Maryland Rankings: Uncommitted '26s at Calvert Hall and Loyola

Earlier this month, we unveiled <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2025/01/class-of-2026-maryland-rankings-top-40-juniors-watchlist/?itm_source=parsely-api">Class of 2026 rankings for the state of Maryland</a>, slotting a Top 40 and a 50-player Watchlist. Since then, dozens of the state's top juniors have been written up, with today's piece highlighting seven uncommitted '26s at Loyola and Calvert Hall in Towson. In case you missed it, catch up on all our content from the rankings release. If you have yet to subscribe, use code 'PREP30' at checkout for 30% off all annual and two-year subscriptions: <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2025/01/26-maryland-rankings-top-uncommitted-public-school-talent/">Top Uncommitted Public School Talent</a> (1/16) <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2025/01/26-maryland-rankings-fall-verbals-who-flew-under-the-radar/?itm_source=parsely-api">Fall Verbals Who Flew Under the Radar</a> (1/17) <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2025/01/maryland-rankings-uncommitted-26s-in-annapolis/?itm_source=parsely-api">Uncommitted '26s at St. Mary's and Severn</a> (1/22) <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2025/01/uncommitted-miaa-26s-mcdonogh-st-pauls-msj-john-carroll/?itm_source=parsely-api">Uncommitted '26s at McDonogh, St. Paul's, John Carroll, and Mt. St. Joe</a> (1/23)    Flatley makes up for his lack of prototypical size with a high motor, an active and dialed-in stick, and a tenacious approach to 1v1 defense. He's a valuable asset on man-down, consistently standing out with his anticipation and playmaking in passing lanes. Flatley is a pest with his checks, throwing hard slaps to jar the ball loose, then wastes no time scooping it up and pushing transition. Overall, his stick work is a major asset, including on the wings of face-offs. To take the next step, adding size, speed, and strength — along with greater consistency and discipline in his approaches — will be key as he looks to carve out a role this spring and ultimately land a college commitment.     Hanover gained traction after the November circuit and December's IMLCA Players Summit, and for good reason. He was incredibly productive and showed off his versatility and high-level skill set despite being on the small side. A constant threat from the right-handed wing, Hanover is super efficient and accurate as a shooter: he catches in stride, fully loaded, and buries shots from all release points, often threading the needle from tight angles. He's also dangerous as a ball-carrier behind the cage and can beat defensemen off the dodge. Hanover constantly scans the field, tossing out pinpoint passes to cutters with precision. Beyond his offensive prowess, he's an X-factor with his relentless effort in the riding game, regularly creating extra possessions for his team.     Heil emerged as a steady contributor to the Dons' face-off committee, putting together a particularly impressive 8-for-14 outing in Loyola's OT loss to Georgetown Prep and showing flashes of potential against a tough schedule. At 5'8 and 160 pounds, he isn't the biggest, but he's shown strong technical skills and the ability to create 50/50 situations. When Heil doesn't win the clamp, he's great at countering to give his wings a chance. He's a capable athlete in space, though he could stand to make improvements on his ball security and decision-making after the win. After closing out the summer as a member of Team Baltimore at the New Balance Underclass Games, Heil showed well on the fall circuit with FCA Maryland, as well as guest spots with ProStart and Next Level. He's among several uncommitted 2026 face-off specialists in the MIAA with intriguing ability.     Utilized primarily as an off-ball finisher, Klein made the most of his opportunities last season and put in double-digit goals for the 9-9 Dons. A tall, reliable target with soft hands and a natural scoring instinct, he has excellent touch around the crease and shoots well from mid-range, often capitalizing in catch-and-shoot scenarios. One thing I appreciate about Klein is his self-awareness – he plays within his strengths, putting himself in positions to succeed rather than forcing dodges. His lacrosse IQ, particularly in off-ball movement and spatial awareness, works to his advantage. He stays active, constantly moving his feet and cutting with timeliness to create opportunities. Klein also excels at the little things, such as run-outs, riding, and battling for groundballs. With the Dons graduating a significant number of contributors, I'm eager to see what kind of leap Klein makes in 2025.     Unfortunately, McKneely has been snake-bitten by knee injuries, preventing recruiters from seeing him at full strength this past summer. However, when healthy, he's as impactful as any '26 LSM in the region, and his upside is reinforced by his accolades. At Project 9 in October, he left with hardware for being named the top defender, standing out among a sea of highly touted prospects. A fierce competitor across multiple sports, McKneely is currently the state's sixth-ranked wrestler in his weight class. He brings a mean streak and pure grit to the lacrosse field, where he presses out and applies a ton of pressure on-ball, throws checks with intent, and matches feet with highly athletic middies. Lining up to take face-offs when called upon, McKneely is a relentless competitor when the ball is on the ground, and he's got a stick like a magnet. If he stays healthy, expect him to rise in the next edition of the rankings.     With several Division I-caliber defenders in his class at Loyola, Peterson's name might be not get as much attention as some of his peers, but he's a standout in his own right and turned a lot of heads this fall. Providing athleticism, lacrosse IQ, and stick skills, Peterson covers a lot of ground and does a lot of things well while limiting mistakes. A high-energy defensive playmaker, he disrupts dodges, takes the ball away with authority, and makes an impact as a sliding defender. With great instincts and a high motor, Peterson plays the passing lanes well and is a real threat in transition once he crosses the midline. Overall, there's a lot to like about Peterson as a college prospect.     With the Cardinals' program in great shape from a defensive depth perspective, Younger spent last spring gaining experience on JV. Cracking the varsity rotation could be a challenge, but Younger has shown noticeable improvement since the summer and has played with confidence as of late. At roughly 6'2 or 6'3, he brings notable length and uses his long arms and sturdy frame to impose his will at GLE. When called upon to cover the ball above the cage, he's passed the test, though he's more likely to be a close defender at the next level. I particularly like Younger's aggressiveness on-ball, his ability to move opponents off their line, and how effectively he uses his stick in scrums.

Earlier this month, we unveiled Class of 2026 rankings for the state of Maryland, slotting a Top 40 and a 50-player Watchlist. Since then, dozens of the state's top juniors have been written up, with today's piece highlighting seven uncommitted '26s at Loyola and Calvert Hall in Towson.

In case you missed it, catch up on all our content from the rankings release. If you have yet to subscribe, use code 'PREP30' at checkout for 30% off all annual and two-year subscriptions:
Top Uncommitted Public School Talent (1/16)
Fall Verbals Who Flew Under the Radar (1/17)
Uncommitted '26s at St. Mary's and Severn (1/22)
Uncommitted '26s at McDonogh, St. Paul's, John Carroll, and Mt. St. Joe (1/23)