Alliance Fall Invitational: CO Kings 2027 and 2028 Standouts

The Colorado Kings put together an impressive weekend at the Alliance Lacrosse League Fall Invitational at DE Turf, continuing to raise the profile of Colorado lacrosse. Here are six players who stood out:    One of the best moments of the ALL weekend came when the Kings stunned Sweetlax Upstate in overtime. [player_tooltip player_id='170680' first='Sean' last='Kilkenny'] was the spark behind the comeback, scoring three of the five goals during the run—including the game-winner. He buried the OT winner on a smooth inside roll, and the other two came off feeds from [player_tooltip player_id='129632' first='Wyatt' last='Branish'].   Kilkenny has a ton of tools that make him an elite prospect: his cutting, hands, and finishing all jump off the page. Off ball, he's constantly finding the back of his defender's helmet and slipping into soft spots—especially sneaking the pipes. He catches everything thrown his way and finishes with impressive deception. His eyes and posture lie to goalies while his stick tells the truth with goals. Kilkenny showed this weekend that he's a big time player who shows up in big time moments.     The uncommitted, gritty short-stick d-middie [player_tooltip player_id='170684' first='AJ' last='Grund'] is the type of player you always want on your side. He sets the tone physically, wins ground ball battles, and never backs down from a matchup. You want your SSDM flying into scrums without hesitation and willing to take a hit—Grund does exactly that. His motor never shuts off. Give him the ball in the clear and he'll run through pesky attackmen; hand him a faceoff stick and he'll still find a way to make a play. In one-on-one matchups, he stays on dodgers' hips, throws hard cross-checks, and holds his own in team defense. Grund plays with an edge, and that edge translates at every level.     The uncommitted midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='170682' first='Patrick' last='Easterly'] is a 6'3” downhill problem—he's got a nasty split dodge, real power, and can let it fly with either hand. All of that makes him a tough cover. Most defenses try to pressure him early, but even then, he finds ways to come out on top. If you take a bad angle and do not get physical with him on a slide, he'll run right through it with his size and speed, or get a shot off before they even arrive. If you slide with discipline, he's still composed enough to move the ball under pressure to keep the ball moving.     Already looking the part of a top goal scorer in the 2028 class, Fuhs has a ton of ways to beat you. He does most of his damage working from behind the net, but he's dangerous no matter where he touches the ball. At X, his change of direction jumps off the page, and he's excellent running up the hashes to get to his spots. Both on the run and with his feet set, he uses a variety of release angles that make goalies guess wrong. Add in the fact that he can <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRIGTR1gIi4/">finish with his left just as confidently</a>, and you're forced to send help early. Fuhs is absolutely a name to circle in the 2028 class.     Lindenschmidt showed off a deep bag of tricks at ALL. He's a tough cover because he can dodge, finish, and hammer step-downs. The lefty does damage no matter which way you force him. Give him the middle and he'll extend his arms and put real velocity behind his on-the-run shot. Push him down the alley and he'll lean on his signature S-dodge to get to a good spot. His hesitations and change-of-direction moves make him even harder to guard. He scored both of the Kings' goals against Texas Nationals on step-downs, catching it “loaded” and getting it out in a snap. Lindenschmidt's ability to hurt defenses in multiple ways makes him one of the more dangerous lefties in the Kings' offense.     The two-way threat [player_tooltip player_id='166038' first='Chase' last='Rider'] made plays all over the field at ALL. He's an athlete and a fluid mover, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRFb3xdAFVl/?hl=en">he scored at least two spinning goals over the weekend</a>—showing his feel for avoiding checks and freeing his hands. He's also excellent at catching and shooting in one motion, no matter the angle of the pass. He's not a selfish player, either. Rider draws slides, moves the ball in transition, and sets up teammates for clean looks. On the defensive end, his athleticism lets him shadow dodgers, and he's added a nasty chicken-wing check that caused multiple turnovers. Rider's versatility and playmaking on both sides make him a name worth circling for college coaches.

The Colorado Kings put together an impressive weekend at the Alliance Lacrosse League Fall Invitational at DE Turf, continuing to raise the profile of Colorado lacrosse. Here are six players who stood out: