The Top-66 is the most elite ranking of lacrosse’s most elite prospects. Every Top-66 Player is good enough to play at any school in the country.
Work. Work. Win.
What College Coaches are saying to The Lacrosse Playground’s Top-66 evaluators, analysts, coaches, and experts about the 2023 Class:
- @ Goalies. There are 6 goalies in the class that received #1 votes as the best at their position; i.e. “There is depth at the position”.
- @ FOGOs. Six of the Top-66 players are FOGOs. They are all lights-out. There are another 10 guys that could give the top draw-men a run for their money.
- @ LSMs. The 2023 LSM position is very deep and many deserving players didn’t make the cut. The skill level seems to keep getting better and better each year as players like Christmas (Georgetown Prep High School, Bethesda, MD) set the bar for tall, talented, and athletic players guarding the middle of the field.
- @ Attack. College coaches are all constantly looking for an attackman to quarterback their offense. 2023s are thin in this regard. Every attackman in the Top 66 has the potential to be a triple-threat player, but few are two handed quarterbacks. McCabe Millon (McDonogh School, Owings Mills, MD) is the best QB-type attackman that fits this mold.
- @ Middies. In today’s game, at least for those colleges contending for a NCAA National Championship, teams must have several big and athletic middies. There are studs in the Top 66 but the depth in “high-end-athletic” middies, players ranked from #66-#225, drops off. Big Middies will demand early and significant attention.
- @ Defenders. Defenders that play defense are a dying breed. Look for the big guys with brains, and the commitment to their craft of playing D, to get all the major attention early.
39 | Brett Koopman
Williams is an athletic beast. At 6’3” 195 he has the length and feet to cover smaller attackmen and the power and Koopman has a nonstop motor with blazing speed. More than a few of our evaluators compared his game to Matt Wright at UNC.
0.8821
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
UNC, Syracuse, Maryland, Denver, Notre Dame, Harvard
Prediction
LSM 4
Position Rank
What's Next...
The lacrosse world is your oyster. To be a pearl, you must first be gritty and mean. Fight for your time and you will shine.
38 | Michael Smyth
We have seen Smyth play both attack and middie this summer but think he is most natural at the midfield position. The lefty seems to always make the right lacrosse play. He has great vision along with a burst of speed that leaves defenders in the dust.
0.8855
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
U Penn, Princeton, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Yale
Prediction
M 10
Position Rank
What's Next...
Hit the weight room and go all-in.
37 | Andrew Greenspan
Greenspan is one of the most polished faceoff men in the class. His exits and stick handling are already next level. Good luck pressing out on this “FOGO” when he has the ball. He will likely run by you and score
0.8860
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Duke, Maryland, UNC
Prediction
FOGO 3
Position Rank
What's Next...
N/A Specialist
36 | Jacob Pacheco
Pacheco projects as a great SSDM who you can trust pushing the ball within the first 20-25 seconds of the shot clock. Don’t bet on him jogging off the field.
0.8949
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
UNC, Syracuse, Virginia, Maryland
Prediction
SSDM 2
Position Rank
What's Next...
Get reps with the offense and study/play the box game.
35 | Nico Karetsos
Niko is a crafty lefty that can do it all. He is an elite shooter, sees the field well and can facilitate for himself as a dodger.
0.9080
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Loyola, UNC, Ohio State
Prediction
A/M 6
Position Rank
What's Next...
Improve first step quickness and ride mean. Work on stamina and speed.
34 | Mark Marino
6’2 lefty will be an absolute beast coming out of the box in college. His middle name is “Memorial Day”.
0.9183
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
UVA, Maryland, Penn State
Prediction
A/M 5
Position Rank
What's Next...
Learn to bounce after contact to find the open look. You will draw slides and will need to be an elite feeder.
33 | Julian Targete
Targete is a great athlete with an uncommon shake for his size. He is a do-it all middie that can play two sides of the ball at an elite level. As far as potential goes, he could be a top 5 guy in the class if he continues to develop.
0.9184
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Harvard, Yale, Duke, Maryland
Prediction
M 9
Position Rank
What's Next...
Learn the college game and shake the club tendencies. Make it a focus to make the other 5 players on the offense better- you will be rewarded with the last touch or a high five.
32 | James Carroll
Carroll is athletic and applies pressure all over the field. He is great at taking the ball away and has elite skills off the ground and in transition
0.9208
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Virginia, Loyola, UNC, Syracuse
Prediction
LSM 3
Position Rank
What's Next...
Learn to be patient and embrace the team concept of defense.
31 | Tucker Kellogg
Kellogg is well known on the club-ball circuit. He has a reputation for his jaw dropping shooting ability. While he is one of the best shooters in the class, he impressed evaluators all summer long with much improved vision. Early slides led to crisp passes on the money.
0.9253
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Ohio State, Duke, UNC, Syracuse, Maryland, Rutgers, Hopkins, Ohio State
Prediction
M 15
Position Rank
What's Next...
Kellogg can improve his first step quickness and become a more consistent dodger. Just play forward and the game will open up and be easy.
30 | Ben Beacham
Beacham is a two-handed triple threat player that can dodge, feed, and shoot with both hands. Evaluators love the smoothness and pace of his game.
0.9304
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Denver, Hopkins, Cornell, Ohio State
Prediction
A/M 4
Position Rank
What's Next...
He is a great athlete right now, but so are all ACC and Big 10 players. Continuing to develop his strength and overall athleticism will be key at the highest level of Division 1.
29 | Jackie Weller
Weller was awesome all summer, leaving opponents in the dust with his lightning quickness. He rarely whiffed on any open ground balls and was good for a goal a game.
0.9355
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Georgetown, Maryland, Notre Dame, Ohio State
Prediction
FOGO 2
Position Rank
What's Next...
N/A Specialist
28 | Jack Ponzio
Ponzio had a great summer. He showed the ability to work well in the two-man game as well as being able to create his own offense. Our evaluators think he will excel coming out of the box, dodging wings, and coming off picks.
0.9369
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Georgetown, Ohio State, Penn State, Princeton, Brown
Prediction
A/M 3
Position Rank
What's Next...
Develop a better right hand.
27 | Connor Foley
Foley had an incredible summer making some absurd saves. He is the type of goalie kids from other teams will stop and watch in between games. He reads and baits shooters better than any goalie in recent memory and does it with a flair for the dramatic.
0.9370
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Maryland, Syracuse, UNC, Duke, Virginia
Prediction
G 4
Position Rank
What's Next...
N/A Specialist
26 | Brayson ‘Goose’ Wilson
Brayson is patient and explosive to the ball. He is great from 8 by being patient and reacting quickly to shooters. ‘Goose’ gets the ball up and out in a hurry.
0.9374
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
UNC, Duke, Virginia, Maryland, Notre Dame
Prediction
G 3
Position Rank
What's Next...
N/A Specialist.
25 | Pasha Hakimi
Hakimi has an elite skill set with strong athleticism and a great frame. He is one of the first players you notice on the field. He consistently made plays all summer.
0.9380
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Denver, Cornell, Duke, Maryland, U Penn
Prediction
LSM 2
Position Rank
What's Next...
He has the frame to add a lot of muscle. Do extra reps.
24 | Ty Banks
Banks is a very versatile player. Many of our evaluators projected him to be either LSM or SSDM at the next level. He has firecracker feet with a strong build and an aggressive style of play that will make him a hot commodity on 9/1
0.9389
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Johns Hopkins, Denver, Penn State, Cornell
Prediction
SSDM1 (LSM 2)
Position Rank
What's Next...
Continuing to get stronger will help him with the bigger matchups he will face in college.
23 | Trey Deer
Deer has incredible hands and body control. He won’t blow by you but will use his body and capitalize on any poor approach. Automatic from 8 and in. He knows how to play the game, get open, and win.
0.8398
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Denver, Hopkins, Cornell, Penn State, Michigan
Prediction
A/M 2
Position Rank
What's Next...
Speed is the need. Work on first step, pop, and straight line.
22 | Cole Webber
Webber has a perfect build for a Division 1 defender. At 6’3” he is long, strong and fast. Combine that with a burst of speed and good lateral movement, he is one of the best defenders in the class. Duke Lab D, 101.
0.9390
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Virginia, Syracuse, Duke, Maryland
Prediction
D 5
Position Rank
What's Next...
Improve mechanics with 1v1 defense.
21 | Anderson Moore
He’s a coach’s goalie. Does his job, asks for more work.
0.9399
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Virginia, Syracuse, Duke, Maryland, U Penn
Prediction
G 2
Position Rank
What's Next...
N/A Specialist.
20 | Hayden Celio
Ayers is coming off of a monster sophomore season winning a state championship and putting up massive numbers. Celio’s combination of size and hands is something that nobody in the class can match. He can shoot it from all angles, catches anything near him, and proved to be very good off ball.
0.9480
Weighted and Normalized Score vs
Class of 2023 Top-225 Players
(Out of 1000+ players evaluated)™
Virginia, Maryland, Duke, Loyola, Hopkins, Ohio State
Prediction
A 5
Position Rank
What's Next...
Becoming a consistent threat as a dodger by improving as an athlete will add another dimension to his game.
