Class Four, An Inside Look: MJ Melillo
12/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Dec. 7, 2015
The University of Michigan men's lacrosse team inked 12 student-athletes as members of the team's 2015 recruiting class last spring. The recruiting class is the fourth full class in the team's varsity history. MGoBlue.com will sit down with each incoming freshman on an individual basis this fall.
Next up is defenseman MJ Melillo, who hails from New Vernon, New Jersey, via the Delbarton School. Regarded as an extremely hard worker, Melillo possesses an endless motor and has the drive to excel at the collegiate level, according to defensive coordinator Ken Broschart. Melillo figures to see extensive time as a true freshman.
On choosing Michigan ... "I chose Michigan because it has an outstanding reputation for both athletics and academics. Although the lacrosse team wasn't the best when I was committing and in its early stages since it was a new program, I knew -- due to the reputation that all the athletic teams had here -- one day we will be competing for a national championship."
On his superstitions ... "Yeah, I am a little superstitious. I don't have anything set now but in high school I would listen to the same playlist before every game. I would listen to the Friday Night Light's theme song and would re-tape my stick before every game."
On his playlist. ... "It's all over the place. A little rap, a little country. We would take bus rides and I would put the location to my phone so that I would know we were eight minutes and 32 seconds away from the stadium or field. That's when I would start the FNL theme song."
On the fall academic and athletic season ... "The fall has been going well. Lacrosse and school are good and it's definitely an adjustment from high school. Especially with lacrosse, playing for the same coach for four years same system, same everything ... and then all of a sudden you're thrown into this new way of playing with a new system. It takes a little adjustment, but the older guys really help me help. Andrew Hatton was a big help. He really took me under his wing and helped me out a lot on the field."
On Coach Broschart helping with his game ... "He's really pushed me to put in the extra work and get better, especially with stick skills. There are small things that can't overlooked at this level because everyone is so good. You're trying to focus on being a great on ball defender or team defender and you don't focus on passing and catching as much."
On what a successful season would be ... "A successful season for me would be getting a decent amount of playing time as a freshman. I also want to an impact on the team that helps us to get further in the season and earn a postseason berth. Being in -- and making an impact in -- the Big Ten Tournament and then hopefully making it to the NCAA Tournament."
On the Grow Blue Campaign and the mustache. ... "I've done `No Shave" a few years in the past, and I think just having a beard and letting it grow out gets a little boring sometimes. I decided to go with the mustache this year. We were also taking part in #GROWBlue with the team so I started off with the handle bars. A bunch of guys gave me grief for it so I shaved it off and just decided to go straight Italian mustache."
• Previous Inside Look: JC Sorenson
