JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- Former Jacksonville defenseman Aaron Toguri was selected eighth overall in Thursday's National Lacrosse League Entry Draft by the Saskatchewan Rush. Toguri is the fourth first-round pick in program history and the first since 2022. He is the third Top 10 pick in program history, joining Dylan Watson and Zack Deaken who were selected second and eighth, respectively, in 2022. 

Toguri has racked up accolades in box lacrosse during and after his time at JU. In Junior A, he was named the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League Defensive Player of the Year and reached the Minto Cup Final in his last season of junior.

This summer, Toguri starred for the Cobourg Kodiaks in Major Series Lacrosse. He won Rookie of the Year honors in that league after being drafted third overall.

In his time with the Dolphins, Toguri became one of the best defensemen in school history. He is a two-time All-ASUN First Team selection and helped Jacksonville to its first conference title this past season as a senior. He was named to the ASUN All-Tournament team as he helped JU to victory. Toguri is second all-time for caused turnovers in JU history with 76. Amongst defensemen, he ranks third all-time in program history with 108 ground balls.

He's been a fixture with the Canadian National Team in addition to his play in box and with the Dolphins. Toguri represented his country at the Pan-American Men's Lacrosse Championship this summer, helping Canada to a 9-8 victory over Team USA in the Gold Medal game.

Later Tuesday night, another former Dolphin was picked: Kyle Gonsiorek. He was picked 64th overall in the sixth round by seven-time league champions the Buffalo Bandits. Gonsiorek, who hails from Hamburg, N.Y. in the Greater Buffalo area, spent one season in Jacksonville. He played nine times as a graduate senior, tallying six ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Toguri and Gonsiorek are the 11th and 12th NLL draft picks in program history. This is the third time multiple Dolphins have been taken in the same draft class, joining the 2022 (five picks) and 2021 (two picks) classes.