Minnesota Midfielders to Watch in the Class of 2025
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Minnesota’s Class of 2025 features another great group of athletes who became important contributors to their respective teams in 2023. As we head into the spring season, expect these players to continue to lead their teams out of the midfield.…
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Continue ReadingMinnesota’s Class of 2025 features another great group of athletes who became important contributors to their respective teams in 2023. As we head into the spring season, expect these players to continue to lead their teams out of the midfield.
Olson, the younger brother of a Division I lacrosse player, has made his own stamp on the MN lacrosse scene. He is a physical dodger who does not shy away from contact, routinely running through soft defenses and unafraid of taking a hit to score. I love the way Olson plays – he demands the ball and wants to be the guy whom the offense runs through. He is deceptively quick with a great shot on the run. If he gets a head of steam with his hands free, he will make you pay. That being said, he is still an unselfish player and recognizes when to distribute to the open man if the defense starts to send help earlier. The Florida Tech commit notched 27 goals and 14 assists last year for Woodbury and should be one of the top midfielders in the state this season.
Anderson is an extremely well-rounded player who does a lot of things really well. It starts with his 6’4″ frame and the ability to dodge effectively. He can initiate and create offense with his ability to consistently beat his man. I couldn’t really tell on film if he was a righty or a lefty. He has a great left-handed shot with time and room, but had multiple nice quick finishes inside right-handed as well. He knows where to go with the ball when he’s doubled and can get his teammates involved. There were times he was double and triple-teamed and somehow worked his way out of the jam finding his way to the goal. Anderson is athletic enough to play both ways and make an impact in transition, adding another layer to his already diverse skillset. He is a very impressive player who had a banner sophomore season in 2023, notching 37 goals and 23 assists to earn 2nd Team All-State and Star Tribute 2nd Team All-Metro honors.
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Brown has been an integral part of a young rising group of 2025’s for Wayzata for the past couple of seasons. Despite being on the younger end, Brown has produced in his first two high school seasons. The 6’0 midfielder is a great two-way player with a dynamic skill set. He can hit shots from range and score off the dodge, possessing the physical tools and footwork to play defense as well. Brown has a strong first step and solid speed in the open field. He is one of those guys you’d just call a “lacrosse player” – someone who can do whatever he is called to do. Brown finished the 2023 season with 28 goals and eight assists, and he’ll continue to build on those numbers, as nearly the entire Trojan offense returns in 2024.
Magnusson is another two-way midfielder that is equal parts grit and finesse. He has a rocket of a shot that is near automatic from the right wing or stepping down from up top. He also really understands space to get himself open and be an effective inside finisher. Even with all of his individual skills as a dodger and shooter, his lacrosse IQ stands out to me the most, as evidenced by his 23 assists last season. He has a great feel for the game that allows him to sense when the double is coming and quickly distribute the ball to find his teammates. He can do his dodging work from pretty much anywhere, but I was impressed with his ability from X when inverting. Combine the offensive skills with Magnusson’s competitiveness and toughness, and you’ve got a productive player who will get you plenty of points, sell out in the riding game, sniff out ground balls, and play defense.
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Another fabulous ’25 for the Hornets who broke out as a sophomore last year, Stocco is a shifty dodger with a lefty cannon. He has a ridiculous motor and plays with zero regard for his body, selling out on every play and taking hits to finish. His defensive acumen impressed me as well. He has two-way abilities and is quite effective on the defensive end. Stocco really understands dodging angles and is brilliant at re-dodging his defender to get inside positioning to the middle to score. Last year, he put up 29 goals and 24 assists as a sophomore, earning himself All-State Honorable Mention recognition in the process.
Atteberry is one of the more unique players on this list. He is on the smaller size for what you’d expect for your prototypical midfielder, but don’t let that fool you, he is one of the quickest, shiftiest, and most effective dodgers I have seen. I compare him to one of those scatbacks in football, where if he has a little bit of space, he can make multiple players miss and weave his way through traffic. Atteberry has a lethal hitch-and-go move that routinely gets him around his man, and as teams start to send the house on him when he drives he does a good job dealing it to other players for easy goals. He led his Chaska team last year with 51 points on 30 goals and 21 assists, often doing so in highlight-reel fashion.
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I decided to personally give Johnson the nickname “The Big Easy” for his methodical, smooth, and effective approach to the game. There are times when it looks like he isn’t even going full speed and he will run right past someone on the dodge or catch someone in the open field. A pure athlete who doubles as a WR/CB on the gridiron, Johnson puts those football skills on display on the lacrosse field as well. He can make a quick move to gain separation and get his hands free for a shot, but can also pull his man up top and speed dodge right past him. He is deceptively strong and physical, knocking players off their feet when he puts a body on them in the open field. Johnson might be the most underrated midfielder in the state, though part of that is due to being on a team with so many offensive superstars and the attention being spread around. He’s a hard-working player who plays within the system and doesn’t have an overly flashy game, serving as a workhorse who gets the job done every game. Johnson had 45 goals and 14 assists last year for the state champion Lakeville North Panthers and should see an increase in production with a few of their guys graduating in 2023.
Wagner is an extremely talented player who unfortunately was hampered by an injury last season, however, when he was on the field, it was clear that he’s a top talent. He has elite speed that he combines with a level of dodging physicality that you don’t see a whole lot at the high school level in Minnesota. He regularly wins his matchup and has a phenomenal shot with the uncanny ability of sticking shots on the run at surprisingly low angles. On tape, there were multiple instances where the defense played his dodge perfectly and he still hit a corner on the run down the alley. His speed makes him a big offensive threat in transition and gives his team a huge advantage in early offensive situations. Wagner had 14 points in only five games last year but was a standout on the summer circuit. He recently committed to Bellarmine and will be primed to showcase his skills in a full high school season in 2024.
Freddy Bankston Freddy Bankston 6'0" | 190 lbs | M | Right Hand Irondale | 2025 MN (Irondale) – Bankston is an impressive athlete with a quick first step and physical dodging capability. He has a great shot and is not shy about going to the goal. He brings a nice level of athleticism and toughness to the field and I think he could have a good year with a young core of players for Irondale.
Henry Ulrick Henry Ulrick 6'3" | 180 lbs | M | Right Hand Farmington | 2025 MN (Farmington) – Ulrick burst on the scene last year for the Tigers, leading the team with 42 points. He has prototypical size for the midfield and can hit shots on the run, plus he’s lights-out with time and room. Ulrick should get an increased role in 2024 after the graduation of some seniors.
Caden Ayshford (Moundsview) – Ayshford was a new name to me but had a very nice sophomore campaign with 32 goals last year. I was impressed with his motor, energy, and physicality along with a brilliant shot, both on the run and with time and space. He has a deep dodging toolkit to get his hands free and score in a variety of ways.
George Tocko George Tocko 5'11" | M Prior Lake | 2025 MN (Prior Lake) – A skilled player who is comfortable dodging but also super crafty off-ball, Tocko did a little bit of everything for the Lakers last year, putting up 34 points and also winning 14 face-offs. The offense ran through ’23 grad Ben Mickett last year, but with his graduation, I foresee George taking on a larger role this season.