Connecticut Preps: Five 2026’s Worth Knowing

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's no doubt that the prep school landscape is dominated by upperclassmen (and in some cases, postgraduates), however, the top programs are full of some of the most promising underclassmen in the country. With the season approaching, get to know five talented Class of 2026 prospects in Connecticut who could make their presence felt this spring. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["20310"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A special athlete, Buttafuoco made the Brunswick varsity as a freshman and was also a varsity soccer player. On-ball, Buttafuoco is as fundamentally sound as it gets. If his attackman stops moving, he's on his gloves harassing his stick. When his man starts a dodge or begins moving, Buttafuoco is on his hips, shoving him off his dodging line and disrupting gloves on shots and passes. Off the ball, Buttafuoco will occasionally make a play that will leave you wondering if he can see a few seconds into the future; he anticipates ball action that well. An underclassman and already this good down low, Buttafuoco has as high a ceiling as any '26 defender in the country.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["20315"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Lacrosse is entering its big midfielder era. It's plain to see at some of the top programs at the college level, size at the midfield position is at a premium. At 6'6 and 220 pounds, Landy has the physical tools that those elite programs at the next level are looking for. While many his age may still be growing into their bodies at that size, Landry plays comfortably, without much wasted motion. He can play the physical game, backing down his man or using his frame to get to the goal, but he can also win with speed out of his dodges. He's at his best as a dodger from the wings, sweeping to the middle of the field, where he can absorb half-measure slides, get his own shot, or find a teammate. Before reclassing at Loomis, Landry racked up 51 goals and 19 assists for Waterford (Conn.) and earned First Team All-Conference recognition.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["20318"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Speaking of positions looking for size, college is very much also in the tall defender era. Currently, the shortest starting defenseman at Virginia is 6'5. Coincidentally, that's also how tall Florada is. With his long frame, the CBA-Syracuse (N.Y.) transfer is very good at applying pressure and not giving up angles to goal to do it; his approaches are very often sound. Some taller defensemen can have a hard time with short attackmen because it's hard to get low enough to gain leverage, but Florada plays seated low with his stick on gloves all the time. He's good off the ground and in transition, and he's excellent as an opportunistic doubler on unsuspecting ball handlers.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["17267"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Perhaps this is slightly off the board since Fairfield Prep is in the SCC, but Prep is right there in the name, it's a prep school. Garrett took draws for the Fairfield Prep varsity as a freshman, and that's not an easy thing to do, especially given the level of competition on Prep's schedule. Garrett's footwork is excellent from SNG. He does his best work going forward to himself, where he's a threat to score and feed on a break. He has the stick skills to throw a fake or look off defensemen, and he shoots well enough that not sliding to him is a mistake. Garrett uses his body well on draws he doesn't win clean, outmuscling other players to get in position for ground balls. He was an All-Star at the NLF Futures at IMG event back in January and will look to carry that momentum over to the spring.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["20312"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"The younger brother of 4-star junior and  Georgetown commit [player_tooltip player_id='142752' first='Anthony' last='Rodriguez'], Jayden plays with excellent field awareness. He's a ball-dominant player, but always has his head up while he's carrying and looking for teammates or for a place to throw a fake, freezing his defender for him to run by. Hailing from Spencerport (N.Y.), Rodriguez is a good ball-handler, and can dodge to get his own shot. This spring, Loomis will have no shortage of players who need the ball in their stick, and with the depth of weapons in the upper class, Rodriguez likely sees plenty of shortstick matchups, so he'll have the opportunities to create off the dodge to draw slides.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e8aaf0dde82"} /-->