IMLCA Players Summit '27s: Top Righty Midfielders

In what has become recruiters' last live evaluation of the recruiting calendar, the IMLCA Players Summit took place outside of Orlando for the fourth consecutive year on the heels of the annual Coaches Summit, which ran through Friday at the Omni ChampionsGate. For the third year in a row, I went down to Florida for the event and focused primarily on the sophomore class. First in a series of articles on the '27s at IMLCA, here's a look at several right-handed midfielders that left an impression.    Helping lift his S2S Grizzlies squad to a title in the '27 bracket, Asaro undoubtedly would have been named Tournament MVP if such an award existed. He made an absolute killing as the Grizzlies' primary offensive initiator, serving as both the tone-setter by opening up scoring in two of the three games I watched and the hero in the clutch, netting the overtime goal in a phenomenal quarterfinal matchup with 2Way. Combining a powerful 6'2 frame with twitchy athleticism and an aggressive dodging mindset often displayed by multi-sport standouts on Long Island, the midfield horse applied constant pressure with the ball in his stick and created offense in a plethora of ways. As a shooter, he has a violent release on the run along with brilliant touch and placement, with his shots rarely getting saved and often finding the top corners. It came as no surprise to hear that he had a big football season for the undefeated state champions. Asaro brings a gritty running back mentality to the lacrosse field, and he frequently put his team on his back throughout the weekend.     Markley was a consistent force for 2Way's midfield all weekend. He was particularly impactful against the West Coast Starz, posting two goals along with an assist to cement his team's undefeated run through Pool E on Saturday. The Telluride (Colo.) native begins his dodges with a strong first step, and he has a noticeable extra gear that he finds to create separation to win his matchup or beat the slide. Getting his hands free with a right-to-right hesi or a split dodge, he also worked his way through the teeth of the defenses to increase his chance of scoring. In addition to his work as a goal-scorer, Markley got defenses rotating and did an excellent job as a passer, routinely making great looks to teammates or connecting on hockey assists. I also felt like he held his own and embraced the defensive side of the ball, proving to be capable of turning stops and key groundballs into fast breaks, where he was a constant threat.     Good things tend to happen when Fodor is on the field. <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/11/alliance-fall-invitational-scouting-bbls-2027s/">Written up in-depth last month following the Alliance Lacrosse League event</a>, Fodor's ability as a midfield party starter dictates how defenses defend BBL, opening things up for his teammates in a way that I have yet to see while watching '27s. He's so difficult to defend because of how big, athletic, and dynamic he is, so teams are quick to slide to him. Unfortunately for them, Fodor is just as dangerous as a passer as he is when dodging to score, and he can feast even when forced to his off-hand given how unbelievably two-handed he is. His presence alone gets defenses to rotate, and his vision and unselfishness create high-quality scoring chances for his teammates in high-percentage areas. Fodor's range as a shooter stretches defenses, and the ball absolutely flies out of his stick regardless of the release point.     A bright spot in a Mad Dog loss on Sunday, Van Wyk is a promising prospect at the shortstick defensive midfield position. Possessing a sturdy 6'2, 190-pound frame, he embraces his role and has clearly been well-coached. Van Wyk consistently jammed up opposing dodgers and didn't seem to allow anything to happen when he was on-ball. He was comfortable being put out on an island and knew how to force his matchup to areas that prevented them from being a scoring threat. He played angles well, stayed man-conscious away from the ball, and made an impact on the clear.     Frye is rather unassuming at first glance, yet I kept noticing him throughout Prime Time's matchup with Mad Dog due to his ability to affect the game by doing the little things well and emptying the tank. A speedster in the open field, Frye had several impressive punt return clears and got from one restraining line to the other in a hurry. He displayed fearlessness and a pitbull mentality both on groundballs and when clearing the ball upfield, making appropriate decisions and never forcing anything that wasn't there. There are sure to be bigger and more intriguing midfield recruits in the '27 class, but Frye deserves recognition for his selflessness and being the type of player that every team needs.     <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/11/alliance-fall-invitational-top-class-of-27-performers-part-iii/">Another young middie who was written up coming away from Fall A.L.L.</a>, Perriello continued to make a strong impression with his two-way play. This time, his drive to win was even more apparent, given that his team had something to play for in a jam-packed 2027 bracket. Perriello's first goal against the West Coast Starz sums up his gritty style of play: he willed his way to the goal, got saved, followed his rebound, and deposited the ball into the back of the net. Later on in the game, he fearlessly made his way through the teeth of the defense and scored, something he made a habit out of through the end of the tournament. It's clear that he never backs down from contact and is willing to do whatever it takes to make a play, even if that means soaking a hard body check and paying the price.

In what has become recruiters' last live evaluation of the recruiting calendar, the IMLCA Players Summit took place outside of Orlando for the fourth consecutive year on the heels of the annual Coaches Summit, which ran through Friday at the Omni ChampionsGate.

For the third year in a row, I went down to Florida for the event and focused primarily on the sophomore class. First in a series of articles on the '27s at IMLCA, here's a look at several right-handed midfielders that left an impression.