Only two cuse guys, but hey at least nobody chose Hopkins! I think this will be a good class to compliment the fire power in the class above. Often in the past we have had a great recruiting class followed by one the year after that is pretty mediocre. Not the case this year. Our biggest need for this one is a guy with the potential to be stud cover guy, and I think we have that in Donny Scott without question.
Our biggest need for this one is a guy with the potential to be stud cover guy, and I think we have that in Donny Scott without question.
Agree with this. One would think Billy Dwan could be this player as he's a five star recruit. But I have read that he's an exceptional #2 guy, very smart and knows when to slide (music to my ears after years of bad slides), and he's got exceptional size. I would be surprised if he's not starting as a freshman, but I think you are right, they still probably need a shut down alpha. I think Riley Figueiras has been the number one cover guy for the Annapolis Hawks, the club team Dwan is on. I was really impressed with Chuck Kuczynski's highlight tape, he seems like a very aggressive defender.
The defense should be very interesting in '23. They could have to replace three of the top four spots (including LSM) if Murphy, Kennedy and DiPietro are presumed starters. They obviously bring in a lot of freshman that year but would also have guys who have gotten minutes already like Hapney and Horan, and younger players like Nick Caccamo, Caden Kol, Tommy Drago, Landon Clary, Michael Page etc. It's a bit scary to think multiple freshmen could be starting on defense, but spots will be open. Scott and Kilrain would then come in the next year.
Lastly, I'm not sure if they plan on switching one of the close defenders to LSM, but I am a bit surprised that Dylan Sageder is the only LSM they've brought in between the two classes.
Only two cuse guys, but hey at least nobody chose Hopkins! I think this will be a good class to compliment the fire power in the class above. Often in the past we have had a great recruiting class followed by one the year after that is pretty mediocre. Not the case this year. Our biggest need for this one is a guy with the potential to be stud cover guy, and I think we have that in Donny Scott without question.
With the O firepower in the Spallina class I think it was unlikely SU was going to bring it another 5 star heavy class. Flipping Thompson late for 22 is essentially getting another 4 star in this class. I think it would have been preferable to bring in one 5 star or at least another 1-2 top 50 guys for 23 but overall I like the class, a lot of guys who are just on the cusp of top 50 status who are likely to blow up this year and next. So much O talent in the 2022 class, it was going to be nearly impossible to replicate that again in 23 especially with Spallina almost assuredly getting a full scholarship or close to it.
Yes, I think the Thomson flip was a big deal. He looks like a special player, not especially physical from what I have seen so far, but a really smart and cerebral guy who can pass and finish really well. I think he will fit in really well with Spallina and Hiltz. Curious to see where he plays - in the Brogden Cup game I watched it looked like he played midfield for the first half and attack for the second.
As with the defense, if the offense is as senior heavy as I think it will be there will be a lot of spots open on attack and midfield. It should be all but guaranteed at this point that Spallina will start but if Dordevic is moved to attack, five of the top six attack/midfield spots could be open in '23. If they are moving Dordevic, that to me also kind of signals they don't have much faith in the guys already on the team, and should give the freshmen a leg up on competition.
I find it hard to beleive that Syracuse is going to roll out a team of all first years, but I think we could see a good amount getting serious playing time.
Gonna be a lot of young guys getting PT in 2023 on both sides of the ball, hard to see how there isn't. Thompson seems like a middie to me but I could be wrong. Dordevic has another year of eligibility but I have heard its highly unlikely he's back next year and I can't really blame him as at some point you want to move on from College. Hiltz will obviously be there barring some sort of crazy development but beyond that its a whole bunch of question marks with Curry, Seebold, Quinn all gone.
I am unclear what the plan is for Dordevic, moving him to attack make some sense but then your robbing Peter to pay Paul by weakening a 1st midline that already has its own issues. I think there's some hope that some of the guys who were injured last year Birtwistle and Tenaglia etc can make an impact especially at midfield but that's not exactly a lock. I thought the intersquad scrimmage where most of the goals were from 3-4 guys was disappointing in that no one new stepped up and it was pretty much the knowns. You have to think that Magnan and Fiorini are on their last chance to make an impression this fall and early pre-season camp before you can officially label them a lost cause. If they can't get on the field this season there never getting on. I had high hopes for Magnan but for whatever reason he hasn't been able to get on the field with any sort of consistency.
I think there is a chance one of the young middies make a play for at least the 2nd line as the PT will be there. I think the ship has sailed for Cook unless Gait can unlock him but that seems highly unlikely and he sure as hell can't play midfield. Ferris showed some skill but can he show enough to be that third attackmen? Could Borges or Rice or Kelly make a play for PT at middie? Could Rosa force the staff to play him 2 ways or move full time back to mid? Lots of questions about the offensive guys beyond the known 5 of Curry, Dordevic Hiltz, Seebold and Quinn.
Inside Lacrosse's uncommitted 4 stars:
Gavin Creo 2023 Uncommitted A, Chaminade
Evan Curry 2023 Uncommitted M, Mater Dei (CA)
Caulley Deringer 2023 Uncommitted A, Episcopal (VA)
Charlie Hazard 2023 Uncommitted D, Belmont (MA)
Jack Kiefer 2023 Uncommitted D, Cherry Creek (CO)
Lucas Lawas 2023 Uncommitted G, Hill Acad (ON)
Jack Leland 2023 Uncommitted M, Gonzaga
Spencer Liston 2023 Uncommitted FO, Wilton (CT)
Chris Matia 2023 Uncommitted A, Lawrenceville (NJ)
Andrew Miller 2023 Uncommitted LSM, Northport (NY)
Sam Ralston 2023 Uncommitted D, Hartland (MI)
Matthew Torrey 2023 Uncommitted G, Belmont (MA)
I think this year was different in that it was the first time that NLF opened it up to all teams, not just its members and affiliates.NLF is slanted to NLF affiliated teams and their players.
Duke, Georgetown, UNC, Penn and Princeton deemed the five best 2023 recruiting classes by Ty Xanders and IL. Syracuse, Navy and Ohio State should probably also be in the discussion. It is by far not the only metric, but according to their very own database, OSU and Navy have 33 "stars" and Syracuse has 32. UNC has 29. Obviously more weight is given to players further up the Top 50, but I thought it was interesting to compare. Penn has the most stars at 42, Georgetown has 39, Princeton has 34 and Duke has 32.