Ocean Springs senior attackman Nick Rocco has committed to play MCLA Division I lacrosse at the University of Mississippi.

Rocco, a first-team All-State Louisiana High School Lacrosse League selection as a junior, had the opportunity to become one of the first Mississippi natives to play NCAA-sanctioned lacrosse. But he decided to forgo the opportunity, because, he said, he wanted a chance to have more of a social life in college.

Ocean Springs is based in Mississippi but plays in the Louisiana High School Lacrosse League.

“It’s more of a chance to have fun,” Rocco said.

Rocco said he also considered Jacksonville, Birmingham-Southern and Millsaps before settling on the Oxford-based school.

“It was more of the school itself, no such much the lacrosse,” that went into the decision, Rocco said. “The guys (on the team) seem like great guys, and getting know them made it a little easier.”