2026 Recruiting

[Powellfan]

His teammate & fellow ‘26 M Chris Doshna should make this list as well. The Donahue family has made a HUGE impact on Marcellus youth/HS Lax ever since purchasing The Ultimate Goal indoor complex in 2017 & you’re starting to see the results. Collin Donahue (SU ‘12) is the HC at Marcellus & his brother, ‘Cuse legend Dylan, runs Sniper School Training out of the facility. The Marcellus girls team has a Top 50 national ‘26 in Cece Powell (not related to the Carthage Powells) as well as a few others who will go D1.

I guess the million dollar question is if they have interest in SU? That's great to hear about the connection to the Donahue's. Do you know if they have any mixed feelings towards their alma mater? I'm not sure what the real reason was their dad stepped away, I think the company line was that he retired, but there was also talk that maybe he was asked to step away? If that's incorrect my sincere apologies. Hopefully the Donahue's can make a connection to these Marcellus kids.

The top level talent in upstate has really dropped off the last few years, as has been well documented, but would love for SU to have the guys that do emerge.

 

[BomberOrange]

WG has some big time ‘26 kids with D-Logan Dewaters, M- Nash Oudemool, M- Chace Cogan.

All three are high/mid level D 1 kids.

 

[Zack80]

So is #29 John Balsamo, the brother of Charles Balsamo who just transferred to UVa?

Who is Syracuse after to replace Joey Spallina with? I guess Thomson is also finishing up by the time these 2026 recruits show up.

 

[W'boro'Cuse315]

I guess the million dollar question is if they have interest in SU? That's great to hear about the connection to the Donahue's. Do you know if they have any mixed feelings towards their alma mater? I'm not sure what the real reason was their dad stepped away, I think the company line was that he retired, but there was also talk that maybe he was asked to step away? If that's incorrect my sincere apologies. Hopefully the Donahue's can make a connection to these Marcellus kids.

The top level talent in upstate has really dropped off the last few years, as has been well documented, but would love for SU to have the guys that do emerge.

I have zero inside info on this. I just recall that Kevin was originally going to stay on as a volunteer assistant after retiring but then chose not to.

 

[W'boro'Cuse315]

WG has some big time ‘26 kids with D-Logan Dewaters, M- Nash Oudemool, M- Chace Cogan.

All three are high/mid level D 1 kids.

I was thinking the other day that if Max Rosa doesn’t return for his 6th year in ‘25, there won’t be a West Genny grad on the roster. When was the last time that occurred? I’m not going to research it but I wouldn’t be shocked if it was 50-60+ years, if not more.

 

[Powellfan]

So is #29 John Balsamo, the brother of Charles Balsamo who just transferred to UVa?

Who is Syracuse after to replace Joey Spallina with? I guess Thomson is also finishing up by the time these 2026 recruits show up.

I would imagine the Balsamo's are related, they come from the same high school (Chaminade).

I mean, Syracuse will have to replace a ton since the '26 class will be replacing the '22 class. They would most likely (injuries, transfers not withstanding) be replacing up to five starters as the Orange will be saying goodbye to Joey Spallina, Michael Leo, Luke Rhoa, Billy Dwan, Finn Thomson. Also depends on if guys like Carter Kempney or Dylan Segeder break into the regular rotation. But a lot of playing time, and scholarship money, will be up for grabs when this '26 class steps on campus. It's a big year for recruiting.

 

[GrowTheGame]

Conway-Reppert is interesting. Really good player with slick skills from the little I know about him but his size is a concern. Apparently he was hurt most of this past season.

Rides like a banshee from my memory

 

[ClvrUsrnm]

Rides like a banshee from my memory

He screams at the clearing players about the impending deaths of family members?

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

They’ve got 2-3 legit studs on that team. Crazy. They play for Sweetlax.

That team is stacked.

 

[BomberOrange]

His teammate & fellow ‘26 M Chris Doshna should make this list as well. The Donahue family has made a HUGE impact on Marcellus youth/HS Lax ever since purchasing The Ultimate Goal indoor complex in 2017 & you’re starting to see the results. Collin Donahue (SU ‘12) is the HC at Marcellus & his brother, ‘Cuse legend Dylan, runs Sniper School Training out of the facility. The Marcellus girls team has a Top 50 national ‘26 in Cece Powell (not related to the Carthage Powells) as well as a few others who will go D1.

Agree with Doshna, he is one helluva player.

 

[Powellfan]

Jayden James, St. John’s (D.C.), Next Level
Evaluation Score: 89
James is a tall, long lefty who loves to assert his dominance as offenses clear and get into their settled set. He has a presence on-ball all over the field and then follows it up with stout play in 6v6 sets.2

 

[JeremyCuse]

Peck kid is from upstate - lacrosse hotbed of Schuylerville. He’s a reclass. Mom was an Olympic speedskater.

I’d keep an eye on Cornell.

Cuse will be in on Peck for sure, suspect a major battle from the usual suspects.

 

[JeremyCuse]

I can’t fathom why they wouldn’t. He’s camped at SU as well. There was a photo posted somewhere on here a year or 2 ago of him in either The Dome or Ensley with Fig & Trujillo. Being their #1 defender, I’d imagine he’s gone up against Duenkel regularly in practice. Iron sharpens iron.

Don't like to make absolute statements because things can change on a dime with recruiting but I'd put Cuse very high on the list for James.

 

[Bayside44]

Jayden James, St. John’s (D.C.), Next Level
Evaluation Score: 89
James is a tall, long lefty who loves to assert his dominance as offenses clear and get into their settled set. He has a presence on-ball all over the field and then follows it up with stout play in 6v6 sets.2

I hear good things on this one.

 

[CLTOrange]

I have zero inside info on this. I just recall that Kevin was originally going to stay on as a volunteer assistant after retiring but then chose not to.

So Dylan has a framed jersey, All American certificate, and art work signed by the Powell’s hanging in his office at Platform. The Marcellus team comes in for training. You can routinely see active SU players coming in to get extra work in as well safe to say all is good there.

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

Tyler Byrnes - National Lacrosse Federation

nlfrankings.com

Does this kid have major D-1 ability? Looked stiff in the highlight video but it's dumb saying that about a 6'4" freshman (illustrative of how stupid early recruiting is). He was mentioned on a Inside Lacrosse podcast. Legacy. I am sure many of you know more about the player and his father than me

 

[Powellfan]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

We're in there somewhere...

 

[Whitey23]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Unless that's SPF60, he's gonna fry like Canadian Bacon.

 

[Powellfan]

Rayfield looks like quite the player. Hopefully SU has him high on their list (and hopefully they are high on his).

 

[Powellfan]

As another poster pointed out, Peck might also be one to watch. Not much success with kids from Lawrenceville, but he is a native New Yorker (Schuylerville). Also has a younger brother named Hudson just a year behind, who still seems to be in the Schuylerville school system. I've seen some online "chatter" about him and connections to SU, but these things can be way off. '25 commit Joe Filardi was in his instagram comments with the 'orange' emoji. Anything helps sometimes.

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

As another poster pointed out, Peck might also be one to watch. Not much success with kids from Lawrenceville, but he is a native New Yorker (Schuylerville). Also has a younger brother named Hudson just a year behind, who still seems to be in the Schuylerville school system. I've seen some online "chatter" about him and connections to SU, but these things can be way off. '25 commit Joe Filardi was in his instagram comments with the 'orange' emoji. Anything helps sometimes.

As JeremyCuse said, Cuse will be in play. Michael Leo was just his coach at one of the high profile showcase camps (I get them all confused between Best in Class, One Percent, Maverik, etc.). He's going to be focused on ACC and B1G schools.

His brother is a nice player and athlete but isnt at the same level. It's hard in lacrosse to judge levels because Tufts would runover a school like Wagner, but my guess is skill wise he projects to a decent D-3 level (like St. John Fisher/Cortland) and athletically his ceiling might be a bit higher.

 

[nyclax]

never say never but it's going to be hard to pry any of these lawrenceville kids away from the ivies or big ten (hop and umich). those kids value high-end academics...

 

[nyclax]

never say never but it's going to be hard to pry any of these lawrenceville kids away from the ivies or big ten (hop and umich). those kids value high-end academics...

now of course right as i say this im hearing that ted rawson has decommitted from ohio state and cuse is one of the schools he is considering