2026 Rankings: Breaking Down the 5-Star Recruits Ranked 11-16

Use code <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/subscribe/">‘PREP30′ at checkout for 30% off annual and two-year subscriptions on Prep Lacrosse</a> for the <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/national/player-rankings/2026-rankings/">newly released Top 100 rankings</a> and year-round coverage of the recruiting and high school scene. Recruiting is off and running for the '26 class, <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/08/unveiling-the-five-stars-and-top-50-recruits-in-the-class-of-2026/">and having taken a close look at the Top 10 recruits in last Friday's unveiling</a>, let's get to know the additional 5-stars.    Right off the bat, I'm cheating a bit here, given that Gilbane was written up as part of <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/08/names-to-know-class-of-2026-attackmen-part-i/">late August's 'Attackmen to Know'</a> piece that covered the top players at the position that hadn't yet been written up. But, in case you missed it: "Gilbane already has a whopping 145 points to his name over his first two seasons in one of the nation's best leagues, bursting onto the scene with a 90-point freshman year before following that up with 35 goals and 20 assists while facing more attention as a sophomore. As one of the more two-handed '26 recruits, he's equally capable of doing damage with both his left and right while largely operating from the wings. Gilbane is a tough and intelligent dodger who can shake off contact (he also plays hockey) and get to his spots, he's comfortable dodging from many different areas and is formidable when attacking from below the goal line." When talking to college coaches, there was a ton of intrigue about the versatility of Gilbane, who could end up in the Ivy League. "He's such an interesting one because there's a spectrum of how people view him," said an assistant on an NCAA Tournament team. "No matter what you're looking for, he can fill that hole - lefty wing, righty wing, at X, and if you wanted to run him out of the box, he could probably do that, too."     Much has been said and written about the '26 class being scarce of elite talent on the defensive end, and as June progressed, it was hard to put a finger on the top dog at the position. When it came time to make that decision, Ligas stood out the most as the prospect with the least question marks. He's fundamentally sound across the board and has impressed every time I've watched him, failing to show any glaring weaknesses. <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/07/26-western-standouts-at-the-national-all-star-games/">From early July's evaluation of Ligas among the Western standouts at the National All-Star Games</a>: "It doesn't take long to understand why Ligas is viewed as one of the very best defensive prospects in the '26 class. A lefty from the Sacramento area, he stripped a handful of notable opposing attackmen and blanketed the No. 1 option, though I see him more as a No. 2 at the next level. He's superb off the ground, which makes sense given his hockey background. Away from the ball, he made all of the right decisions and was a vocal presence." Ligas is set to visit Notre Dame this weekend, and it wouldn't be a shock to see him commit shortly after. Quite frankly, it'd be a perfect fit.     James has been a known commodity for a few years now, having thrived in a starting role as a freshman and sophomore for a high-profile program. The athletic lefty with a high ceiling is hard to miss with his flashy home run checks, landing them largely in part due to his fantastic footwork and hands. This summer, he continued to show those flashes of brilliance. When he was on, there was no one more disruptive. The key for him, however, will be becoming more consistent with his fundamentals. "In my opinion, he's just scratching the surface," according to one veteran coach. "There's so much potential... what will he look like if he spends time in the weight room? He plays against great competition and certainly has the feet, so he'll continue to develop." It's no secret that Syracuse and Carolina are the two teams to beat for James' services, but don't rule out the Big 10.     Given that he was dealing with a hamstring injury suffered in the Friars' last game of the season, Bramoff's summer campaign didn't tell the full story. However, his spring did - he was phenomenal as a playmaker for the CHSAA champs as part of a 5-star tandem at LSM. This summer, he showed some grit by playing through it in a handful of tournaments and deserves a lot of credit for doing so, with his competitiveness and motor always evident. Disruptive and impactful in a plethora of ways, Bramoff can muck it up when he's sent out to the face-off dot and pick up key GBs all over the field. When the ball's in his stick, he's making the right decisions on the offensive end. While he has room to grow as a cover defender, there's a lot to like about his ability off the ground and in transition, so it'll be crucial that he finds a home with a style of play that suits his skill set. "It's tough because he didn't play a lot of the summer because of his injury, but I still think he's an elite talent and one of the best players in the class purely based on his ability to disrupt a game and pick the ball up off the ground," said a recruiter at an NCAA Tournament team. "At that position, if you can't disrupt a game and get it off the floor, you're going to struggle. He checks those boxes and then some."     <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/02/2026s-to-know-in-the-iac-georgetown-prep-bullis-landon/">Highlighted in the preseason as a sophomore to watch in the IAC</a>, Han racked up 26 goals to go with 10 helpers in his first year as a starter for the Little Hoyas, stepping up following the graduation of Nate Kabiri and Colin Burns. While he did a lot of things well, I can't help but feel like he's due for a much bigger season as a junior now that some of the growing pains are out of the way. On the summer circuit, Han dazzled and continued to show off his explosive feet and wrists, hammering shots from range and beating his man cleanly off the dodge while mostly operating above the cage. "He's just so explosive and was dodging past everyone this summer," said a top assistant. "He may not be a true QB and is more of a wing operator, but his ability to dodge and shoot is as good as it gets." Han is another one who could be destined for the Ivy League, but if there's another program to keep an eye on, it's Michigan, where his older brother would be a senior when Noah is a freshman.     Any time a recruit is compared to the likes of Brian Tevlin, Zach Currier, and Ryan Conrad, it speaks volumes about that player's "Swiss Army knife" ability. Johnston, a throwback type who thrived as a defensive midfielder for the Friars this spring, is a flat-out winner who can do it all. He causes turnovers at an eye-popping rate and has a knack for creating disruption with some downright nasty trail checks and going from defense to offense. Johnston simply understands the game at an advanced level and embraces every role that is asked of him. Just about every college coach I spoke to called Johnston the best two-way midfielder in the class, and while he's likely a d-middie at the next level, he'll make any team better with what he brings to the table. He's had no shortage of interest since 9/1, but it'd be silly to count out Army, seeing as Johnston is the grandson of a legend in former Black Knights head coach Jack Emmer.

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Recruiting is off and running for the '26 class, and having taken a close look at the Top 10 recruits in last Friday's unveiling, let's get to know the additional 5-stars.