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The class of 2026 is finally all settled in.
College lacrosse’s incoming freshmen are on campus, and they’re ready to get their first season underway. It’s been a while since we re-ranked the class, and for the first time, the NLF presents final class rankings. Former No. 1 Dylan Faison (Saint Andrew’s, Fla. / Team 91 Long Island) enrolled early to play both football and lacrosse, which means that we have a third No. 1 in this class.
For the first time in the recruiting rankings era, a defenseman finishes as the No. 1 overall player. Notre Dame freshman Joe Ligas (Whitney, Calif. / ADVNC / West Coast Starz) is the new top dog in the class after a dominant high school and club career that saw him continually raise his stock at every ranking. Ligas isn’t the flashiest player, but he’s a phenomenal cover man who has blanketed just about every top offensive guy that he’s gone up against. The lefty has an excellent stick – a nod to his hockey background –
“Joe Ligas has most certainly proven himself as not only the most dominant and consistent defenseman in the country, but as the best overall player. He is a phenomenal teammate, a leader on and off the field and a guy of high character. His on field play is trumped only by his humility and humble nature as a stoic, locked in student-athlete,” West Coast Starz director Jono Zissi said.
CLICK HERE for the full NLF class of 2026 top 100. Additionally, here’s a breakdown of each player in the top 10.
NLF Class of 2026 Final Top 100
Top 10 Breakdown
No. 1 Joe Ligas, defense, Whitney (Calif.) / ADVNC / West Coast Starz – Notre Dame
The newest and final No. 1 in the class of 2026, Ligas is as good as it gets defensively. It’s almost impossible to get around him and he’s shut down just about everyone that he’s gone up against. It seemed like he was getting named MVP at every event in which he played. Ligas is so unbelievably patient, never overplaying his man and always waiting out his opponent to make a mistake. Ligas enters a loaded defensive group at Notre Dame. Tewaaraton winner Shawn Lyght (Leading Edge), Nate Schwitzenberg and Will Gallagher (Big 4 HHH) are all back, but don’t be surprised if finds a way to get on the field
“Joe is a phenomenal athlete and he has great fundamental lacrosse skill and IQ. What is even more impressive is what a great teammate he is,” ADVNC director and 2003 Tewaararton winner Chris Rotelli said. “He is a natural leader and always the guy bringing the team together and firing up the team in the huddle. He is the type of guy who makes everyone around him better. He was a terrific hockey player growing up and you can see those same skills transfer over to the lacrosse field. Joe is a work horse and going to keep getting better, and I have no doubt he is going to make an impact at the next level.”
No. 2 Lucas Garcia, attack/midfield, Brunswick (Conn.) / Prime Time – Virginia
The top-ranked offensive player in the class, Garcia battled injuries during his senior year but came back in time to help the Bruins to a Prep Nationals title. He scored a dramatic overtime winner in the semifinals to beat rival Lawrenceville in one of the greatest high school lacrosse games of all-time. Garcia has excellent shake and an exceptional burst and is comfortable dodging from just about anywhere on the field.
No. 3 Hunter Metz, attack, McDonogh (Md.) / Crabs – Notre Dame
Metz cracked the 100-point mark for the Eagles as a senior, a rarity in the MIAA. He’s always been known as one of the best lefty snipers in the class, and he backed that up with 68 goals. But he also tossed out 39 assists this year and looked noticeably more explosive and comfortable as a dodger. Metz earned co-MVP honors at the National Senior All-Star Game with a hat trick.
No. 4 John Balsamo, attack, Chaminade (N.Y.) / Long Island Express – Virginia
Balsamo was the ultimate QB of the offense for the Flyers, doling out 47 assists to go with 25 goals. The three-year starter for the Flyers – a rarity – had six games of four or more assists, including five in his career finale against rival St. Anthony’s. Balsamo has elite vision and understanding of what a defense is throwing at him and is exceptional at taking care of the ball, rarely turning it over. He’s also adept at dodging from about anywhere on the field.
No. 5 James Gillis, attack/midfield, Chaminade (N.Y.) / Long Island Express – Duke
From a pure gamebreaker perspective, there might not anybody in the class who can take over a game more quickly than Gillis. He nearly willed the Flyers to a win in their title game on the strength of four goals and an assist. A back injury forced him to miss a good chunk of his senior year, but he still put up a right-down-the-middle 20 goals and 20 assists for the Flyers. He can be a bit of a high-risk, high-reward player, but the good is really, really good. His development as a passer towards the end of his high school career was particularly impressive.
No. 6 Jake Johnston, midfield, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) / Long Island Express – Johns Hopkins
A true Swiss Army knife type of player, Johnston can fit in anywhere. It’s rare to see a sophomore start at SSDM for the Friars, but he was lights out. Then he blossomed into a true do-it-all type for St. Anthony’s in his final two seasons and should make an early impact for the Blue Jays. He scored 19 times and dished out eight assists as a senior, but his impact is far more when you factor in everything that he does.
No. 7 AJ Theodorakakos, defense, Penfield (N.Y.) / SweetLax Upstate – Army
Theodorakakos is a dominant lefty defenseman that you want to avoid at all costs. He’s going to Army Prep, which means we won’t see him as a Black Knight until the 2028 season. Still, Army will be more than thrilled to have him on the field then. He’s got a powerful lower body and can manhandle even some of the biggest attackmen in the country. Theodorakakos looks mean and plays mean, and he’s got all the makings of a future No. 1.
No. 8 Bennett Matthews, midfield, Bedford (N.H.) / New Hampshire Tomahawks – Duke
Maybe the best pure athlete in the class, Matthews is being compared by many to former Duke All-American SSDM and PLL No. 1 pick Aidan Maguire. No pressure, kid. Matthews was the Gatorade Football Player of the Year last fall and then put up 71 goals and 50 assists for Bedford in the spring. He is incredibly explosive and will thrive in transition in college. If he can pick up the 6v6 offense, watch out.
No. 9 Kieran Walsh, goalie, Chaminade (N.Y.) / Long Island Express – Notre Dame
The new No. 1 goalie in the class, Walsh has all the makings of another future All-American in the Irish cage. The Liam Entenmann comps came early and often for him, and it’s really not a stretch to think that Walsh could follow a similar path to his mentor’s. For a 6-5, 215-pound goalie, Walsh moves almost effortlessly. A two-year starter in the Flyer net – that never happens – Walsh cuts down angles and is always able to take one or two surefire goals away.
No. 10 Brady Mollot, attack, Archbishop Spalding (Md.) / Annapolis Hawks – Maryland
A slick righty X attackman who ran the show for Spalding, Mollot dished out 58 assists to go with 37 goals to push the Cavaliers to the MIAA semifinals. Tabbed as the Baltimore Sun’s All-Metro Player of the Year, Mollot continued his ascent up the rankings as he got bigger and more explosive. He always does an excellent job of keeping his head up and finding open teammates. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of role he can carve out for himself early in his career, but he’s too good to keep off the field.