Jones heads list of top Oakville prospects for National Lacrosse League draft

Callum Jones leads an impressive list of six Oakville lacrosse players who are among the top prospects expected to hear their names called when the National Lacrosse League holds its 2023 entry Draft at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville next month.

Jones, who plays with Oakville Rock Sr. B team, is considered one of the top defenders in the game with his combination of athleticism and physicality.

The right-shot point man was the OJLL defender of the year in 2018 with the Burlington Chiefs (now Blaze) and then in 2020 headed to Division III Norwich University, where he played for the military college’s lacrosse and hockey teams.

Another local player expected to go in the early rounds of the Oct. 16 draft is Burlington Blaze Jr. A defender Andrew Vradenburg.

The Blaze captain led the team to its first Minto Cup title this season with his steady play on the back end. The defender also helped Canada win gold at the 2022 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championships in Winnipeg.

Vradenburg had 14 points in 13 games with the Six Nations Snipers in the Arena Lacrosse League this year.

Other Oakville Rock Sr. B members expected to be selected in this year’s draft include forward Sam English (Princeton/Syracuse), forward Zack Kearney (University of Massachusetts), midfielder Brett Handsor (Johns Hopkins) and forward Henry Follows (Cornell).

Oakville Buzz Jr. A defender Chris Dong (Western) is also among the top local prospects available.