Terp Classic: Promising Class of 2028 Defenders

Taking place at Liberty Sports Park in Upper Marlboro, Md., the annual Terrapin Fall Classic once again served as a marquee event to kick off November and was rich in talent in the '27 and '28 classes. In the first of several recaps coming away from the event, today, we're taking a look at a few of the top sophomore defenders in attendance.    Having caught my eye right from the get-go at late October's IL ID Experience, Bickel seems to have picked up right where he left off. Big, imposing, and noticeably more filled out than his peers at this early stage, so he's a bona fide space-eater and moves exceptionally well for his size. Bickel consistently won the leverage game and pushed dodgers off of their line, plus he's physical when he needs to be without getting himself in trouble. Effective as a help defender, Bickel was man-conscious away from the ball and had several disruptive and well-timed slides to make plays for his team. In addition, he has an excellent command of the clearing game and was a leader in that department. Bickel will only get better playing for a high school program that has a strong tradition of producing college-ready defensemen.     Stacking up impactful plays for a Leading Edge roster full to the brim with talent, Brown was constantly causing disruption while helping his squad to five wins and a tie. Blessed with outstanding instincts and superb stick skills, he put himself in a position to affect passes and shots regularly. He had a clean pick-off that directly led to a goal, among numerous interceptions on the day. Lined up on the wing of a face-off, he laid a crushing blow that drew a big reaction from his sideline. He's an athletic specimen who is just scratching the surface, does his job both on-ball and off-ball, and is the type of defender who would be a fit both below the cage and up top at LSM. As a freshman, Brown put up nine goals, two assists, and 40 groundballs.     The younger brother of former New Balance Senior Game MVP and current Villanova All-American LSM Jake Melchionni, Max shows plenty of big bro's influence in his game, which is quite unfortunate for anyone on Leading Edge's schedule. Simply put, he's a menace all over the field. Fleet of foot and blessed with elite hands, Melchionni made a living out of putting the ball on the ground in spectacular fashion, cleanly corralling the ball off the turf on the first try, and sparking plays off the wing and transition that changed the course of every game. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQh7eSyiYDi">His reel from the weekend was a thing of beauty</a>, and I'd imagine we'll be hearing a lot from Melchionni over the next few years.     Another pole who made a living pick-pocketing offensive players with precise checks, Ramsey plays with a motor that never quits, constantly generating momentum-swinging plays for his team. Armed with a full bag of slick takeaway checks, he showed a knack for catching opponents slipping with a trail and hauling in balls he had no business grabbing. He also did an excellent job anticipating passing lanes to knock balls down. Going forward, it'd be great to see him polish his stick work off the ground to consistently bring in GBs on the first try. Overall, there's a lot to like about what he brings to the table, as he's yet another Loomis pole with big-time ability.     After playing a sizable role within the Churchmen defense as a freshman, Song has been playing with a ton of confidence as of late and looks every bit of someone who will be high up on coaches' boards next fall. He played for both Red Hots National and his Philly-based Brotherly Love squad and was a force throughout the weekend, showcasing his ranginess, flashy checks, and timely playmaking ability. A commanding presence, Song looks to have improved his off-ball play and has stepped up as a voice of the defense. He uses his stick impeccably well and loves to throw it around to make things happen. Song made one of the most impressive plays I saw all weekend, executing a gorgeous over-the-head check to give his Brotherly Love team the ball back down a goal in the waning seconds. Although they weren't able to hold onto it and tie things up, the play spoke volumes about how much of a threat he is all over the field.

Taking place at Liberty Sports Park in Upper Marlboro, Md., the annual Terrapin Fall Classic once again served as a marquee event to kick off November and was rich in talent in the '27 and '28 classes. In the first of several recaps coming away from the event, today, we're taking a look at a few of the top sophomore defenders in attendance.