Team 91 Invitational: Standouts from the Class of 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the weekend I had the pleasure of watching some great teams play great lacrosse on Rutgers University grounds in Piscataway, NJ.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams were coming from New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and more, but ultimately it was the 3D Garden State 2025 club out of North Jersey who came out victorious on Sunday. Take a peek at some standouts from multiple teams who caught my eye:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["24386"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e58629594"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coyle is the unquestioned leader of the offense for 3D Garden State. He did a nice job working against his 1-on-1 matchups and used his superior stick skills to be able to evade checks. He has a sneaky quick burst of speed coming from X on a dodge or coming off a screen. That helps him get a step on his defender and create offense, which he does so well. I wasn't able to catch every game he played, but I had him down for 7 goals and 4 assists in the three games I saw (hat trick in the first game of the tournament). He recorded 2 goals and 3 assists in the championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["24388"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e586295f6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gilford was exceptional in net for the eventual tournament champions. They had the first game at 8am on Saturday and he was out there coming up with saves left and right. During their semifinal game against LI Express 2025 Davis, he anchored the defense and made some great saves on tough shots. He was able to shut out LI Express in the 4th quarter to allow his offense to make a late comeback. In the finals, he came out hot early and then again pitched a shutout in the 4th already with a lead vs Blak Widow 2025. He takes command, has great communication in net, and makes clutch saves when his team needs him the most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["39847"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e5862969b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The first thing that caught my eye when watching Hibbard Jr. play was his shot. He doesn't mind loading it up from a distance and sending a rocket to the back of the net. He has good size and speed and can create separation on his dodges, which allows him to get his hands free. In the few games that I watched, he totaled seven goals, recording a hat trick in the semi-finals in a losing effort to Blak Widow. He was able to score from outside, from in the crease, and I found myself constantly noting his play. He is currently uncommitted, but I'm sure he is on the coaches' radars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["39849"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e58629724"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Byers had a great tournament and played some solid defense for his club. I love how aggressive he is when playing on the ball, and he doesn't allow himself to get out of position too often. He plays physically and fights through screens and always keeps his feet active in order to not get beat. He has great footwork and technique, which allows him to go for takeaway checks against his matchups. He is a very active and vocal defender, always with his stick out in front of him and annoying opposing attackmen with poke and slap checks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["39851"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e586297a7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Care is a gritty short-stick defensive midfielder who can also handle the ball if needed. He is very athletic and has good speed to stay with his matchups. He talks well through screens and has good positioning when getting dodged on. He takes good angles when his man has a step on him to recover and play help defense. I saw two games of theirs and I had Care down for a goal, but I found myself jotting down his good defense efforts in both games multiple times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["39853"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e58629849"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gibbons is a solid lefty attackman from Delaware. He gets himself in the right spots to catch and shoot when in tight, but can also stretch the defense. He can find the soft spots in the defense and his teammates did a good job finding him for goals. When dodging, he does a good job of not forcing a shot and keeps his head up for cutters or skip passes. Headstrong did not make the playoffs, but I had him for seven goals and one assist through three games, including a hat trick in one outing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["39855"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e586298ce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='39855' first='Jake' last='Devereaux'] was outstanding in the cage for Headstrong in the games I watched. He came up with save after save and helped his team in big spots. One of the biggest reasons he stood out to me was his hustle on the end lines. I counted about 4 or 5 times he won his team possession by racing the opponents to the end line following a wide shot. That comes down to effort and that is something that cannot be taught. While his team failed to make the playoffs, Devereaux did absolutely everything he could have to keep them in games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->