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Ethan Bramoff, an LSM from St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) and Long Island Express, is the No. 1 player in the NLF’s first class of 2026 rankings. Midfielder Dylan Faison (St. Andrew’s, Fla. / Team 91 Long Island / Notre Dame football) headlines the rest of the top 10. Lefty sniper Hansen Peck (Lawrenceville, N.J. / Team 91 Long Island) is at the top of the 11-20 group.
21. John Devir, midfield, Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One of the offensive spark plugs for the Leading Edge ’25s before dropping down to ’26 this fall, Devir is someone knows that they have to slide to and very quickly at that. He’s tallied 35 times and dished out 19 assists for the New Jersey Non-Public A champions. a testament to his ability to both score and feed. The NLF at IMG All-Star has very strong lower body, which allows him to run through checks, and his production is undeniable.
22. Cooper Heilig, defense, La Salle (Pa.) / Team 91 Maryland ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The 6-3, 215-pounder looks straight out of central casting for a No. 1 college defenseman. Heilig jumped into the La Salle starting lineup as a sophomore and has helped lead the Explorers into Saturday’s state title game. He’s a part of a defense that has yet to yield double-digit goals. Heilig’s a big reason for it. You really can’t overpower him, and he does a great job of working within the team defense. He has shut down some high-level attackmen this spring.
23. Brad Barber, attack / midfield, Springfield (Pa.) / Team Ten ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Barber missed the entirety of his freshman season with a torn ACL suffered during football season, when he was starting for the Cougars at running back. He came back this season and helped guide Springfield to the PIAA semifinals on the back of a whopping 65-goal, 17-assist season. A thick and powerful lefty, he embraces and thrives off of contact. Barber has a powerful shot and the versatility to take advantage of mismatches at both attack and midfield. He’s got a long way to go to catch up to the comparison’s long list of accomplishments, but some in Philly have evoked comparisons in playing style to Matt Rambo.
24. Joe Ligas, defense, Whitney (Calif.) / ADVNC / West Coast Starz ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One of the top defensemen in the class, the Sacramento native is a mean, nasty lefty with the versatility to play both LSM and close defense. He can take the ball away, but he’s more of a quietly effective cover guy who pretty much never gets beat. Ligas has a high IQ and also understands off-ball defense at an advanced level for his age. His hockey background shines through in both his stickwork and toughness. Few players opted to test him on dodges last weekend at the Adrenaline Platinum Cup.
25. John Buttafuoco, defense, Brunswick (Conn.) / Prime Time – Notre Dame ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Buttafuoco committed to the Irish as a ’25 and will PG before heading to South Bend as a ’26. Named a captain at Brunswick for next spring, the 6-foot, 190-pounder is great as a cover guy and can wipe out an opponent’s No. 1 attackman. Buttafuoco also excels in team defense and communication. A high-motor type who can also play LSM, he will finish out with the ’25s before dropping to the ’26s next summer.
26. Nick Rayfield, midfield, Marcellus (N.Y.) / SweetLax Upstate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
An elite two-way midfielder who makes an impact in so many ways, Rayfield erupted offensively this spring. He fired home 65 goals, added 27 assists and collected 62 ground balls in leading Marcellus to the state final. Rayfield has proven his offensive chops against some of the best teams in the country. He’ll also get some runs in at SSDM because of his ability to defend and vacuum up ground balls.
27. Robbie Johnson, faceoff midfield, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Johnson’s been as consistent a force as there’s been for years on the ’26 circuit. He’s on the smaller side, but makes up for it with lightning-quick hands and diverse exits. He carved out a role for himself as the No. 2 faceoff man for the Friars this spring. Johnson appears to be the heir apparent to the St. Anthony’s faceoff throne as an upperclassman. He can handle the ball a little bit, too, as evidenced by goals against national power Culver (Ind.) and Delbarton, perennially one of New Jersey’s top programs.
28. Michael McColgan, midfield, Culver (Ind.) / SweetLax Florida ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
McColgan has a rare combination of fluidity and power that helps him stand out in this midfield class. He seldom looks like he’s trying when he’s dodging, until you realize that he’s past his man and parking a shot home. A One Percent All-Star this winter, McColgan sets up defenses well to get to his right hand, but he’s also a decent off-hand shooter and a willing and able defender. The Culver depth chart featured a ton of upperclass middies this year, but McColgan should thrive in a bigger role in 2025.
29. John Balsamo, attack, Chaminade (N.Y.) / Long Island Express ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A smooth righty X attackman, Balsamo slotted in to the Flyers’ starting lineup as a sophomore despite missing most of the preseason with an injury. Despite that, he put up nearly 30 points for Chaminade. Balsamo’s IQ, poise with the ball and understanding of what defenses are throwing at him stand out as high-level traits. Like Gillis, he’ll need to fill out, but he does a good job of keeping his poise through contact. He started to really hit his stride late in the spring with four goals against Wilton (Conn.), four points against Iona Prep (N.Y.) and two goals and a helper against Delbarton (N.J.).
Balsamo was also front and center at the Adrenaline Platinum Cup, regularly torching defenses for more than 20 points on the weekend, including a goal and two assists in the championship.
30. Bing Burch, defense, Loyola (Md.) / Crabs ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The son of four-time Georgetown All-American Sheehan Stanwick Burch, the 6-1, 180-pound Burch is both composed and versatile. The NLF at IMG All-Star is adept at defending with either a pole or a short stick, and he’s a stable presence on the Crabs’ backline. Burch found time on a stacked Loyola defense this spring. He’s got an excellent stick and an offensive mindset in transition.
