DENVER – The University of Denver men's lacrosse program had four current graduate students selected in the 2023 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft on Saturday afternoon. Denver's four picks in a single draft ties the 2009 draft for the most Pioneers selected in the same indoor draft. 

Faceoff specialist Alec Stathakis was picked 40^th overall (Round 3, Pick 2) by Vancouver, attackman Richie Connell was selected 66th by Georgia (Round 4, Pick 13), JJ Sillstrop was picked 80th by San Diego and AJ Mercurio was drafted 81st by Colorado in Saturday's event..
 
Following Saturday's four selections, the Pioneers have had 35 student-athletes selected in the NLL Draft since 2001.

A two-time captain, first for Bill Tierney and now for William G. Tierney Head Men's Lacrosse Coach Matt Brown, Stathakis was a 2023 Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-America selection and a 2023 BIG EAST Second Team honoree. He's been selected to the USILA National Team of the Week four times.
 
Stathakis enters his final season with Denver having played in 52 games, and going 731-for-1217 (.601) from the faceoff stripe, and picking up 413 ground balls. The Northville, Michigan, native, has eight career goals and two assists for 10 points.

Connell will play his third and final season with the Pioneers in 2024 after starting his career with two seasons at Richmond. A CCBLL regular the last several years, Connell had 34 points on 16 goals and 18 helpers a year ago, playing and starting all 15 games in Brown's attack unit. Connell had two man-up goals and two game-winning tallies, while picking up 13 ground balls and getting a CT in the ride a year ago.  

A two-time Tewaaraton Watch List pick and a two-time All-BIG EAST selection, Sillstrop crossed the 100 career point milestone last season, entering his final season with the program on 113 points with 87 goals and 26 assists. A year ago, Sillstrop played in all 15 games, posting 41 points on a career-high 36 goals and five assists. 

Mercurio was a U.S. Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American and a BIG EAST First Team pick in 2023. A 15-game starter as Denver's long stick midfielder, Mercurio picked up 19 ground balls and forced seven turnovers for Denver's defense. Mercurio also picked up three goals in transition a season ago. 
 

Year	Student-Athlete	Overall Pick	Round	Team
2001	Mike Law	48	4	Vancouver
2001	Kenny Crowley	94	8	New Jersey
2002	Chad Wittman	29	3	Vancouver
2002	Tom Ethington	81	7	Colorado
2005	Matt Brown	5	1	Arizona
2006	Geoff Snider	4	1	Philadelphia
2007	Ryan Zordani	57	5	Boston
2009	Ilija Gajic	2	1	Rochester
2009	Cliff Smith	4	1	Colorado
2009	Alex Gajic	5	1	Colorado
2009	Brad Richardson	17	2	Colorado
2011	Todd Baxter	48	6	Minnesota
2012	Mark Matthews	1	1	Edmonton
2012	Alex Demopoulos	53	6	Colorado
2013	Cam Flint	4	1	Minnesota
2013	Eric Law	28	3	Toronto
2014	Jeremy Noble	2	1	Rochester
2014	Terry Ellis	42	5	Colorado
2015	Wes Berg	4	1	Calgary
2017	Tyler Pace	9	1	Calgary
2017	Connor Cannizzaro	28	3	Colorado
2017	Christian Burgdorf	49	5	Toronto
2018	Trevor Baptiste	14	2	Philadelphia
2018	Sean Mayle	53	5	San Diego
2020	Ethan Walker	10	1	Georgia
2020	Danny Logan	50	3	San Diego
2020	Jackson Morrill	72	5	Calgary
2021	Jack Hannah	31	2	Panther City
2021	Riley Curtis	35	3	Rochester
2022	Alex Simmons	4	1	Albany
2022	Josh Dawick	28	2	Toronto
2023	Alec Stathakis	40	3	Vancouver
2023	Richie Connell	66	4	Georgia
2023	JJ Sillstrop	80	5	San Diego
2023	AJ Mercurio	81	5	Colorado

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