The Nilly Draft Invitational: 2027's Who Impressed

The inaugural Nilly Draft Invitational took place early last week in Downingtown (Pa.), hosting hundreds of prospects in the 2026, 2027, and 2028 classes in what turned out to be one of the more unique recruiting events in recent memory. In a new wrinkle to the tournament landscape, players competed to split a hefty cash prize - putting the 'NIL' in 'Nilly' - upon completion of community service. I spent both days at the event, and though I headed north mainly to watch the top committed '26s, I came away with several impressions on '27s, both 'new' names and established rising juniors alike.   Keep in mind that due to the size of the event and the way things were scheduled, it was impossible to watch all 16 Class of 2027 teams, so coverage is particularly heavy on the top squads in attendance. While it would have been easy to write up each team captain for which the teams were named, I instead focused on some of the other '27s since so many captains have been highlighted on Prep Lacrosse in depth since the fall.    Having been relatively unfamiliar with his game coming into the event, Cunningham is a big, physical defender who looked the part and popped for me right away. He constantly puts opposing offensive players in uncomfortable situations, applying pressure between the lines to force passers into turnovers, deflecting passes and shots, and putting guys on the turf, doing the latter on multiple occasions. He caused a ton of turnovers throughout the event (and did so just seconds into the semifinal), and though there were times he needed to be reined in, the type of physicality Cunningham provided was something that you could live with. At one point after being flagged, he came flying out of the box and applied another huge hit right away. Possessing a great stick and offensive instincts, his game stands out compared to the rest of the 2027 defensemen I've seen from a size and physicality standpoint.     Like his teammate Cunningham, Kaye comes from a blue-collar town outside of Rochester and plays with the kind of sheer strength and brute force that we've all come to expect from upstate New York defenders. As a sophomore, he racked up an impressive total of 54 caused turnovers (leading all of Section 5) along with 78 groundballs, earning First Team All-League recognition. At Nilly, it was easy to see why. He was strong in 1v1 coverage and showed off his well-rounded game, forcing dodgers into crease violations with his position play and sound footwork, while also putting guys on the ground clean. He was disciplined with his close-outs and approaches, and based on what I saw, never left anything to be desired in terms of his off-ball play.     Nixon had an outstanding first half for Team Perriello against Team Hays, registering two goals and an assist while making it look pretty along the way. The left-handed scorer was listed as a midfielder (where he'll likely play in college), but he's a natural attackman, showing off an outstanding first step and a confident dodging style. He had a terrific look to a cutting teammate on his one assist, and scored both through traffic and on a sudden rollback before uncorking a beautiful low-to-high offering. I was struck at how well Nixon protects his stick and how well he changes direction and attacks his matchup. While it wasn't an area of his game that was on display in that particular game, he's got plenty of range and shoots an accurate ball from distance, too. Nixon will be a great piece for new AOF coach Taylor Pirie to work with.     Kammer was undoubtedly the top goalie at the event, continuing a stellar few months. A strong and steady ball-stopper with a knack for stonewalling shooters from point-blank range, Kammer is unflappable and incredibly well-rounded. On top of putting up saves in bunches, he tosses precise outlets with poise and is dialed in out of the crease in every sense. In between the pipes, he's super disciplined with his footwork and technique, and is blessed with an explosive top hand. It didn't matter the release point or shot location, Kammer was all over just about everything and seemed to only let in goals when it was a near-perfect shot or due to a defensive breakdown. If I had to guess, Shore 2 Shore's coaches will be fielding a ton of calls for both of the team's goalies, Kammer and Port Washington's Max Eynon.     The way Kilbourne moves is just flat-out different — even on days like last week, when it was hotter than Hades and he kept stacking plays. On tape, it almost looks like he's in fast forward while everyone else is in slow motion, and in person, it's as if he's floating. Beyond his athleticism, Kilbourne's skills are off the charts. A byproduct of his hockey background, his hands and wrists are among the best I've seen in the class. When initiating his dodges from up top, he'll pump and go, freezing defenses on a regular basis. At Nilly, he buried a downright nasty twister that looked almost effortless. He's the type of midfielder who draws slides every time and is a stud on both ends, too, turning huge groundballs into goals on numerous occasions.     Donning his shiny new Calvert Hall helmet the last few months after deciding to transfer from Mt. St. Joe, Scott has been on a tear all summer and closed out the circuit with an excellent campaign at Nilly. Tough and explosive, the lefty is wildly talented with the ball in his stick and can make things happen from a variety of spots within the offensive zone while doing so in different ways. He shoots an excellent ball from mid-range and consistently scores off the catch, even with defenders closing out on his hands. Scott is assertive as a dodger with a knack for getting to his spots, and can fill up a stat sheet quickly. I'll be curious to keep an eye on his development going forward, as MIAA transfer rules will only allow him to play in non-league games this year, so practice will be that much more pivotal for his growth as a player.     Colsey has been written about on this site quite a bit, and for good reason. When he plays within himself, he's incredibly difficult to stop, and that's something he did exceptionally well at Nilly. Racking up a ton of points throughout the event, he posted a hat trick in the semifinals, making a habit out of getting up the hash or burying shots from the wing. Colsey's stick skills are a thing of beauty, which comes as no surprise considering his lineage. The more I watch him, the more I'm blown away by his shot placement and ability to consistently change levels. In particular, he shoots low-to-low at an advanced level. Colsey's work in the riding game is also a hallmark of his game. With family ties to three out of the five ACC schools, his recruitment will be rather intriguing to follow.

The inaugural Nilly Draft Invitational took place early last week in Downingtown (Pa.), hosting hundreds of prospects in the 2026, 2027, and 2028 classes in what turned out to be one of the more unique recruiting events in recent memory. In a new wrinkle to the tournament landscape, players competed to split a hefty cash prize - putting the 'NIL' in 'Nilly' - upon completion of community service.

I spent both days at the event, and though I headed north mainly to watch the top committed '26s, I came away with several impressions on '27s, both 'new' names and established rising juniors alike.