Staats named Rookie of the Month

The National Lacrosse League has announced Georgia Swarm forward Randy Staats as Rookie of the Month for April of the 2016 NLL season.

Staats, who made history by breaking the NLL single-season rookie record for both points (95) and assists (59), led all players in points (43) and assists (30) in April and ranked second among rookies in goals (13) in six games played.

Over the course of the month, Staats posted four games with at least seven points and posted a season-high nine points (2G, 9A) in a 16-9 victory against New England on April 15. Georgia finished April with a 4-2 record to earn a postseason berth and a trip to New England to face the Black Wolves in the East Division Semifinal.

The 23-year-old from Six Nations, Ont. played collegiately at Syracuse University, was Georgia's first-round (6th overall) selection in the 2015 NLL Draft. Staats was a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist in 2014 and two-time NJCAA Player of the Year at Onondaga C.C. in 2012 and 2013. He won his second Rookie of the Month award after previously earning the honor in January.

The NLL Monthly Player Awards are determined by a vote of the league's general managers and head coaches.