Press Release
In order to kick the year off right, we wanted to highlight some of the best returning players coming back this season. Players recognized here had incredible moments in 2022, or have made such an impact during the offseason it was impossible for us to not pay attention. With that said, omissions were not intentional, and there is no guarantee being named on this list will result in future honors; but we wanted to highlight who we expect to be impact players for the upcoming season.
Methodology: We spoke with numerous current LHSLL head coaches, college head coaches who actively recruit players from the LHSLL, travel club coaches who work with players from many programs in the offseason, and watched a lot of film. Stats from last season are also factored in. As much as this is rewarding worthy players from past seasons, it is just as much about projection for this one.
Without further ado; The 2023 LHSLL Preseason All-State Teams
FIRST TEAM
Attack: Clayton Murphy, Senior, Isidore Newman
Attack: Jonathan Furka, Senior, St. Thomas More
Attack: Trevor Flood, Senior, St. Paul’s
Murphy paced the League in total points last year with 45 and lead all players with 29 assists. He’ll be one of the most important catalysts for the Greenies this year as look to return to championship weekend.
Furka wearing the coveted 99 for STM had an excellent junior campaign leading all Attack in goals scored. He will once again be relied on for big point production in coach Tatford’s offense as the look to head back to the Final Four
Flood, limited to just five contents last year, looks to lead St. Paul’s back to prominence under new coach Aaron Falkenstein. He averaged 4 points per game last season, second most of all Attack, behind only the aforementioned Murphy. Gone is the great Sergio Romero, so look for Flood to have a big campaign as the lead dog.
Midfield: Nathan Schlegel, Senior, Catholic
Midfield: Jack Sutherlin, Junior, Jesuit
Midfield: Gibson Harvill, Senior, Captain Shreve
No preseason honors list would be complete without Schlegel. Last year's leading point getter and leading scorer regardless of position, Nathan was simply dominant. On his 49 points last season, a whopping 41 were goals. A pure goal scorer, he will be leaned upon once again as the Bears look to defend their title in 2023.
Sutherlin may have been the biggest revelation at the position last year. This young Blue Jay came on in a big way late in the year, and stood out among the very best during Final Four weekend last year.
Harvill looks to lead Captain Shreve in his last ride before heading off to play at Centenary. The Gators lost a lot of firepower last year, but Harvill has been working non stop in the offseason to take up the mantle as the best midfielder in the North and one of the very best in League.
Defense: Hudson Brown, Senior, Catholic
Defense: Grant Piacun, Senior, Jesuit
Defense: Ben Vining, Senior, St. Paul’s
Brown is the most deserving selection to be on this list. A multiple time All State and All America selection, he capped off what was already an impressive prep career with a League Championship in 2022. Returning for his last ride, he will need to be better than ever for Catholic to repeat
Piacun is a steady, dominant defensemen for what might be one of the best units in the entire league. Asked to guard the top option of many other teams, he should pace the Blue Jays in takeaways this year.
Vining comes back as a captain at St. Paul’s. He is an absolute monster on ball leading the league last year in caused turnovers per game, and had the second most groundballs of any returning defender, behind only the All American Brown.
LSM: Kris Cox, Sophomore, St. Thomas More
FOGO: Jamie Delahoussye, Senior, Catholic
SSDM: Aidan Couvillon, Senior, Jesuit
Goalie: Cooper Hamm, Senior, Captain Shreve
Cox returns to St. Thomas More the most decorated LSM from last season, no small feat from his freshman campaign. Looking to pace the League again in groundballs and takeaways at his position, he will be a matchup nightmare on every faceoff wing and transition scenario.
Delahoussye comes back this year as the FOGO to beat in the League. A reigning first team All State player and Lincoln Memorial commit, he looks to set the pace for Catholic at the X as they try to repeat as champs in 2023.
Couvillon returns to Jesuit as a do-it-all middie for Blue Jays. A groundball and turnover machine as a short stick, he is one of top defensive stoppers at the position in the League.
Hamm, a stalwart at the Goalie position for years now, has ascended to the top of the mountain as keeper to beat heading into 2023. No Goalie saw or saved more shots last year than Cooper. If Captain Shreve is to take the next step this season and push for Final Four weekend, Hamm needs his best season yet.
SECOND TEAM
Attack: Grant Schlewie, Senior, Catholic High
Attack: John Calhoun, Junior, Jesuit
Attack: Barron Dobson, Junior, Captain Shreve
One of the most balanced Attack players around, Schlewie returns to Catholic this year having the second most Assists last season with 17, and had 13 goals of his own as he quarterbacked the Bruin offense. An important cog in an offensive juggernaut, Schlewie is not one to be slept on.
Calhoun emerged as one of the most poised young players in the League last season, averaging over 3 points per contest for the Blue Jays. Like Schlewie, hes is an incredibly balanced player, putting up 12 goals and 13 assists, making him just as much of threat to score as he his to dish to an open man.
Dobson enters 2023 as one of the more intriguing players in the League. He averaged an absurd 3.8 points per game last year at Caddo Magnet as an underclassman and has only gotten more dynamic after an offseason full of competition. Captain Shreve plays a gauntlet of a schedule, so Dobson will be tested early and often.
Midfield: Keller Mula, Junior, St. Thomas More
Midfield: Max Kukuy, Sophomore, Isidore Newman
Midfield: Ethan Hewitt, Senior, Renegades
A running mate for the aforementioned Furka, Mula is an excellent offensive threat for the Cougars at the Midfield position. Finally fully healthy, he should be able to put up points in a hurry in what should be an explosive St. Thomas More Attack.
Kukuy enters 2023 moving from Attack to Midfield. Last season, he finished strong for the Greenies, putting up a monster 21/7 stat line for 28 points. Switching to Midfield, he should have more opportunities to be ball dominant in transition, taking over production from many since graduated seniors.
Trivia Question. Who led all players, regardless of position, in points per game last year? Ethan Hewitt for the Renegades. A full offseason of work for the Centenary commit, all 6’3’ of Ethan will be tested as the Renegades head south for quality competition early in the season. Make no mistake, he can get hot in hurry.
Defense: Austin Stuke, Senior, Jesuit
Defense: Campbell Gosslee, Junior, C.E. Byrd
Defense: Gabe Tabor, Senior, C.E. Byrd
Stuke is the perfect pairing to Piacun for Jesuit. Separating them between first and second team was the definition of splitting hairs. Putting up over 50 combined groundballs and take aways last year. Watch for him to have another impact season.
Gosslee was one of the best LSMs in the state last year, and is being moved to close this year for the Yellow Jackets. A long, athletic frame with the ability to be an impact player on ball or slide, Gosslee should anchor the Byrd defense again this year.
Gabe Tabor is one of the most fundamentally sound defenders in the league. Going into his senior campaign, his leadership on the back end will help steady a defense that should be strong once again.
LSM: David Carroll, Junior, Catholic
FOGO: Gavin Ferrington, Sophomore, Captain Shreve
SSDM: Hunter Eckert, Senior, St. Thomas More
Goalie: McCall Engelhart, Junior, Isidore Newman
Carroll was an absolute machine for the Bruins last year, putting up a combined 80 groundballs and caused turnovers. While Brown has been known for his defensive prowess for years, Carroll was a revelation for Catholic last year with his ability to take on top midfielders around the league.
There might not be more of an impact player around the league than Gavin Ferrington. The sophomore was a freshman phenom at Renegades last year, and a full summer circuit and training all fall has caught the eye of coaches around the country. The matchup between him and Delahoussye this April will be a can’t miss show.
Eckert is one of the most unsung players around the League with his ability to help the Cougars all over the field. St. Thomas more always has an impressive stable of midfielders, but Eckert will always have a place during meaningful moments because of his attention to detail when it matters most.
Engelhart claims the final spot on this list for being a flat out stud. He lead the League in Save Percentage last year while seeing the third most shots and making the third most saves. He was a big factor in the Greenies run to Final Four weekend last year and will need to repeat his form from last season to this one if they are to make it back.
Press release via Louisiana High School Lacrosse League