Big Red Fall Classic - Evaluations

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Lawrenceville for the Big Red Fall Classic. I attended Saturday in person, and the environment was electric. The energy, compete level, and talent was off the charts. Eight teams competed across two days, playing four full games each.

Since then, I have studied the film, specifically looking for 2028s and 2029s that impressed. Of course, there were a ton of 2027s and 2026s that had outstanding performances, but many of those players are already committed, and a good amount of them are 3-5 star recruits. I was looking for who is up next; who looks poised to make an impact on their team this coming season, who can add depth to already talented rosters, and who is primed to have a big summer on the recruiting circuit.

Standouts

#44 Harrison Tyler | Lawrenceville | Attack | 2028

Tyler is a high-IQ player with the athleticism to capitalize offensively. He does a great job catching the ball running into a dodge and was able to generate not only goals, but assists through his pace of play. He plays with his head up as a ball-carrier and doesn't force the issue. He has great COD, particularly at X, and Tyler was able to beat short-sticks and challenge poles with his dodging. Expect to hear his name more and more going forward.

#2 Thomas Regan | Taft | Midfield | 2028

Big and well-built, Regan uses his size as a primarily downhill dodger and he has a good lefty shot on the run. As he works to improve his right hand, Regan will become difficult to cover with the ability to dodge both sides. He also notably played more of a two-way role, utilizing his strength to push out dodgers on defense.

#43 Steve Panagopoulos | Lawrenceville | Defense | 2028

Panagopoulos comes from a lacrosse family, and it shows in how he plays. He has good off-ball IQ, understands the secondary rotations after a slide and has good slide timing. He has a solid frame, good motor, and he moves well on-ball. He's great playing out in space and showed ability to disrupt offenses on multiple occasions. One of my favorite aspects of his game is how quickly he reacts to the situation.

#38 Jack Rende | Delbarton | Midfield | 2028

Rende displayed an ability to draw slides throughout the weekend and make solid decisions with the ball. He plays well in the two-man game both with and without the ball. After drawing slides, Rende showed the ability and willingness to throw the pull pass to keep the offense moving. He is a good shooter both on the run and with his feet set, and his speed and change of direction make him a constant threat to create separation.

#10 Grant Paul |  LAWRENCEVILLE | Midfield | 2028

Paul is an speedy initiator. He will get wide and beat you in a footrace, but also has the quickness to break down defenders in small spaces. He has a polished righty shot, particularly when sweeping. He moves well within the offense, and does a good job reading the slide. With his ability to win matchups, he adds depth to a very talented Lawrenceville team.

#51 Liam Lockwood | LAWRENCEVILLE | Midfield | 2028

Lockwood dodges with a consistent, high pace. He has great speed, agility, and acceleration and, as a lefty Canadian, has a slickness to his game. As a shooter, Lockwood has a quick release and as a dodger, can stop on a dime and handle pressure. He plays with his head up and makes good decisions with the ball.

#10 Jacob Beskin | Loomis | Attack | 2028

Beskin is a strong, athletic player with that showcased great decision-making. When he carries the ball, he scans the field well and threw skip passes leading to multiple assists. He has a good frame and is a tough player who handles contact well. Beskin has a polished shooting stroke from outside and was a consistent presence in the Loomis offense as a scorer and distributer. He looks every bit the part of a next level attackman.

#45 Grady Paltos | Seton Hall Prep | Midfield | 2028

Paltos is what you want in a midfield initiator. He has a good shake, a great right to right split, great COD, and can create the separation needed to draw slides. He dodges hard, and when his hands are free, he has the ability to make it count with either hand. You can trust Paltos to make good decisions out of a dodge or in the flow of the offense. He had a standout performance vs La Salle, scoring multiple different ways and finishing with a hat trick. 

#7 Jake Gashi | Taft | Attack | 2028

Gashi is a competitor. He rides hard, isn't afraid of contact, and plays with confidence. Primarily playing from X, he has good COD and quickness. Whether it is in the two-man game, fading at X, or simply winning the matchup, Gashi has a knack for getting his hands free. He showed a great ability to distribute the ball generating a lot of assists.

#18 Gunner Flanagan | Western Reserve | Midfield | 2028

Flanagan is an athletic midfielder with two-way potential. He has a high motor, good frame, good speed and quickness. He is able to get physical with dodgers as well as match feet. He is reliable in the clear, plays well off the wings, and can generate some early offense. While he projects more as a SSDM, he is on the way to being a jack of all trades in the middle of the field.

#3 Ben Martell | Loomis | Midfield | 2029

While just a freshman playing in his first fall ball, Martell was not afraid to dodge or get physical as a ball-carrier. Off-ball, he moves well, showing an understanding of offensive flow. He has good straight line speed and a quick first step. He saw the field a ton (at both midfield and attack) and made his scoring opportunities count. He looks to have a bright future ahead.

#13 Colton Boorda | Loomis | Midfield | 2029

Boorda stood out for many reasons. He has a great motor, engages ball carriers well, has great footwork, talks on defense, and does not quit on the play. He took wings, man down reps, and stayed on offense at times. With the versatility and foundation he already has, as he starts to pick up weight, expect him to continue turning heads.

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