2025 Next Up Showcase Player Reports
Attackman
Jace Brown – Attack – 2030 – Baltimore Crabs
The 2025 Next Up Showcase Most Oustanding Attackman, Jace stands out right away when you see him on the field. He’s an exceptional athlete that is capable of winning his matchup with ease and getting to the cage. He thrives dodging from X and driving for his right hand. His stick skills are polished, and as he adds more of an ability to distribute the ball, he’ll become even tougher to contain.
Thomas Dailey – Attack – 2030 – MadDog
Thomas is a strong downhill left-handed dodger who can initiate from the wing and get to the middle of the field. He has a heavy shot on the run and isn’t afraid to initiate contact to generate scoring chances. With continued work on his off-hand, he has the tools to be a consistent offensive threat and to play at a really high level.
Joey Martin – Attack – 2030 – BBL
Joey is smooth. He excels in two-man games behind the cage and reading defenses. He is a ton of fun to watch and is really productive. In terms of being efficient with the ball, he was near the top of the attack group. He has a quick release from mid-range and can finish with both hands around the cage. His lacrosse IQ stands out, and as he develops more explosiveness, he’ll elevate his ability to beat top defenders.
Dom Russo – Attack – 2030 – Team CT
Dom is a smooth lefty shooter that you don’t want to let get his hands free… ever. He has a really high lacrosse IQ and did a great job of finding seams in the back side of the defense where he could get a time and room scoring opportunity. As he continues to fill out his frame and put good weight on, he’ll be a really difficult matchup with an ability to dodge or shoot from the outside.
Jack Walters – Attack – 2030 – BBL
Jack is a dynamic scorer with the speed to stretch defenses and the stick skills to finish in traffic. He’s dangerous in transition and can create offense both on and off the ball. As he sharpens his decision-making under pressure, he has the potential to be a go-to option in any offense.
Josh DeBurgomaster – Attack – 2030 – Team 91 CLT
Josh is a shifty attackman with excellent footwork and a knack for finding open space in the defense. He’s really dangerous in front of the cage and around GLE where he gets the ball in and out of his stick quickly. Throughout the weekend, he showed an ability to score with both hands. As he develops more of an ability to dodge and draw slides, he’ll be able to play at a high level.
Tommy Furst – Attack – 2030 – BBL
Tommy plays with a high motor and relentless energy, constantly pressuring defenses with his off-ball movement. He finds soft spots in the defense and is an exceptional left-handed time and room shooter. As he continues to grow and develop as a dodger, He’ll be a great addition to a future college program. He’s a ton of fun to watch play!
Chance Gallagher – Attack – 2031 – Future LC
Chance is a powerful dodger who initiates contact and uses his frame to create space. He’s most effective from the high wing, where he can shoot on the run or draw slides. His physicality and toughness when he dodges, and on GBs, make him a great option in settled 6v6 offense.
Jay Marino – Attack – 2030 – MadLax
Jay is a cerebral player with excellent field awareness and timing. He thrives in man-up situations, delivering pinpoint feeds and dictating the defense with his vision. His decision-making under pressure stands out, and he consistently made the right play when the ball was in his stick.
Kyle Dovi – Attack – 2031 – Team 91 CLT
Kyle is a skilled ball carrier behind the cage with deceptive speed and an explosive first step. He’s comfortable dodging from multiple spots and can finish with either hand. His size and strength make him a really difficult cover around GLE. Where he was at his best was using a change of speed dodge to get in to and out of his defenseman. His strength would knock his defenseman off balance and Kyle could make a feed or shoot.
Dylan Ferrucci – Attack – 2030 – Team 91 Long Island
Dylan has a ton of potential. He is natural scorer with a quick release and a nose for the goal. He’s really strong handling the ball in tight spaces and has a knack for finishing with defenseman on him. His confidence and poise around the crease make him a constant threat. What is most appealing about him is his natural ability, skill and IQ combined with his frame. It looks like he’s ready to put on significant muscle over the next few years that will make him a really tough match up.
John Keller – Attack – 2031 – Albany Power
John is a technically sound attackman with great fundamentals and a high lacrosse IQ. He is incredibly composed with the ball in his stick. He is really good about taking what the defense gives him rather than forcing something and being careless with the ball. He was very consistent throughout the entire Next Up Showcase weekend.
Ryan McWalters – Attack – 2030 – Team 91 CLT
Ryan is a dynamic playmaker who combines speed with vision. He’s dangerous attacking in transition and can create offense off the dodge or with sharp feeds. His athleticism and creativity allow him to break down defenses in multiple ways. With his athleticism, he’ll be able to come out of the box as a midfielder or play behind the cage as an attackman for years to come.
Jonathan Katz – Attack – 2030 – 2Way
Jonathan is a gritty competitor who isn’t afraid to get physical and battle for ground balls. He brings toughness to the attack unit and can finish through contact. His hustle and determination set the tone for his team. He was generally playing the point on fast breaks or on the right-hand wing throughout the weekend and had a ton of opportunities to show off his hard shot or ability to skip the ball through the defense.
Michael Masone – Attack – 2030 – Team 91 Long Island
Michael is a poised finisher with excellent body control and timing. He’s particularly effective in backdoor cuts and quick-stick opportunities. His off-ball IQ and ability to read defenders make him a sneaky scoring threat. You can tell that he has played a lot of lacrosse and has been very well coached when you watch him play.
Harry Ransom – Attack – 2030 – Team 91 CLT
The 2025 Next Up Showcase Overall MVP, Harry was dominant throughout the entire weekend. He could get to the cage any time he wanted as a dodger and demanded the ball in tight game situations. He’s a smart passer and understands spacing and timing at a high level but what separated him throughout the weekend was the physicality he dodges with.
Keegan Kennedy – Attack – 2031 – Laxachusetts
Keegan is a matchup nightmare. He’s bigger, faster and stronger than 99% of the defenseman he will see. When he leans on a defenseman, he can get to the spots on the field he wants to get to and if you don’t slide to double, it’s over. He was most effective with his chest to the cage where he could catch the ball, hitch an approach and then get a shot off.
Brody Mauro – Attack – 2031 – Team 91 Long Island
Brody is a poised and methodical attackman who thrives in half-field sets. He sees the field well and delivers crisp passes under pressure, often setting up teammates with precision. His calm demeanor and composure with the ball in his stick make him a great future quarterback at the college level. If you overplay him, he’s going to beat you top side for his left hand and get to the rack.
Liam McBrayer – Attack – 2031 – Team 91 Virginia
Liam is a high-paced dodger with excellent burst and change of direction ability. He’s most effective initiating from X, where he can turn the corner and finish with confidence. His quick feet and aggressive mindset make him a constant threat behind the cage or attacking from the low wing areas.
Maddux Rhodes – Attack – 2030 – Thunder
Maddux has the ability to play midfield or attack. He is a long, athletic kid that moves well. He made a number of great plays in the open field throughout the weekend. He plays with a ton of confidence which gives him the ability to swing the momentum of a game on any play.
Owen Harris – Attack – 2031 – Team 91 CLT
Owen is a cerebral attackman who excels in two-man games and reading defensive rotations. While he is a shooter first, when he has the ball, he proved to be a smart feeder that could throw crisp and accurate passes. He knows when to pull the trigger or move the ball. His understanding of spacing and timing makes him a fit in any offensive system.
Devon Laufer – Attack – 2030 – Igloo
Devon is a gritty competitor who plays with an edge and isn’t afraid to seek contact when he dodges. He plays incredibly hard and can be a huge problem when the other team is trying to clear the ball. He plays with maximum effort for the entire game. His hustle was noticed all weekend.
Roddy O’Neill – Attack – 2030 – Team 91 CLT
Roddy is a smooth operator with a deceptive first step and a knack for getting topside. He’s comfortable dodging from multiple spots and can shoot on the run with accuracy. His versatility and confidence make him a matchup problem. As he continues to develop his explosion, he’s got a really high ceiling as an attackman or midfielder.
Defenseman
Drew Baade – Defense – 2030 – Team 91 CLT
Drew is a powerful close defenseman with excellent footwork and a strong understanding of positioning. He’s tough to beat off the dodge and consistently forces offensive players into low-angle shots. He has a quality stick and can push transition when the opportunity presents itself but knows when to get the ball out of his stick.
Conrad Gilchrist – Defense – 2031 – Team 91 Carolina
Conrad was one of the top 2031 defenseman at the event. He’s got a great frame to fill out and has a really high ceiling. He plays with an edge and thrives in one-on-one matchups. He’s aggressive on ball and isn’t afraid to take calculated risks. As he continues to refine his timing on slides and ability to hedge and recover, he’ll become even more impactful in team defense.
Luke Minnicozzi – Defense – 2030 – Igloo
Luke is a smooth cover guy with quick feet and a high IQ. He communicates well and anticipates offensive rotations, often arriving early on slides with a stick in the offensive players gloves. He stood out throughout the weekend for his ability to match feet with dodgers.
Gray Stickles – Defense – 2030 – Memphis Lacrosse Academy
Gray has a gritty, hard-nosed style of play. He was really physical at times and stood out when the ball was on the ground. He was great coming out of contested situations with the ball himself or goosing in to a teammate. His toughness and motor make him a tone-setter for any defensive group.
Maddux Korzenko – Defense – 2030 – Team 91 Long Island
Maddux is a versatile defender who can play both close and LSM roles effectively. He’s athletic in the open field and has a knack for causing turnovers with well-timed checks. His ability to push transition makes him an interesting prospect in the future. He plays like your standard Long Island defenseman that wants to beat up dodgers so they don’t want to attack him at all.
George Lane – Defense – 2030 – Long Island Express
George is a disciplined defender with excellent stick positioning and body control. He rarely overcommits and forces dodgers to earn every inch. He really understands spacing with his approaches and slides. His consistency and poise with the ball in his stick was really impressive.
Aidan Thompson – Defense – 2031 – Team 91 CLT
Aidan stood out right away when you watched the 2031 defense because of his size and potential. He’s a big, strong kid that could turn in to a really nice player in the future as he improves his footwork and explosiveness. He’s aggressive on the ball and can use his range to get in to the dodgers hands with ease.
Braeden Ward – Defense – 2030 – Crabs
Braeden is part of a really impressive Crabs 2030 defensive unit. He is technically sound with great fundamentals. He plays angles well and is physical with dodgers. He checks the box for “bigger, faster and stronger” when looking at defenseman. He communicates well within the defensive unit and understands team defense.
Wyatt Zaitz – Defense – 2030 – Team 91 CLT
Wyatt has great range and length. He uses a long stride and long arms to make dodgers really uncomfortable. As you continues to become a more physical defender, he has the size and length to become a game changer on the defensive end of the field.
Jack Murphy – Defense – 2030 – Team 91 CLT
Jack stood out in the middle of the field playing most of the weekend as a longstick midfielder. He has a very good stick and was impactful off the wings of faceoffs and in transition. When other teams tried to bury him on the crease, he did a great job of communicating and directing traffic.
Conner Edelman – Defense – 2030 – Team 91 MD
Conner is a scrappy defender with a relentless motor and a nose for the ball. He plays with maximum effort on and off ball. He can get caught being over aggressive at times but that also allowed him to put the ball on the ground a number of times throughout the weekend.
Connor Hotarek – Defense – 2030 – Team 91 Long Island
Connor is a smooth athlete with excellent lateral quickness and was able to match feet with smaller and quicker attackman. He was realy tough to beat in 1v1 match ups and rarely got caught out of position. His athleticism and discipline make him a prototypical #1 cover defenseman.
Owen Murphy – Defense – 2030 – Team 91 CLT
Owen is a rangy pole with great instincts and timing. He’s effective in both settled and unsettled situations, often creating turnovers with smart, well timed checks. His ability to push transition adds a dynamic layer to his game. As he continues to improve athletically, he will be an impact player for years to come.
Santino Parisi – Defense – 2031 – LI Rush
Santino plays with a controlled aggression that makes him difficult to dodge against. Frankly, offensive players generally tried to avoid him throughout the weekend. He excels in physical matchups using a heavy cross check to steer dodgers to low angles.
Carter Ciarpella – Defense – 2030 – Team 91 Carolina
Carter was really polished for a young defenseman. He has been coached well and stood out in 6v6 defense for his off ball positioning and communication. He’s efficient with his footwork and very cerebral on ball. His consistency and attention to detail make him a coach’s favorite.
Logan Cummins – Defense – 2030 – SouthShore
Logan is a fast, athletic pole who excels in the open-field. He can play the game almost like a free saftey in football eating space and covering sideline to sideline. He’s aggressive on ground balls and has the stick skills to contribute offensively. His versatility makes him a valuable two-way threat.
Benn Iddings – Defense – 2030 – Annapolis Hawks
Ben has an impressive frame and clearly projects as a future D1 defenseman. He is a strong communicator and field general on defense. He has a high IQ and sees the game well. He was very helpful organizing his team’s slides and recoveries. His leadership and poise make him a foundational piece of any defensive unit.
Matt Zegers – Defense – 2030 – Team 91 Long Island
Matt was another Long Island with a throwback “beat you up” style. Offensive players just did not want to dodge on him by Sunday morning. He is physical and embraces contact. He thrives in tight matchups near the cage. He’s tough on the crease and doesn’t give up easy looks. His strength and competitive edge make him an interesting prospect in the future.
Finn Matthews – Defense – 2030 – BBL
The 2025 Next Up Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Finn was a ton of fun to watch all weekend. He is excellent off the ground and stood out for picking the ball up off the wing or instantly putting pressure on the opposing team if they picked it up. He has a great stick and excellent footwork. He’s comfortable defending in space and transitions seamlessly between on-ball and off-ball roles. His fluidity and awareness make him a high-upside prospect.
Cannon Griffith – Defense – 2030 – Crabs
Cannon plays with intensity and purpose, often setting the tone with early physicality against the opposing attackman. He’s strong on the ball and brings a relentless approach to ground ball battles. He’s got great length and an excellent stick that allows him to pick of passes in the lane. As he fills out his frame, he’s got a really high upside.
Dexter Lamach – Defense – 2030 – Team 91 Carolina
Dexter is a steady, reliable defender who plays with discipline and focus. He’s strong in team defense and rarely gets caught out of position. His consistency and work ethic make him a dependable presence. As he continues to develop athletically and plays with more of a chip on his shoulder, he’ll be a fun player to follow in future years.
Owen Mengle – Defense – 2030 – Crabs
Owen is a big and physical defenseman that excels playing near the GLE area. If he can get his hands on attackman, he has incredible power to drive them away from the island and force them in to low angle shots. He takes great angles on his approaches and is smart not to overplay attackman. He wants the opposition to attack the cage so he can play a physical still close to home.
Thomas Newnam – Defense – 2030 – Dukes Elite
Thomas passes the eye test right away. With a football game Saturday, his evaluation is incomplete but what coaches saw was all positive. He’s aggressive on ball and has the speed to recover quickly. His ability to create chaos and push tempo adds a unique dimension to the defense.
Carter Sand – Defense – 2030 – Long Island Express
Carter has great length and range that will make him appealing to college coaches in the future. He can press on attackman and get a stick in their gloves without sacrificing too much of his positioning. He has the stick skills to push transition and become a threat on the offensive end of the field.
Jacob Coriano – Defense – 2030 – Team 91 Long Island
Jacob is a smart, instinctive defender who anticipates dodges and reacts quickly. He’s efficient with his footwork and rarely gets beat clean. His ability to read the game makes him a really strong off ball defender.
Connor Hay – Defense – 2030 – Team 91 Long Island
Connor stood out as one of the top defenseman at the 2025 Next Up Showcase. Scoring a few goals while also playing great defense all weekend helps that. He is a gritty, hard-working defenseman that brings toughness and effort every time he is on the field. He’s strong in ground ball scrums and plays with a chip on his shoulder. His competitive fire makes him a tone-setter for the defense.
Tripp Meszkat – Defense – 2030 – PrimeTime
Tripp is a smooth cover defender with excellent lateral quickness and recovery speed. He’s comfortable in 1v1 matchups and rarely gives up clean looks. He displayed solid stick skills throughout the weekend in the clearing game. His athleticism and toughness make him a strong cover option for any defensive unit.
Shawn Perry – Defense – 2030 – UNLTD Select
Shawn stood out in every game for his athleticism and toughness. He embraces the physicality of playing on ball defense which caught the attention of players and coaches in every game. He’s strong in team concepts and understands when to slide and recover. He quickly became a leader for his team during the weekend.
Ryder Teel – Defense – 2030 – Team 91 CLT
Ryder is a rangy, athletic defender who excels in 1v1 defense matching feet with some of the top attackman at the Next Up Showcase. He’s aggressive on ball and has the stick skills to push tempo in the clear. He primarily played close defense throughout the weekend but you can see that his skill set would easily translate to LSM, if needed.
