NLL Insider

'09 WLA playoff MVP Ilija Gajic to enter National Lacrosse League Entry Draft.

NLL Insider has confirmed that former Minto Cup winner and current New Westminster Salmonbellies two-way stud, Ilija Gajic, plans on making himself available for the already loaded ‘09 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft.

Gajic, last summer’s WLA post-season MVP, still would have had a year’s worth of NCAA eligibility left at Denver University, but was released by the school’s lacrosse program this past season, along with Brad Richardson and Jamie Lincoln, who will be attending Hofstra University since his departure from Denver.

The inclusion of Gajic this year gives pro GM’s yet another high caliber, pro-ready player to pick from in a first round that could be the most talent rich the NLL has ever seen.

On skill alone, the versatile, gritty, hard working Gajic is an easy top five pick and will likely be the first western based player selected in September’s draft,  potentially second behind his former Lakers teammate and Virginia attacker, Garrett Billings. Gajic, a former captain of some legendary Burnaby Jr. Lakers teams, has yet to suit up for the Salmonbellies this year, but was easily one of last summer’s most impactful Senior level players, leading New West to a spot in the Mann Cup (’08 regular season stats… 14GP 20G 31A 51Pts 47PIM… playoffs… 8GP 16G 18A 34Pts 10PIM).

Other Entry Draft Related News

Rumours have picked up tremendously over the past few weeks about the 09/10 status of Six Nations super stud and recent National Champion, Cody Jamieson.

With still a year of eligibility left at Syracuse University, many feel the potential to play for the Rochester Knighthawks, who presently own the first two picks in ’09’s draft, might be enough to sway Jamieson a year earlier than was first expected.

With that said however, Syracuse.com reported last week that Jamieson was enrolled for summer courses at the school, implying that a return to the Orangemen was all but imminent.

It likely won’t be known exactly what Jamieson’s status is until August sometime, when the NLL requires any players who still have not fully exhausted their NCAA eligibility to waive those remaining years in writing with them. Until then however, the rumours will no doubt continue to fly for the rest of the summer.

It’s expected that if Jamieson does make himself available, the Knighthawks would select Jamieson and Sid Smith with their first two selections.

Jamieson is currently playing his first full season of Senior lacrosse with the Six Nations Chiefs, second in league scoring with 51 points, behind only the recently traded Shawn Williams.

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Stay tuned to NLL Insider for prospect rankings and profiles on players available in this year’s Entry Draft.

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