Names You Don’t Know (Yet): Maryland’s 2027 & 2028 Breakouts

The Freestate Showcase, facilitated by the Maryland State Lacrosse Coaches Association, aims to highlight promising talent from across the state. It is particularly ideal for locating hidden gems, especially among Maryland's public school athletes. Year after year, it acts as a springboard for lesser-known prospects who haven't yet caught the national eye. Reflecting on the 2023 edition, it was brimming with uncommitted rising juniors and sophomores who went on to gain significant recognition. This group included future Division I recruits like Brody Reese (Maryland), [player_tooltip player_id='82308' first='Wyatt' last='Shaw'] (Harvard), Joey Matassa (Bucknell), Dylan Sander (Mount St. Mary's), and [player_tooltip player_id='37190' first='William' last='Mazcko'] (Utah). UMBC found several stars from that cohort, such as TJ Harne, Jayden Sharper, and Drew LaPointe. This pattern persisted in 2025, showcasing a fresh batch of 2027s and 2028s who might not yet be widely known but demonstrated their potential to leave an impression. Here's an insight into some of the standout young talents who captured attention this year:    Barro is a player who immediately stands out thanks to his athleticism and his 6'2" frame. He logged meaningful minutes at LSM for Bullis this spring—a notable feat considering he was second on the depth chart behind Ryder Hanin, an Ohio State commit. Barro checks every box you look for in an LSM: he's tall, athletic, aggressive, scoops up ground balls, and can handle the ball in transition. What really separates him, though, is his communication and awareness within the defensive unit. He consistently navigates slide packages and two-man games with poise beyond his years. He's particularly effective at stealing space from the offense, using his length and quickness to cover two players on the backside during defensive recoveries. Simply put, Barro is a high-upside defender who already plays with the polish of a future Division I contributor.     [player_tooltip player_id='141709' first='Alec' last='Pelura'] is the ideal LSM for teams that want to push the pace and create offense in transition—he's an offensive weapon with a pole. From the start, he stood out as the kind of player who constantly called for the ball and subbed off reluctantly for an offensive midfielder. He's especially skilled at navigating through traffic with the ball in his stick—a must-have trait for any LSM looking to stretch the field. Pelura knows how to make plays that lead to offense. He does whatever it takes to flip the field and create opportunities on the other end. Defensively, he brings real bite to his game with some nasty takeaway checks, and he's one of those poles who makes scooping ground balls look effortless. Pelura combines confidence, skill, and flair in a way that makes him a serious transition threat and a nightmare for opposing middies.     Wayne Brycen Wilson is a dynamic attackman who thrives with the ball in his stick. He brings high-level speed that allows him to attack defenders head-on, make the first move, and force them to play on their heels. He loves operating from X, using his quickness and sudden changes of direction to keep defenders guessing. When he isolates on the island, his rocker move is deadly—it creates just enough space to break ankles and get a shot off.   Wilson's shooting form also sets him apart. He hides the ball well with a deep extension behind his body, making his release tough to read, and he pairs that deception with serious heat. He's an elite ball handler who plays with confidence and flair. If Wilson continues to develop his off-ball movement and playmaking, his ceiling only gets higher. He's already a nightmare in one-on-one situations—and he's just getting started.     Nolan Behler was the top faceoff specialist at the Freestate Showcase, and it wasn't particularly close. His biggest asset is his lightning-fast hands and wrist speed at the clamp made it nearly impossible for opposing FOGOs to counter or even react. He consistently won the clamp clean and popped it out to space, giving his team instant possession. Even when he lost the initial clamp, Behler displayed a variety of savvy counters that helped him fight back and still come away with the ball.   While he isn't the biggest faceoff guy, Behler makes up for it with quickness and grit. He's fast off the whistle, aggressive to the ground ball, and rarely gives up on a 50/50. Beyond the X, he's no liability either—he has the speed to push transition and can beat the initial point man, forcing defenses to slide or respect him as a scoring threat. Behler's quick hands, gritty ground ball work, and ability to spark transition make him a complete faceoff specialist with clear next-level potential.     Napolitano was one of the top 2028s to stand out at the Freestate Showcase—and he didn't need size to make a big impression. What he lacks in stature, he more than makes up for with quickness, elusiveness, and savvy. He's slippery in space and thrives dodging from the top of the box, using either hand to get to the middle of the field and create offense.   His smaller frame actually works to his advantage—he's hard to square up, and defenders struggle to get a clean push on him without risking a foul. His first step is explosive, and once he gets moving, he's tough to contain. He changes direction with ease, and his ability to find space in tight windows makes him a constant threat. Napolitano may not pass the eye test at first glance, but once the whistle blows, he's the type of player that makes defenses uncomfortable and can quietly takes over a game.

The Freestate Showcase, facilitated by the Maryland State Lacrosse Coaches Association, aims to highlight promising talent from across the state. It is particularly ideal for locating hidden gems, especially among Maryland's public school athletes. Year after year, it acts as a springboard for lesser-known prospects who haven't yet caught the national eye. Reflecting on the 2023 edition, it was brimming with uncommitted rising juniors and sophomores who went on to gain significant recognition. This group included future Division I recruits like Brody Reese (Maryland), Wyatt Shaw Wyatt Shaw 6'1" | 170 lbs | D/LSM | Right Hand Broadneck | 2026 State MD (Harvard), Joey Matassa (Bucknell), Dylan Sander (Mount St. Mary's), and William Mazcko William Mazcko 6'3" | 180 lbs | LSM/D | Right Hand Severna Park | 2026 MD (Utah). UMBC found several stars from that cohort, such as TJ Harne, Jayden Sharper, and Drew LaPointe. This pattern persisted in 2025, showcasing a fresh batch of 2027s and 2028s who might not yet be widely known but demonstrated their potential to leave an impression. Here's an insight into some of the standout young talents who captured attention this year: