Late Season Big Board: Class of 2025 Midfielders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Viewed as the deepest positional group among the '25s, this class is absolutely loaded at the midfield. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the season winding down and final rankings set to be released in the coming weeks, here's a look at our Top 30 midfielders in the Class of 2025 to close out the series. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong><a href="https://preplacrosse.com/subscribe/">For 30% off annual subscriptions, use code ‘PREP30' at checkout!</a></strong></em><br><br><strong>1. [player_tooltip player_id='14547' first='Anthony' last='Raio'] | Half Hollow Hills (N.Y.) | North Carolina</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["14547"],"_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-682f9c3b3cc7b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Raio recently broke Suffolk County's all-time goals record (254), which is flat-out ridiculous considering he's been a midfielder for the bulk of his five-year career. He's up to 65 goals and 55 assists for the year, having led Long Island with 75 goals and 119 points a year ago. An outstanding athlete with elite hands, Raio has tremendous range and possesses an array of moves to get his hands free. A smooth operator with the ball in his stick, Raio essentially uncoverable during the spring, as he was in the fall, during which he broke records as a wide receiver. He's also in contention for a spot on the U.S. U-20 team that will head to South Korea in August, along with three other Tar Heels. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. [player_tooltip player_id='14540' first='Gary' last='Merrill'] | St. Anthony's (N.Y.) | North Carolina</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["14540"],"_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-682f9c3b3cd09"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Merrill undoubtedly leveled up as a senior, having posted a modest 19-goal, 12-assist stat line as a junior, then exploding for 40 goals to go with 16 helpers as a senior for the conference champions. Another highly athletic party-starter out of the midfield, Merrill answered the bell time and time again against the Friars' daunting non-conference schedule, blowing by defenders at will on the way to the net. The trajectory of his college career will be intriguing to follow, as he'll be spending the fall with North Carolina's football program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. [player_tooltip player_id='14522' first='Anthony' last='Drago'] | West Essex (N.J.) | Duke</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["14522"],"_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-682f9c3b3cd78"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A fiery and hard-nosed offensive weapon with experience playing both spots, Drago has over 350 career points to his name, racking up 56 goals and 31 assists so far as a senior. He's an outstanding athlete who is at home on the wings and has shown a ton of grit creating offense. Drago makes a living getting to his spots and shoots it with exceptional velocity with either hand. In addition, he plays with an ever-present edge and a high compete level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. [player_tooltip player_id='14515' first='Luke' last='Bair'] | St. Paul's (Md.) | North Carolina</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["14515"],"_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-682f9c3b3cde1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Highlighted in-depth earlier this spring while being touted as one of the nation's best pure goal-scorers, Bair had another ridiculous year for the Crusaders, posting 50-plus goals once again. Shut off by several opponents, he's been on SP's attack but ran out of the box in May. Even when face-guarded, he was routinely able to shake free and create offense, unleashing his patented outside shot. Bair is another super talented athlete who can run through defenders or run around them, and he's proven to be rather difficult for opposing defenses to limit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. [player_tooltip player_id='14525' first='Bogue' last='Hahn'] | McDonogh (Md.) | Syracuse</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["14525"],"_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-682f9c3b3ce73"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A four-year varsity contributor and three-time MIAA champion, Hahn racked up 37 goals and 16 assists. The left-hander is as two-handed and intelligent as they come, possessing one of the best lacrosse IQ's in recent memory along with the ability to boost the play of his teammates with his decision-making. While his athleticism isn't known to be one of his strengths, he'll make one move and get by his man before putting the ball in the back of the net. He's a traditional North-South dodger who does a lot of things exceptionally well and knows how to play without the ball to increase his scoring chances. Although Syracuse returns a lot of firepower, it will be hard to keep Hahn off the field early in his career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='14517' first='Jake' last='Bickel'] | Malvern Prep (Pa.) | Georgetown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='14558' first='Sawyer' last='English'] | Lawrenceville (N.J. | Brown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='14550' first='Will' last='Tantillo'] | Malvern Prep (Pa.) | Duke</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='14565' first='Owen' last='Crann'] | Middlesex (Mass.) | Virginia&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='14560' first='Ollie' last='Nolting'] | Cherry Creek (Colo.) | Johns Hopkins</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='14551' first='Grady' last='Taylor'] | Holderness (N.H.) | Cornell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='14546' first='Johnny' last='Price'] | Roxbury Latin (Mass.) | Georgetown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='14514' first='Chris' last='Alexis'] | Salisbury (Conn.) | Maryland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14. [player_tooltip player_id='14542' first='Brendan' last='Mullahy'] | Taft (Conn.) | Notre Dame</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15. [player_tooltip player_id='61259' first='Luke' last='Danna'] | Orchard Park (N.Y.) | Penn State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16. [player_tooltip player_id='14561' first='Lindan' last='Verville'] | Belmont Hill (Mass.) | Virginia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17. [player_tooltip player_id='16464' first='Gavin' last='Lynch'] | Chaminade (N.Y.) | Notre Dame</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18. [player_tooltip player_id='19765' first='Logan' last='Turley'] | Malvern Prep (Pa.) | Harvard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19. [player_tooltip player_id='14537' first='Tyler' last='McDermott'] | Rye (N.Y.) | Princeton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>20. [player_tooltip player_id='23545' first='Jake' last='Struck'] | Olentangy Liberty (Ohio) | Ohio State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>21. [player_tooltip player_id='14555' first='Miguel' last='Iglesias'] | Somers (N.Y.) | Notre Dame</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>22. [player_tooltip player_id='20833' first='Ted' last='Rawson'] | Lawrenceville (N.J.) | Syracuse</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>23. [player_tooltip player_id='14536' first='Wes' last='Martin'] | St. Anne's Belfield (Va.) | Virginia&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>24. [player_tooltip player_id='28694' first='Jayden' last='Kittelberger'] | Salisbury (Conn.) | Syracuse</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>25. [player_tooltip player_id='61253' first='Luca' last='Pompeii'] | Salesianum (Del.) | Maryland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>26. [player_tooltip player_id='14585' first='Parker' last='Reynolds'] | Salisbury (Conn.) | Princeton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>27. [player_tooltip player_id='20006' first='Eli' last='Schaller'] | McDonogh (Md.) | Maryland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>28. [player_tooltip player_id='14539' first='Owen' last='Mears'] | Malvern Prep (Pa.) | Duke</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>29. [player_tooltip player_id='14601' first='Asher' last='Ziv'] | Pingry (N.J.), Taft (Conn.) PG | Yale</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>30. [player_tooltip player_id='16465' first='Jake' last='Meyer'] | Wesleyan (Ga.) | Syracuse</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->