2026 Recruiting | Page 7 | Syracusefan.com

2026 Recruiting

Powellfan said:
Nothing too outrageous here, seems like guys are down on this class, but they said that last year as well, so who knows?

I couldn't really tell what this quote meant? Are more players headed to Ivy League schools? Would be be helpful to know if the coach speaking was from an Ivy (of course we've heard that isn't going to be the case this year) - “I feel like last year was a Big 10/ACC class and the top guys were outside of Ivy League and high-academic material, but I think it’s trending well there this year from our point of view…. "
Also found this nugget interesting - “It’ll be interesting how goalie recruiting shakes out since programs like Duke, Virginia, and North Carolina all don’t plan on taking one… I don’t think it’s super deep. A lot of guys have heard that the Class of 2027 is off-the-charts in goal, and that’s something to keep in mind for the coaches that don’t feel like this is a great group of goalies…"

Hunter Mezzatesta is a Yorktown product and IL's top rated goalie this class, perhaps SU has a shot here if others are not looking for goalies this time out?

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I get that these are coaches who do this for a living, but I find it hard to believe that they just have the goalie talent levels totally figured out for guys entering 10th grade. It is one of the harder positions to get right when recruiting out of high school. Just look at how many top goalies end up coming from weaker schools. PLL has goalies from Manhattan, St Bonaventure, High Point, Delaware, etc. Our stud goalie the last two years was an LIU transfer. How many times has the 5 star/next big name in goalkeeping turned out to be just average against D1 competition? Seems like a great deal of overconfidence from these coaches.
 
DoctahLexus said:
I get that these are coaches who do this for a living, but I find it hard to believe that they just have the goalie talent levels totally figured out for guys entering 10th grade. It is one of the harder positions to get right when recruiting out of high school. Just look at how many top goalies end up coming from weaker schools. PLL has goalies from Manhattan, St Bonaventure, High Point, Delaware, etc. Our stud goalie the last two years was an LIU transfer. How many times has the 5 star/next big name in goalkeeping turned out to be just average against D1 competition? Seems like a great deal of overconfidence from these coaches.
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As a 2027 goalie dad I couldn't agree with you more. It's definitely interesting hearing that the '27 is loaded. I do know some very good ones locally. Then you have the reclass factor. Sweetlax Upstate's '27 goalie the last few years just reclassed to '28...because their '26 goalie reclassed to '27. It's crazy. I am looking forward to seeing how my son progresses and matches up with his peers.
 
BomberOrange said:
As a 2027 goalie dad I couldn't agree with you more. It's definitely interesting hearing that the '27 is loaded. I do know some very good ones locally. Then you have the reclass factor. Sweetlax Upstate's '27 goalie the last few years just reclassed to '28...because their '26 goalie reclassed to '27. It's crazy. I am looking forward to seeing how my son progresses and matches up with his peers.
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Sweetlax picked up a '27 goalie from the Capital District as well.

I think it's fair to say that goalies are improving overall likely the same way fogos are improving overall - there is much more specialized training/coaching than ever before so presumably these kids are ahead of where goalies were at the same age years ago. That doesnt mean they are easier to project amongst each other, but probably gives the appearance of a "stacked class."
 
Powellfan said:
Also found this nugget interesting - “It’ll be interesting how goalie recruiting shakes out since programs like Duke, Virginia, and North Carolina all don’t plan on taking one… I don’t think it’s super deep. A lot of guys have heard that the Class of 2027 is off-the-charts in goal, and that’s something to keep in mind for the coaches that don’t feel like this is a great group of goalies…"

Hunter Mezzatesta is a Yorktown product and IL's top rated goalie this class, perhaps SU has a shot here if others are not looking for goalies this time out?

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The free article that you linked lists “Duke, Syracuse, & North Carolina” as programs that don’t plan on taking a ‘26 goalie. Maybe Xanders updated/corrected?

With SU redshirting McCool, Ippoliti, & presumably our ‘24 & ‘25 goalie commits, it’s not a huge need but if a kid like Mezzatesta has legit interest, I think you definitely listen.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a starter/contributor from Yorktown, like Nick Mariano or Austin Fusco, for Carc to gush over & segue into talking about barbershops & chicken cutlets pounded thin enough to fit under a door lol.
 
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8. Jayden James, defense, St. John’s (D.C.) / Next Level​

The 2026 class isn’t perceived as the best defensive class, but James is basically the unanimous choice as the No. 1 close defender.

“Athletically, he’s different than everyone else,” an ACC coach said.

“People didn’t really challenge him this summer,” another coach from a top-5 program said.

James is going to be a four-year starter at St. John’s, one of the top programs in the country. He can reportedly throw down a windmill dunk, a nod to his elite athleticism. He loves to apply pressure because he knows that few offensive players can run by him, and his frame can handle a bunch more weight once he gets in a college weight room. There’s been a lot of smoke linking James to Syracuse, but he’ll get interest from everyone.

 
 
JeremyCuse said:
Getting 3+ of those guys would be a great haul. I doubt we will be involved with all but clearly the 4 we mentioned previously Rayfield, Doshna, Peck and James SU will for sure be in the mix. Conway-Reppert is a very intriguing recruit but he seems destined for Duke/UVA/ND
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Yes, I'd love for the four that have mentioned the most by us be the priority, but lots can obviously happen. I tried to highlight players Syracuse might have some sort of connection to, mostly by geography - hometown, club team or if they were Canadian. There are always surprises though, Syracuse hadn't landed any kids from McDonough until Bogue Hahn last year, and they hadn't gotten any from Chaminade either until last year.
 
W'boro'Cuse315 said:
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.
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As a follow-up for anyone who may not check the Olympic/Women’s Board, Cece Powell is IL’s #3 ranked ‘26 overall. Two Top 50 boys & a Top 3 girl in the same class for Marcellus. These 3 were around 9 years old when the Donahues took over the indoor complex & the first wave of what could potentially become a steady stream of national recruits in the coming years.

Any Mustangs on the board?
 
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W'boro'Cuse315 said:

As a follow-up for anyone who may not check the Olympic/Women’s Board, Cece Powell is IL’s #3 ranked ‘26 overall. Two Top 50 boys & a Top 3 girl in the same class for Marcellus. These 3 were around 9 years old when the Donahues took over the indoor complex & the first wave of what could potentially become a steady stream of national recruits in the coming years.

Any Mustangs on the board?
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I don’t know about the Marcellus program, but Platform Lacrosse is pretty active in posting content on their social pages. Plenty of programs helmets pop up in their sessions. Hopefully the overall general area experiences the effects of Donahue’s training!
 
9. Hansen Peck, A, Lawrenceville (N.J.) | Team 91 Long Island - "The Orange will be one of the main contenders, as will a pair of Big 10 programs."

13. Jayden James, D, St. John’s (D.C.) | DC Express, Hilltop

21. Nick Rayfield, M, Marcellus (NY) | SweetLax Upstate

33. Christopher Doshna, M, Macellus (NY) | SweetLax Upstate

 
W'boro'Cuse315 said:

As a follow-up for anyone who may not check the Olympic/Women’s Board, Cece Powell is IL’s #3 ranked ‘26 overall. Two Top 50 boys & a Top 3 girl in the same class for Marcellus. These 3 were around 9 years old when the Donahues took over the indoor complex & the first wave of what could potentially become a steady stream of national recruits in the coming years.

Any Mustangs on the board?
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The Donahue's moved their indoor training to Syracuse 4-5 years ago to what is now Platform Academy on Pulaski St. You see kids from all over CNY, some even from outside the area.

As far as Marcellus goes (at least on the boys side) they will not have this type of talent in the near future. I think it's more of catching lighning in a bottle with some really good athletes the last couple of years.
 
ClvrUsrnm said:
Am I correct in thinking that the 22 could be offered to someone in this class?
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Joey has 2 more years left.

25 and 26..

So sure. The next #22 could come from this batch.
 
ClvrUsrnm said:
Am I correct in thinking that the 22 could be offered to someone in this class?
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My personal preference would be for it to be offered to a deserving/proven upperclassmen or even Sophomore the same way UMD handles #1. The same for #11 on defense. It still irks me that players like Kevin Rice, Dylan Donahue, Nick Mariano, Rehfuss, or even Dordevic never wore it.
 
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