swarm will host their first home game the following weekend at The Arena at Infinite Energy Center (Formerly Gwinnett Center) on Saturday, Jan. 9 against the Toronto Rock.
Update 9/28: The Swarm has acquired the No. 29 overall pick in '15 and a second-round selection in '18 from the Toronto Rock in exchange for D Mike Grimes and the No. 34 overall pick in '15.
2015 NLL Draft order as of Sept. 25 (subject to change pending trades):
FIRST ROUND
1. Georgia Swarm (from New England Black Wolves)
2. Rochester Knighthawks (from Vancouver Stealth)
3. Georgia Swarm
4. Calgary Roughnecks
5. Georgia Swarm (from Colorado Mammoth via New England Black Wolves)
6. Georgia Swarm (from Buffalo Bandits)
7. Calgary Roughnecks (from Rochester Knighthawks via New England Black Wolves)
8. New England Black Wolves (from Toronto Rock)
9. Rochester Knighthawks (from Saskatchewan Rush)
SECOND ROUND
10. Toronto Rock (from New England Black Wolves)
11. Buffalo Bandits (from Vancouver Stealth)
12. Saskatchewan Rush (from Georgia Swarm)
13. Calgary Roughnecks
14. Rochester Knighthawks (from Saskatchewan Rush via Colorado Mammoth)
15. Calgary Roughnecks (from Buffalo Bandits)
16. Rochester Knighthawks
17. Toronto Rock
18. Saskatchewan Rush
19. Vancouver Stealth (compensatory)
20. Georgia Swarm (compensatory)
21. Vancouver Stealth (compensatory)
THIRD ROUND
22. New England Black Wolves
23. Vancouver Stealth
24. Calgary Roughnecks (from Georgia Swarm via Saskatchewan Rush)
25. Calgary Roughnecks
26. Rochester Knighthawks (from Colorado Mammoth)
27. Buffalo Bandits
28. New England Black Wolves (from Rochester Knighthawks)
29. Georgia Swarm (from Toronto Rock)
30. Saskatchewan Rush
31. Saskatchewan Rush (compensatory)
FOURTH ROUND
32. Colorado Mammoth (from New England Black Wolves)
33. Vancouver Stealth
34. Toronto Rock (from Georgia Swarm)
35. Calgary Roughnecks
36. Buffalo Bandits (from Colorado Mammoth)
37. New England Black Wolves (from Buffalo Bandits)
38. Rochester Knighthawks
39. Vancouver Stealth (from Toronto Rock)
40. Saskatchewan Rush
FIFTH ROUND
41. New England Black Wolves
42. Vancouver Stealth
43. Georgia Swarm
44. Calgary Roughnecks
45. Colorado Mammoth
46. Vancouver Stealth (from Buffalo Bandits)
47. Saskatchewan Rush
SIXTH ROUND
48. New England Black Wolves
49. Vancouver Stealth
50. Georgia Swarm
51. Calgary Roughnecks
52. Colorado Mammoth
53. Toronto Rock (from Buffalo Bandits)
54. Toronto Rock
55. Saskatchewan Rush
