The first NLF rankings for the class of 2023 are here!
We’ve made a couple changes, too. Traditionally limited to players on NLF teams or who played at NLF events, the rankings are now open to anyone in the country. We’ll be unveiling the rankings in reverse order in groups of 10. It starts with this group of 60-51, for players 60-11. Then, we’ll be featuring the top 10 players with their own feature story. Who’ll sit atop the first set of rankings? You’ll find out soon.
Star Power
We will also continue to assign star and numerical rankings to players, an industry standard for recruiting coverage of all sports. We’ve tweaked our numerical rankings since the last ’22 rankings to properly reflect how special players have to be to be ranked in the top 60 players in the country.
Ready? Here are players ranked Nos. 31 through 40. Click the links below to see the other lists.
Hawks’ Brick Wall
No. 20 Kasey Heath, goalie, Kent Island (Md.) / Annapolis Hawks (Highlights)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 95
The Hawks have been producing high-level goalies for some time, and Kent Island’s finest is next in line. A big goalie who takes up a lot of the cage but has the instincts, footwork and hand speed to go with it, Heath is fundamentally sound and is tremendous in the outlet game. He has a flair for the dramatic, usually coming up with a highlight-reel save per game, and he does a really good job of dropping to take away low shots.
Boston Takeaway Machine
No. 19 James Carroll, LSM, Boston College (Mass.) / Laxachusetts (Highlights)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 95
There might not be a player in the ’23 class with as good a knack for taking the ball away. Carroll loves to get out and press, and if he gets his stick on you, the ball’s ending up on the ground. Carroll has an array of checks that he’s willing to throw to get the ball out, and he doesn’t miss often. He’s excellent off the ground, loves to push the offensive pace and has the stick to score a lot of goals in transition. He’s done a nice job of slowing down some of the country’s top offensive midfielders, and should continue to be a force as he adds size and strength.
All-Seeing QB1
No. 18 Colin Burns, attack, Georgetown Prep (Md.) / MadLax DC Dogs (Highlights)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 95
An outstanding X attackman who’s a deadly feeder but also more than capable of also putting the ball in the back of the net, Burns is always in complete control of the offense and sees everything unfold a step before everyone else does. He throws accurate passes from different angles, which helps keep defenses off balance and constantly guessing, but he’s also accurate as a shooter with either hand from inside of eight yards. His handle in tight and ability to contort his body into tight spaces also help him as a scorer.
Electricity in the Cage
No. 17 Connor Foley, goalie, Thayer (Mass.) / Laxachusetts (Highlights)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 95
A dynamic lefty who never shuts up and is just as active out of the cage as he is in it, Foley has seen his stock skyrocket since last fall. He was a rock in the net playing up for the New England ’22s in the Nike National All-Star Games. There might not be any goalie in the class that has more eye-popping, show-stealing saves than Foley. He has gamebreaking ability, thanks to his very quick hands, twitchy feet and aggressiveness. Foley is an emotional, high-energy goalie to whom his teammates gravitate, and his compete level is second to none.
Face Off, Definitely Don’t Need to Get Off
No. 16 Andrew Greenspan, faceoff, Brunswick (Conn.) / Prime Time
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 95
Greenspan has made a name for himself while playing up with a loaded Prime Time 2022 team, and he’s made a noticeable effort to improve his already good midfield skills in the past year. He’s played at some events as a midfielder without taking any faceoffs and acquitted himself quite well, a product of his athleticism and quickness to take his man off the dodge. At the X, there aren’t many – if any – better technicians in the class. Greenspan has an advanced understanding of SNG already, puts the ball in different spots for his wing men and has been battle-tested against elite competition.
Bombs Away
No. 15 Tucker Kellogg, midfield, Trinity-Pawling (N.Y.) / Prime Time (Highlights)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 95
The most likely player in the class to put a shot through the net, Kellogg has carved out a reputation for himself as an elite shooter. He can easily tune up his shot to crack triple digits and does a great job of consistently getting his hands free. A fiery competitor, Kellogg has some positional versatility, too, with how he can bump to attack, and he’ll dodge from up top and the wings.
Canadian Captain of the Hands Team
No. 14 Trey Deere, attack, Salisbury (Conn.) / SweetLax Upstate
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 95
If you’re playing either lacrosse or hockey at Salisbury, you’re legit. If you’re doing BOTH, you’re a different breed. The Kahnawake, Québec, native projects to start for the Crimson Knights this year and the lefty might have the silkiest mitts in the class, in part due to his hockey background. He has an extensive box lacrosse background and it’s evident in his game with his ability to catch everything in sight before finishing.
“His field awareness and hands are unbelievable,” SweetLax director Kevin Martin said. “He can back you down and shoot between the legs. He’ll back door you to death. He only needs a small window to get his hands free, and once he does, it’s game over.”
Lefty Finisher
No. 13 Jack Ponzio, attack, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) / Team 91 Bandits
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 95
Ponzio has been one of the most feared attackmen on the ’23 circuit for some time, for good reason. The strong lefty can overpower defensemen with his ability to create contact, and he doesn’t need a ton of space to make plays happen. He’s improved as a feeder, particularly in the draw-and-dump game, but he’s at his best as a finisher thanks to his accurate shot and understanding of how to get open off the ball.
Texas Forever
No. 12 Colin Vickrey, goalie, Culver (Ind.) / Iron Horse / Notre Dame (Highlights)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 96
Vickrey is an interesting case as he was considered by many to be one of the best goalies in the ’22 class, then committed to Notre Dame. He opted to move his enrollment back to 2023, so there aren’t many more proven commodities in the class. He has very fast hands and does a nice job of taking up space in the cage with his stance, and he excels in the clearing game with quick, accurate outlets. The Texas native isn’t afraid to venture out of the cage in the clearing game, and his unflappability is another trait that endeared him to the Irish.
Impact Everywhere
No. 11 Brett Koopman, LSM/defense, Santa Fe Christian (Calif.) / Mad Dog (Highlights)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 96
Koopman has been playing up against 2021s and 2022s for quite some time now, yet that doesn’t seem to have much of an impact on his ability to make an impact all over the field. He can make plays everywhere, whether it’s ripping the ball away from an opponent, outhustling everyone in the transition game or finishing offensively. Every inch of space that you get against Koopman is very well-earned, and he does a terrific job of throwing precise checks to make his man uncomfortable.
