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Ohio State didn’t look too much like a championship contender three games into the class of 2028 NLF Futures at IMG event.
The team dropped two of its first three games and found itself needing a win and some tiebreaker help to get into the playoffs. Three games later, they finished as champions after a resounding 10-4 win over North Carolina. So, it’s pretty fair to ask, what changed?
“I think we realized that we definitely had a chance to win,” West Coast Starz attackman Jimmy Bolander said. “The chemistry definitely started building for our team in the later games. We just kept pushing, got a bunch of goals and it gave us an opportunity to be in the playoffs.”
Bolander was the ringleader of a very balanced offense in the final. The attack/middie type from The Woodlands (Texas) had a slick behind-the-back goal to highlight his hat trick. A transition blast from up top got him going, and some crafty off-ball work got him open for a low-to-low finish in the slot. He’s also a shifty dodger who’s able to consistently beat his man off the dodge and draw a slide.
Kennedy Shines on Defense… and Offense
Defensively, it was Mason Kennedy that led the charge. Kennedy sure looks the part of a future power conference defensive recruit. The 6-6, 205-pound frame jumps out right away, but it’s his movement that will really help him shine as a recruit. A Georgia all-state pick as a freshman at Lassiter (Ga.), the Thunder standout can blow by guys in space when he’s pushing the pace. He even showed off some smooth hands in the championship with a nasty behind-the-back finish. Kennedy saw the opportunity for the fancy finish, and he didn’t miss.
“I think my size and running ability is a big thing for me,” Kennedy said when asked for a self-scout. “I also think that I can be an LSM and I can play close. Whenever a job needs to be done, I think I can get it done wherever my coaches want me and my teammates need me.”
NLF at IMG Class of 2028 Standouts
Zuva Chakabva, faceoff midfield, Newark Academy (N.J.) / Leading Edge
Any conversation surrounding the top 2028 faceoff midfielders has to include – and potentially start with – Chakabva. He’s got incredibly quick hands that allow him to win most clamps. He’s got an impressive array of exits, moves and counters, and Chakabva has an explosive first step that allows him to be first to the ball. On the rare occasion that he loses a clamp, he doesn’t panic and stays patient to come up with his counter. Chakabva also makes sound decisions with the ball in his stick. While he’s not a “stay on and play offense,” type, he can absolutely make you pay in transition.
Michael Ferrucci, attack/midfield, Garden City (N.Y.) / Team 91 Long Island
Ferrucci transferred back home to the defending state champions after spending his freshman year at Chaminade. If he plays like he did at IMG, he’ll make noise to earn a spot somewhere in the Trojans’ offense this spring. Ferrucci made a big play early, scoring the overtime game-winner in his team’s opener by sticking an alley rip nearside and in. A natural attackman, he played plenty of midfield for 91 this fall and winter, and that continued at IMG. Ferrucci looks comfortable operating with the ball in his stick and looked more assertive than before as a dodger, regularly calling his own number to create offense. He’s got slick hands and an advanced understanding of off-ball play, too, which allows him to be an efficient off-ball attackman.
David Giuriceo, midfield, Brunswick (Conn.) / Eclipse
One of the most entertaining players to watch in the class of 2028, Giuriceo brings elite-level quickness and change of direction ability to the table. He was a little bit hobbled during the event, but still finds a way to consistently create separation. If you’re going to be undersized, you’ve got to have an elite trait. Giuriceo has that in spades with his shiftiness and make-you-miss moves in space. He’s an excellent party starter as a midfield dodger. Even if he’s not the one scoring or getting an assist, he draws early slides and a ton of attention from back side defenders.
Logan Gordon, goalie, Gilman (Md.) / Crabs
Gordon, who’s expected to start for Gilman this spring, firmly established himself as the top goalie at the event. He was lights-out in the cage every time he took the field and I don’t think he had a single game where he gave up more than three goals in his half of work. There wasn’t a ton of flash to his game, either. He was just in the right spot almost every time and trusted his technique and hands to make the save. Gordon had a particularly impressive sequence where he stuffed an opponent 1v1 on the door step before jumpstarting transition to lead to a George Irish (Malvern Prep, Pa.) lefty goal. He has really quick hands and gets to shots that others can’t.
Walker Harvey, LSM, Berkshire (Mass.) / Eclipse
Harvey’s performance would have been impressive enough already. Consider the fact that he hadn’t played in five months before stepping onto the field at IMG, and it really puts into perspective how much of a game-wrecker he is. Harvey knocked off the rust from his injury pretty quickly. He’s much better than the average LSM is in coverage. He really shines in between the lines with his takeaway and ground ball skills. The 6-2, 180-pounder loves to get out on hands and make ball carriers uncomfortable. He even stuck an overtime game-winner in transition, showing off his offensive prowess in the process.
Max Holda, midfield, Delbarton (N.J.) / Leading Edge
Holda is the type of midfielder that doesn’t always jump off the page with flashy goals but consistently stacks positive plays throughout games and tournaments. He rarely forces the issue and is more than happy to dodge by his man and move the ball forward. He’s a legitimate two-handed scoring threat. Holda drew a lot of praise from his coaches at IMG for how he initiates the offense as a party starter and also for how he competes and comes up with tough ground balls. You consistently feel his impact on the game in a number of ways.
Max Melchionni, LSM, Delbarton (N.J.) / Leading Edge
You have to know where this guy is at all times. He’s just that impactful. He had one of the filthiest goals of the weekend when he caught a pass from Bruce Hopkins (Darien, Conn. / Express North) and scored on a no-look backhander while fading to the corner. One of the premier players in the class, Melchionni gets his stick on the ball A LOT and he finds a way to continually disrupt offensive flow, particularly in the middle of the field. He has so much upside to his game, especially if he can blossom into a top-flight cover guy.
Thomas Regan, midfield, Taft (Conn.) / Prime Time
Regan’s team struggled to consistently find ways to score, but he was the one that had no such issues. The 6-3, 210-pound lefty hammered home five goals in his team’s opener and was seemingly good for multiple goals every time. He’s gotten a little bit more fluid and athletic when he runs, and it’s paying off for him as a dodger. He was predominantly a SSDM at Taft a year ago, but it would be surprising if he didn’t take on more of an offensive role this year. Regan’s able to use his frame to help create separation, and he did a nice job of getting his hands free and cashing in on his shots.
Harrison Tyler, attack, Lawrenceville (N.J.) / Long Island Express
A legitimate contender for the No. 1 overall spot in the first class of 2028 rankings, Tyler missed the first game due to a school commitment and then immediately made his presence known once he got. to IMG. His offensive game has evolved from a guy who primarily feasted at X to someone who can make an impact on the wings as well. He had an absolutely nasty low-to-high release that grazed the crossbar and went in on a question mark early in one of his games. Tyler seems to be finding new spots to attack every time. He’s consistently finding open guys, too. His calling card is still elite level quickness and change of direction, though. If you press out on him at X, prepare to end up on an Instagram reel.
Danny Varone, midfield, Christian Brothers (N.J.) / Leading Edge
From a spectator’s perspective, it’s hard to figure out where the ball’s coming from when Varone shoots. From a goalie’s perspective, it has to be downright impossible. He uses his 6-3 frame and long arms to mix up his shooting angles, and it’s part of what makes him so tough to stop. Couple that with a deceptively good first step that allows him to get to the middle of the defense, and good luck figuring out the best way to slow Varone down. He’s one of the top midfielders in the class and definitely its best shooting middie that I’ve seen to date. Varone burnished that reputation at IMG by consistently finding the back of the cage.
Grey Wildman, attack, New Canaan (Conn.) / Eclipse
Between Wildman, Jake Gashi (Taft, Conn.) and Hunter Hanford (Brunswick, Conn.), Eclipse definitely has a strong argument to having the best attack line in the class. Wildman’s a 6-1, 180-pound righty who had a 51-goal, 19-assist freshman season en route to collecting first-team all-state honors for the Rams. He’s a big-time threat as a scorer when he can initiate from X, but what really stood out was how comfortable he was dodging and shooting from up top. He had a handful of impressive goals where he proved to be too much for defenses when he swept across the top and then got downhill. When a guy’s that comfortable dodging from anywhere, it’s pretty hard to figure out how to stop him.
Honorable Mention
Gusto Canet, midfield, Brunswick (Conn.) / Eclipse
Nate Cooper, faceoff midfield, Groton (Mass.) / Laxachusetts
Alex Coules, LSM/FO, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) / Long Island Express
Alec Garcia, attack, Salisbury (Conn.) / Prime Time
Jack Hamilton, attack, Wilton (Conn.) / Express North
George Irish, attack, Malvern Prep (Pa.)
Sam Kelleher, LSM, Malvern Prep (Pa.)
Seve Lee, midfield, Governor’s (Mass.) / Laxachusetts
Jack LeSueur, midfield, Garden City (N.Y.) / Long Island Express
Owen Levanat, defense, Fairfield Prep (Conn.)
Kyle Onacilla, defense, Trinity Pawling (Conn.) / Prime Time
Cole Sovia, attack, IMG (Fla.)
Connor Speed, defense, Chaminade (N.Y.) / Team 91 Long Island
Liam Villanueva, attack, Lawrenceville (N.J.) / Long Island Express
Elliot Wajda, defense, Thayer (Mass.) / Laxachusetts
Max Weigold, defense, Brunswick (Conn.) / Express North
Teddy Whitehouse, attack, Rumson-Fair Haven (N.J.) / Leading Edge
Jake Williams, goalie, Chaminade (Mo.) / Project Midwest
Blake Wilson, goalie, Darien (Conn.) / Eclipse
Harry Woodhouse, goalie, Berkshire (Mass.) / Team 91 Long Island
Graham Zorumski, goalie, Brunswick (Conn.) / Eclipse