NLF Class of 2021 Honorable Mention

Laxachusetts midfielder Carter Rice is an exceptional athlete who oozes potential, and he’s one of six LXC players to earn honorable mention status in the 2021 rankings. Photo via Matt Chandik.

Sept. 1 is almost here and the class of 2021 is about to be on the recruiting clock.

The NLF recently launched its inaugural National Lacrosse Federation player rankings, with Team 91 midfielder Andrew McAdorey (St. Anthony’s, N.Y.) being named the No. 1 prospect overall. Defenseman Keith Boyer (Yorktown, N.Y. / Prime Time), attackman Griffin Schutz (Deerfield, Mass. / 3d New England), attackman Leo Johnson (Avon Old Farms, Conn. / Eclipse) and midfielder Dante Trader (McDonogh, Md. / MadLax Capital) rounded out the top five. CLICK HERE to read the full list.

As one might imagine, it’s never easy to cull the list and pare it down from a massive amount of incredibly talented players from across the country. Players must play for an NLF club or have played at the NLF Opening Weekend or NLF National Championships to be considered for the rankings, which was chosen in consultation with club coaches and college coaches, as well as in-person evaluations.

The NLF hosts a pair of events during the November recruiting period. Click here to apply for this fall’s NLF 2021 Uncommitted Showcase on Saturday, Nov. 16 and click here to apply for the team Fall Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 17, both at Farmingdale State College.

More than 100 players were considered for the top 50, which meant quite a few very skilled players that didn’t quite sneak in, but still merited attention. With that in mind, here’s a look – in alphabetical order by last name – at some of the other players that warranted consideration.

NLF Class of 2021 Honorable Mention

Aidan Ahearn, defense, Bishop Guertin (N.H.) / New Hampshire Tomahawks – Highlights
Henry Alpaugh, midfield, Berkshire (Conn.) / 2 Way – Highlights
Bryan Anderson, LSM, Roxbury Latin (Mass.) / Laxachusetts – Highlights
Lake Baker, faceoff midfield, Coronado (Nev.) / West Coast Starz – Highlights
Will Barnes, goalie, Paul VI (Va.) / MadLax Capital
Ben Bonafede, midfield, Chaminade (N.Y.) / Long Island Express

Prime Time midfielder Blake Borges has the size and athleticism to get to the rack on a consistent basis. Photo via Matt Chandik.

Blake Borges, midfield, Yorktown (Conn.) / Prime Time – Highlights
Trey Brown, defense, Belmont Hill (Mass.) / Laxachusetts – Highlights
Sean Byrne, goalie, Allatoona (Ga.) / Thunder LB3 – Highlights
Michael Buono, defense, Malvern Prep (Pa.) / Mesa – Highlights
Blake Burchill, faceoff midfield, Brunswick (Conn.) / Eclipse – Highlights
Chris Cappelmann, faceoff midfield, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) / Team 91 Blaze – Highlights
Brendan Cina, midfield, Sparta (N.J.) / Leading Edge
Dawson Clark, attack, Bishop Guertin (N.H.) / New Hampshire Tomahawks – Highlights
Matt Constantinides, faceoff midfield, New Fairfield (Conn.) / Prime Time – Highlights

DC Express attackman Connor Davis is a lethal scorer who finds the back of the net in a multitude of ways. Photo via Matt Chandik.

Connor Davis, attack, Bullis (Md.) / DC Express – Highlights
Trace Davidson, midfield, Gulf Coast (Fla.) / SweetLax Florida
Khoi Dawkins, LSM, Skyview (Ore.) / MadLax Oregon – Highlights
Gregg Dennison, defense, Rivers (Mass.) / Fighting Clams – Highlights
Braden Erksa, attack, Lassiter (Ga.) / Thunder LB3 – Highlights
Sean Fox, LSM, Taft (Conn.) / Eclipse – Highlights
Jimmy Freehill, defense, St. Sebastian’s (Mass.) / Fighting Clams
Jack Fried, goalie, Mamaroneck (N.Y.) / 2 Way – Highlights
Matt Fritz, faceoff midfield, Wissahickon (Pa.) / Big 4 HHH – Highlights

Team 91 midfielder Tyler Gatz is a crafty scorer who’s a threat from anywhere inside the restraining line. Photo via Matt Chandik.

Tyler Gatz, midfield, Mount Sinai (N.Y.) / Team 91 Blaze – Highlights
Kade Goldberg, midfield, Deerfield (Mass.) / 3d New England – Highlights
Cameron Goodloe, goalie, Chantilly (Va.) / MadLax Capital – Highlights
Jack Gray, midfield, Culver (Ind.) / West Coast Starz – Highlights
Mitchell Gutgsell, goalie, Valor Christian (Colo.) / Denver Elite – Highlights
James Gurr, midfield, Walton (Ga.) / Thunder LB3 – Highlights
Kolson Huff, attack, Holly Springs (N.C.) / Team 91 Carolina
Spencer Hughes, midfield, Bullis (Md.) / DC Express – Highlights
Daniel Jones, midfield, Aquinas College (U.K.) / Fighting Clams – Highlights
Wyatt Knust, goalie, HB Plant (Fla.) / SweetLax Florida – Highlights
Griffin Kology, defense, Chatham (N.J.) / Leading Edge
Gibson Linnehan, LSM, Princeton Day (N.J.) / Leading Edge – Highlights
Nick Louise, midfield, West Genesee (N.Y.) / SweetLax Upstate – Highlights
Kevin Lynch, defense, Staples (Conn.) / Eclipse – Highlights
Holt Matheis, attack, Darien (Conn.) / Prime Time
Quinn McBride, midfield, Georgetown Prep (Md.) / 2 Way – Highlights
Aidan McCaffrey, defense, Comsewogue (N.Y.) / Team 91 Blaze
Quinn McConnaughey, faceoff midfield, Thayer (Mass.) / Laxachusetts – Highlights
Luke Morissette, attack/midfield, Oregon Episcopal (Ore.) / MadLax Oregon
Charlie Moses, defense, Westminster (Conn.) / Express North – Highlights

Long Island Express attackman Shane Murphy finds a way to consistently produce. Photo via Matt Chandik.

Shane Murphy, attack, Long Beach (N.Y.) / Long Island Express
Jack Norton, midfield, Gonzaga (D.C.) / MadLax Capital – Highlights
Kyle O’Donoghue, midfield, St. John The Baptist (N.Y.) / Team 91 Blaze – Highlights
Jake Oliver, goalie, Archbishop Spalding (Md.) / Crabs – Highlights
Will Peden, attack, Malvern Prep (Pa.) / Mesa
Logan Peters, attack, Wall (N.J.) / Leading Edge
Carter Rice, midfield, Boston College (Mass.) / Laxachusetts – Highlights
Evan Richardson, goalie, Watertown (N.Y.) / SweetLax Upstate – Highlights
Matt Riley, faceoff midfield, Salesianum (Del.) / Mesa – Highlights
Jack Ringhofer, attack, Regis Jesuit (Colo.) / Denver Elite – Highlights
Dash Sachs, faceoff midfield, Taft (Conn.) / Express North – Highlights
Michael Scharfenberger, goalie, Deerfield (Mass.) / Long Island Express – Highlights
Ryan Sellew, attack, Hotchkiss (Conn.) / Express North – Highlights
Jalen Seymour, midfield, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) / Long Island Express
Will Shipley, midfield, Weddington (N.C.) / Carolina 24/7
Sam Silverman, goalie, Scarsdale (N.Y.) / Express North

Crabs midfielder Ryan Spilman can absolutely wire shots home when he’s able to get his hands free on the run. Photo via Matt Chandik.

Ryan Spilman, midfield, Boys’ Latin (Md.) / Crabs
Reece Sullivan, goalie, Jesuit (Ore.) / MadLax Oregon – Highlights
Corbin Switzer, defense, Woodward (Ga.) / Thunder LB3
Zach Travaglini, attack, Belmont Hill (Mass.) / Laxachusetts – Highlights
Bobby Van Buren, defense, Homeschooled / Carolina 24/7
Cole Van Meter, midfield, Noble and Greenough (Mass.) / Laxachusetts – Highlights
Brandon Ventarola, midfield, Mount Sinai (N.Y.) / Team 91 Blaze
Jack Wallace, defense, Pittsford (N.Y.) / SweetLax Upstate
Luke Waters, midfield, Brunswick (Conn.) / Eclipse
Zach Whittier, attack/midfield, Georgetown Prep (Md.) / MadLax Capital
Patrick Yowan, goalie, Choate (Conn.) / Eclipse – Highlights
Alex Zepf, goalie, Chaminade (N.Y.) / Long Island Express – Highlights