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Chaminade (N.Y.) has a longtime reputation as a tough place for underclassmen to find playing time. That approach has served the Flyers well for years. It’s hard to argue with the success that they’ve had, and Jack Moran has carved out a reputation as one of the best high school coaches in the country.
Chaminade usually has a talent pipeline overflowing with juniors and seniors, so if you’re a sophomore that’s going to play – and start – you’d better be special.
“A lot of times, when you bring a sophomore up, their lacrosse IQ isn’t the same as their skill level,” opined the longtime Flyers’ coach.
That’s not a problem with Connor Kuttin. The sophomore attackman found himself starting in Chaminade’s season opener last week. That was against archrival and national powerhouse St. Anthony’s, nonetheless, and the Friars came armed with an army of Division I commits on the defensive end.
Lacrosse IQ Sets Kuttin Apart
Yet the Long Island Express 2025 standout didn’t seem fazed in the slightest. St. Anthony’s came back for a 12-10 win, but Kuttin left an impression early. He dished out three assists and also scored his first varsity goal on a gorgeous dart from the wing, a nod to his terrific shooting ability. For Kuttin, though, it’s his insanely-high lacrosse IQ, vision and poise with the ball that earned him a rare starting spot for the Flyers as a sophomore.
“His lacrosse IQ is excellent for a sophomore,” Moran said of Kuttin. “He anticipates really well. He puts the ball where it needs to be and he’s a really good decision maker. Connor has very good skill and you really can’t tell if he’s a righty or a lefty. He does a great job of recognizing what’s available and he’s a very good finisher. Connor rides his butt off. His work ethic is the same as his brothers’, too. We had to tell him, ‘do not go work out before school this week,’ because otherwise, he always wants to go.'”
Five-Star No. 7
Kuttin has been a longtime standout on the 2025 circuit for an Express that was unbeatable for years and still ranks as a top-5 team in the land. He’s off to a phenomenal start to his Flyers’ career. As a result, he’s the seventh player tabbed as a five-star prospect in the class of 2025. Kuttin joins an exclusive fraternity that also includes lefty attackman Cam Kelley (Taft, Conn. / Prime Time), goalie Josh Marcus (Staples, Conn. / Eclipse), LSM Will Pedicano (Delbarton, N.J. / Leading Edge), LSM / defenseman Parker McDonald (St. Anthony’s, N.Y. / Team 91 LI), attackman Khalif Hocker (St. Xavier, Ohio / Resolute) and attackman Michael Ortlieb (Malvern Prep, Pa. / Big 4 HHH).
“His IQ’s off the charts and makes everyone around him play better. That’s Connor Kuttin,” Express director and longtime 2025 coach Mike Chanenchuk said. “He gets everyone else involved. He knows where his teammates want the ball and he puts it right there. Connor’s an incredibly hard worker and he continues to get better and better. He’s been instrumental to our success as a team and I think he’s a special player. The college that gets him will be incredibly fortunate as he’s the type of player that elevates every team he’s on.”
Kuttin picked up NLF at IMG All-Star honors this winter. He’s also been dominant at the One Percent and Spotlight events. Everywhere he goes, Kuttin makes a major impression. Guys know who he is and want to play with him because they know that they can feast on matchups with Kuttin orchestrating the offense.
Scouting Notes
Some schools will knock Kuttin for his lack of size. He’s 5-7, 155 pounds, and both of his brothers at Yale are 5-9, so he’s not likely to get much bigger than that. Both Sean and Kevin Kuttin have both spent plenty of time in the weight room, though, so the youngest of the bunch will likely end up as a short, but not small player.
If you can get past that, though, you’ll find something special. The offense flows so well when Kuttin’s running the show. His lacrosse brain is akin to a supercomputer. He understands where slides are coming from, who’s going to be open and where that teammate wants the ball. Kuttin has elite-level vision and packs a ton into his shot. He’s not a burner but separates from defenders with his quickness and change-of-direction ability. Kuttin’s also very competitive and thrives in the big moment. As a freshman, Chaminade’s JV beat St. Anthony’s three times with Kuttin scoring two of them and setting up the other.
Elite shooters should be paying attention to where he commits to this fall. A high-academic student, Kuttin has two brothers at Yale but is open to anyone and definitely shouldn’t be considered a lock to be a Bulldog. He’ll undoubtedly have his pick of top schools and will enhance any offense that he plays in.
