True 12 Showcase Day 2: The 2027s

The Nation's Premier Faceoff evaluation series & competition wrapped up Day 2 with the 2027 class battling in Conshohocken's Proving Grounds on July 31st, 2025. The True 12 Showcase is an event focused on a target audience of face-off specialists in the rising junior & rising sophomore lacrosse classes. The focus centers around face-off expertise; it is designed to provide top-tier training & specialized evaluation opportunities in front of college coaches.   Specifically, it aims to give players a platform to showcase their face-off skills before the September 1st recruiting period, when college coaches can begin contacting high school players. In terms of exposure, the showcase provides a crucial opportunity for players to be seen by college coaches from various divisions (I, II, & III). The Inaugural True 12 Showcase event is hosted by a conglomerate organization known as the National Faceoff Alliance. This includes Philly Faceoff League (host), Inner Circle Lacrosse, Faceoff Factory, Ovrpwr Sports, Michigan Face-Off Specialists, & the Long Island Faceoff Company.   It is a one-day format designed to bring together the top faceoff midfielders in the 2027 & 2028 classes from across the country for high-level competition & in-depth evaluation. We all know how difficult it's become to properly evaluate the faceoff position during a typical summer showcase or club tournament. Too often, you'll see a potential recruit take only a handful of reps— and you'll walk away unsure of their true ability. The True 12 Showcase aims to change that. The goal is to give you a clear, data-backed picture of each athlete's skillset—not just at the stripe, but as a complete lacrosse player. Here's what you can expect:   - Pre-event strength metrics: All athletes submitted videos of key lifts (e.g., bench press @ 135 to failure, squat @185 to failure) to assess baseline strength.   - TTS Testing: On-site laser timing systems will clock each player's “Time to Score”—how fast they can win a faceoff forward & get the ball to the restraining box.   - Comprehensive evaluation: With reps, drills, and full-field scenarios, you'll get a complete view of each athlete's impact on the game.   🏭   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/z1ZsWsBCYoc </div></figure>   🔁   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkUTFpCDOwU </div></figure>   ⚙️   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oem592ZJDkU </div></figure>   🏆   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVxTnEwxMac </div></figure>    Tommy Massaro scored 45 goals, won 78% of his draws & received All-County (Suffolk, NY) for Mount Sinai as a sophomore in 2025. Tommy is a complete player who is an offensive weapon. He is strong off the ground & scrappy after a clamp loss. Massaro has lightning-fast reflexes with a refuse-to-lose type of mindset. He is the type of kid you can never count out of the battle. Tommy has a nose for the direction the ball is going to bounce. He was one of the most dominant players in attendance. Massaro looks to be a potential blue-chip prospect working with the Long Island Faceoff Company. Tommy was #3 in the 40 Yard Dash with a 4.81 time. Massaro was named MVP of the True 12 Showcase with a 41/45 metric score based on all of the coaches' input.     [player_tooltip player_id='123039' first='TJ' last='McDermott'] went 179/294 (61%) this past season on Varsity against arguably the toughest schedule in the country, challenged by 22 players committed to play Lacrosse in the NCAA; 17 of which were Division 1 program players. TJ is a warrior who can go up against anybody, anytime, anywhere. He is the epitome of a player who does the right thing when no one is watching. McDermott is somebody that everybody should be watching & waiting for! He gives maximum effort on every rep & was a guy that increased the competition around him at the event. TJ has the potential to be a difference-maker for years to come. McDermott scored a 40/45 on the coaches' input metric while also finishing #1 on the Bench Press with 27 reps. What he did for the Friars last season was unbelievable, all things considered.     Coby Cantor posted a 61.25% winning rate (166/271) with 81 ground balls, & 3 points on the season for St. John's Cadets in Washington, D.C. Coby started Varsity as a sophomore in 2025 & showed the same consistency at the True 12 showcase, earning a 32/45 on the coaches' evaluation metric. He is a technician at the stripe, relying on quick hands, clean exits, & smart reads rather than brute force. What separated him in Conshohocken was his ability to stay calm under pressure & tilt the field with possession play. Cantor has room to grow with sharp counters, quality decision making, & overall game IQ. He looks like a player who will keep climbing the national radar with his combination of discipline, poise, & precision.     Grady Pool turned heads this past Spring (2025) with an 82% winning rate at the X for the Elks in Ohio! At the True 12 Showcase, Grady proved why he's regarded as one of the best with the ball in his stick. He isn't tied to one style of facing off—he'll clamp, shovel, or rake, whatever it takes to secure possession. That selfless, no-ego approach stood out in Conshohocken and earned Pool a 38.5/45 score from the coaches as one of the players with the most potential to rise. He backed it up in testing, tying for #3 on the Bench Press with 22 reps & clocking a 4.90 in the 40-yard dash, good for #4 overall. Pool left the event showing he's more than just a stat-winner—he's a competitor built to adapt & succeed.     Matthew Tees plays with an old-school, Maryland blue-blood swagger. A member of McDonough's varsity squad this past spring, Tees is poised to grow into the Eagles' primary draw-taker in the years ahead. At the True 12 Showcase, he impressed with a 38/45 score on the coaches' evaluation metric while flashing elite testing numbers. Tees opened the day by winning the 40-yard dash at 4.65 seconds & finished #2 on the bench press with 26 reps, showcasing both speed & power. For a player relatively new to the faceoff position, his ceiling is enormous! Tees looks like one of the breakout names to track in the 2027 class.     Chris Perricelli turned in a strong sophomore season for OPC, winning 54% of his draws (223/416) while adding 3 goals & an assist. A fiery competitor who never backs down, Perricelli showed at the True 12 Showcase that he's both disciplined & ambitious! He is willing to test himself and refine new techniques. That persistence is what separates him, and it's the same drive that will make him a young leader for the Quakers as they battle through the Inter-Ac, one of the toughest leagues in the country.     Finn Frederick earned Team MVP honors for St. Mark's (Massachusetts) in 2025 after a dominant season at the X. Finn went 65% (211/325) while collecting Honorable Mention All-ISL & All-NEPSAC recognition. He also took the second-most draws in the ISL & finished with the second-most wins, proving himself against elite competition week in and week out. Frederick is burly in build yet swift in his movements, a rare blend that makes him tough to scout & tougher to stop. He scored a 30/45 on the coaches' evaluation metric at the True 12 Showcase, & he looks every bit like a dark horse capable of holding his own against any opponent.     Nolan Reilly earned 1st Team All-League (Suburban One – American) honors in 2025 as the solo faceoff specialist for Wissahickon. Nolan carried that momentum into the True 12 Showcase, where he showed resilience & toughness against top national competition. Reilly is fearless at the stripe, using his balance & sturdy frame to outmuscle opponents & create possession opportunities. His game is still raw, but the upside is clear—he flourished in Conshohocken & proved he can compete with the best. Reilly has the potential to make a splash & continue the tradition of Trojans who advance to the next level.     Alex Spangler registered 286 faceoff wins with a 67% success rate this past season, adding 164 ground balls as a sophomore. Alex earned All-League honors in 2025 and carried that momentum into the True 12 Showcase. Spangler showed his strength by finishing #3 on the barbell squat with 33 reps & earned a 38/45 on the coaches' evaluation metric. He brought a high motor & positive mindset throughout the day, competing to win but also elevating the energy around him. Alex is a Michigan Man through & through, & he battles until the final whistle. Spangler has the toughness & work ethic to break through at the NCAA level.     [player_tooltip player_id='143407' first='Rocco' last='Davis'] is a big-bodied athlete with the tools to dominate field lacrosse. Rocco is a savvy draw-taker who explodes off the whistle & uses excellent body control to secure possession. Once he has the ball in his stick, his protection makes him almost impossible to strip. Davis flashed elite strength at the True 12 Showcase, finishing #2 on the barbell squat with 36 reps & tying for #3 on the bench press with 22 reps. He earned a 38/45 on the coaches' evaluation metric as part of a deep and talented Philly coalition. Rocco drew consistent praise for his coachability, strength, & game speed. Davis has the size, skill, and mindset to play a major role in guiding the Explorers back to greatness.     Joe DiVella is a hard-working faceoff midfielder who competes with legendary intensity. Joe is a Wantagh Warrior & brought the energy to the True 12 event, showing solid technique & a competitive mindset. He was disciplined in reps & drills, demonstrating a reliable presence on the field & the ability to hold his own against top-tier competition. DiVella may not yet have the flashiest stats, but he is a steady, coachable player who will continue to develop into a dependable force at the X. Joe is the kind of competitor who quietly elevates everyone around him. DiVella has a steady presence whose growth trajectory makes him one to watch.     Finley Bare is one of the most well-built faceoff athletes in the 2027 class. Finley can stay on the field after the draw, shoot with power, & push transition as a true offensive threat. He's considered by some Division I players to be the prototype of what the True 12 Showcase is designed to highlight: a specialist who can win faceoffs, contribute offensively, & hold his own defensively. Bare tied for #5 in the 40-yard dash with a 4.93 time and scored a 36/45 on the coaches' evaluation metric. He is cool, calm, & collected on the dot, giving his coaches confidence that he can deliver under pressure. Bare embodies the modern mold of the complete faceoff midfielder, a player built to impact the game in every phase.     Nate Cooke is a rising faceoff midfielder from Long Island & a St. Anthony's product who showed impressive promise at the True 12 Showcase. Nate is coming off JV experience but is poised to become the Friars' starter down the line. He uses club competition with the Long Island Express to sharpen his technique & timing. Cooke is patient, methodical, & quick off the whistle, with the kind of composure that allows him to compete against more experienced opponents. Nate's performance earned him recognition for his potential to make an immediate impact at the high school & club levels. He is a high-upside player ready to make the jump to varsity dominance.     Tripp Murphy showed off impressive raw strength & athleticism at the True 12 Showcase. Tripp scored 35/45 on the coaches' evaluation metric & dominated the strength testing, finishing #1 on the barbell squat with 40 reps. He uses his size & power effectively at the faceoff X & demonstrates the ability to compete against top-tier talent. Murphy showed his effectiveness in game action, going 4/5 in a commanding Episcopal Academy victory over Shady Side Academy on March 25, 2025. He is a player who combines physical tools with competitive focus, giving him the foundation to make an impact as he continues to develop. He is a powerhouse in the making with the tools to impose himself at the next level.     Ben Labroli impressed at the True 12 Showcase, scoring 37/45 on the coaches' evaluation metric. Ben tied for #4 on the barbell squat with 30 reps, tied for #3 on the bench press with 22 reps, & tied for #5 overall in the 40-yard dash at 4.93 seconds, showing a rare combination of strength, speed, & athleticism. Labroli uses his physical tools effectively at the faceoff X, maintaining focus & intensity through every rep & drill. His combination of strength, athleticism, & consistency makes him one of the steadiest & most reliable draw men in the class.     Luca Joseph is a two-time State Champion from Salesianum in Delaware! Luca exhibited his versatility & competitiveness at the True 12 Showcase, earning a 34/45 on the coaches' evaluation metric. He is comfortable handling the ball & isn't afraid to take it upfield himself. Joseph uses a strong pinch-&-pop move to spark the transition game or score. He brings strength from wrestling to maintain a solid base on the draw, outmuscling opponents in tie-ups & counters. While Luca may not always win the clamp cleanly, he scraps, adjusts, & executes with efficiency, making him a relentless competitor. In live play, he demonstrated his impact against Malvern off the whistle for a goal & then again chasing down his match-up with a trail check to prevent a clean look at the goal. Joseph thrives against top-level competition & exemplifies the kind of poise & skill that makes a draw specialist a game-changer. Luca is proving he's more than just a specialist- he's growing into a complete lacrosse player.

The Nation's Premier Faceoff evaluation series & competition wrapped up Day 2 with the 2027 class battling in Conshohocken's Proving Grounds on July 31st, 2025. The True 12 Showcase is an event focused on a target audience of face-off specialists in the rising junior & rising sophomore lacrosse classes. The focus centers around face-off expertise; it is designed to provide top-tier training & specialized evaluation opportunities in front of college coaches.