When Bryan Hancock signed with the San Diego Seals earlier this National Lacrosse League offseason, it was the second time in as many years that a player from the National Collegiate Box Series inked a deal in the box big leagues.

The first of course was Trevor Baptiste, who previous to being drafted 14th overall by the Philadelphia Wings and months later landing a spot on the NLL’s All-Rookie Team, spent a couple of summers suiting up for the Colorado Collegiate Box Lacrosse League’s Fighting Bison – even winning a Morrow Cup during his last season in the loop.

Those summers sweating for 60 minutes straight at the Foothills Fieldhouse in Denver definitely made a difference.

“Playing in the NCBS really prepared me for the NLL,” said Baptiste, who also starred for Team USA at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in Langley, British Columbia this past September. “Getting to know the basics in the NCBS really put me another step ahead and prepared me a little bit more than if I was just going in the NLL without having any indoor experience.”

Hancock – and many other capable NCBS products – is hoping for (and working tirelessly towards) a similar path to the pros.

Born in Highlands Ranch, Colorado and finishing up at Hobart this past spring, Hancock grew up not only near the NLL’s Colorado Mammoth, but just as importantly, near former University of Denver Head Coach, Jamie Munro, and former Mammoth General Manager, Steve Govett, who now leads the second-year Seals as the club’s president.