Michael Kraus selected No. 2 overall in MLL Draft

Major League Lacrosse (MLL) held their 2020 draft on Monday night (May 4). With the second overall pick, the newly formed Connecticut Hammerheads selected Virginia attackman Michael Kraus. He was the 21st first round pick in Virginia Lacrosse history.

The Hammerheads are a new team, created after the Dallas Rattlers relocated. Kraus is a good fit with the Hammerheads, seeing as he is a native of New Canaan, Connecticut. Despite not being able to finish out his senior season because of the coronavirus, Kraus will leave Charlottesville as one of the most prolific scorers.

Earlier this season, Kraus became just the fourth player in Virginia history to have 100 career goals and 100 career assists. Kraus finished his career with 130 goals and 109 assists. In the NCAA tournament last season, Krause had one goal and four assists in Virginia’s dramatic games against Maryland and Duke. He finished with three goals in the 2019 title game win over Yale.

Kraus could have returned to school with his extra year of eligibility awarded by the NCAA after the season was cut short, but he decided to decline the waiver.

Virginia had just one player drafted last year following the Hoos’ NCAA tournament title with midfielder Ryan Conrad going No. 2 overall in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) draft and No. 5 overall in the MLL draft. Conrad was picked up by the Waterdogs in a supplemental draft back in February of this year.

Players are eligible to be drafted by either professional outdoor league, but can only sign with/play with one. The PLL — which had its inaugural season in 2019 — was created by former Johns Hopkins player Paul Rabil. Their draft will be held at a later date, but it hasn’t been set yet as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

Kraus will likely also hear his name called whenever the PLL draft takes place, and he will have to make a choice between the city-based league (MLL) or tour-based league (PLL).

There are former Virginia players in each league. Adam Ghitelman (Archers), James Pannell (Atlas), Chris Bocklet (Chrome), Greg Coholan (Chrome), Pat Harbeson (Redwoods), Ryan Conrad (Waterdogs), and Zed Williams (Whipsnakes) make up the players in the PLL.

There’s also a couple Hoos coaching in the PLL as Ben Rubeor heads up the Atlas and Ryan Curtis is an assistant with the Chaos.

Mark Cockerton (Boston Cannons), Scott Hooper (Boston Cannons), and Steele Stanwick (Chesapeake Bayhawks) round out the former Hoos in the MLL.

Stay tuned for updates on any other Virginia players hearing their names called!