Transfer Rumors: Could More Players Go To Virginia?

More possible transfers are beginning to pop up as June starts to wind down.

Terry Foy of Inside Lacrosse reports that midfielder Drew Supinski and FOGO Justin Schwenk have been granted releases from the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays and the Monmouth Hawks respectively. Foy also mentions that the Virginia Cavaliers are a possibility for both players, with Schwenk having conversations with UVA.

Supinski has had a rough year-and-a-half with the Blue Jays, mainly because of injuries. In 2016, he started the first eight games of the season and recorded eight goals and four assists with four ground balls, before suffering a season-ending injury against Rutgers. Last season, he appeared in eight games and recorded three turnovers.

The rising junior was one of the top-ranked recruits back in 2015 out of the Haverford School in Pennsylvania. Foy reports that Supinski will weigh his options, with Virginia and Notre Dame as possible destinations.

Supinski’s brother, Brett, is a forward on Union’s hockey team. He had 36 points on the season, fourth-best on the team. Could somewhere in Central New York be a possibility?

Meanwhile, Schwenk will be a rising sophomore and appears to be headed to Virginia, if everything goes to plan. In his only season with the Hawks, he went 164-of-316 for the MAAC champions, which is about 51.9% of his draws, and recorded 77 ground balls. He also tallied three goals and an assist.

Virginia loses senior Jason Murphy, who went 54.5% from the face-off X, but returns rising sophomore Luke Brugel, who went 52.7% on draws last year. Schwenk would probably be competing for that top FOGO spot.

Foy also discussed the situation with Notre Dame Fighting Irish attackman Ryder Garnsey. Matt DaSilva of US Lacrosse Magazine first reported Garnsey’s release being granted back on Saturday. Foy confirmed that Garnsey has Virginia as a possible destination, but talks have not begun between the two parties.

Furthermore, Foy’s report mentioned that some of his sources that have knowledge of ACC transfer rules said that he might have to lose a year of eligibility, along with sitting out a year. The only time I can remember a player transfer from an ACC school to another is Carlson Milikin. His story is a bit different, because Milikin transferred from Virginia to Notre Dame as a graduate student, which usually has different implications. When Nicky Galasso transferred from the North Carolina Tar Heels to the Syracuse Orange, the Orange were still a member of the Big East at that time.

If Virginia gets all three players, I think it doesn’t do a ton to bolster the starting lineup for the Wahoos. Supinski has not played a full season of lacrosse, and there are questions about his health? Can he get back to 100% and play a full season? For Schwenk, how might he fare against higher quality teams like Loyola and the entire ACC that he didn’t have to face in the MAAC?

Garnsey’s possible arrival wouldn’t happen until 2019, so his transfer would do nothing to help Virginia now. But if he has to lose a year of eligibility and sit out 2018 if he wants to go to Virginia, could he decide to go somewhere else?

Updated player tracker is below: