Top Uncommitted 2027 Poles From Terp Classic and NAL

A handful of 2027 defenders made strong cases for themselves at the Terrapin Classic and NAL Fall High School Invitational. Here's a closer look at 10 poles who stood out with their athleticism, aggression, team defense, and playmaking in transition.    The uncommitted pole is athletic and aggressive enough to run LSM, and strong and smart enough to play close. Hansen is a versatile defender you need to see if you're still looking to round out your poles. His IQ shows in team defense—he takes good angles on slides, jumps passing lanes, and closes out with fundamental approaches. His athleticism and aggressive style show up all over the field. Hansen lands takeaway checks in the middle of the field, on slides, and in 1v1 matchups. He's dependable in transition, scoops a ton of groundballs, and is comfortable handling the ball under pressure. Hansen's versatility alone makes him a valuable pickup, and his ceiling is only getting higher.     Williams has a really high ceiling for the next level. In the spring, he doesn't see elite competition, but when he suited up for Sweetlax Upstate at NAL, he proved he can hang with top teams. He was an athlete everywhere on the field. When he slid, he killed shot opportunities that looked like sure goals. His length and athleticism let him land over-the-head or trail checks that kill possessions. On groundballs, he got there quickly and jump-started transition. In the open field, he's a natural who can move, spin out of pressure, and avoid checks without putting himself in a bad spot.     Nathan Komoroski is a natural LSM that has the instincts and athleticism you want at that spot. On the ball, he creates a ton of takeaways—he's aggressive with his checks but still has the footwork to stay in front of dodgers. He's not a pole you want to “bury,” either, because he reads feeders well and jumps passing lanes to steal skips, and he slides with aggression. In groundball scrums, he usually comes out with it and can toe-drag or spin to open space. In transition, he plays fast, draws well, and uses both hands comfortably. Komoroski checks every box you look for in an LSM.     The aggressive pole from Anne Arundel County is a must-see if you want to play fast, as French does real damage between the lines. He's smart about when to lock in and play defense and when to crank up the pressure and hunt takeaways. In one-on-one situations, he has a fundamental, low, and loaded stance and the fast feet to run with the quicker dodgers. Outside the box, he plays with an edge and is good for at least one takeaway a game. In the open field, he handles the pole comfortably—able to toe-drag past checks and goose loose balls out of traffic.     Brathwaite will be a great addition to a college defense because of his stature alone. He's a lefty, 6'3”, and strong. As a lefty, he creates a different type of pressure that dodgers aren't always used to. Righties have to deal with constant slaps going topside, and against lefties—or when righties roll back under—he's got a strong V-hold and pokes to make up ground. His length makes life tough for offenses, knocking down or picking off passes to kill possessions. It also shows up in his ground ball game—he's a first-time ground ball getter and calm with the ball in the clearing game.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quick Hitters</h2>   –[player_tooltip player_id='125360' first='Luke' last='Donnellan'] (Mad Dog National / Deerfield) used his length really well in one-on-one matchups at NAL, constantly on his matchup's hands with hard slaps. In the middle of the field, he handled the ball cleanly and made smart decisions on the clear.   –[player_tooltip player_id='143683' first='Drew' last='Rothman'] (Mad Dog National / Seton Hall Prep) played fast and physical all weekend. He bodied up in his matchups, slid with purpose, and created turnovers. In transition, he handled the ball comfortably and buried one.   –[player_tooltip player_id='143590' first='John' last='Everett'] (Team 91 Colorado / Valor Christian) looked like one of the best athletes on the field. He played fast and physical, and he was fundamentally sound both on the ball and in team defense.   –[player_tooltip player_id='165450' first='Bishop' last='Burman'] (Evolve / Hill Academy) was an obvious standout at the Terp Classic. His slide timing and angles were on point, and he caused havoc all over the middle of the field and in transition.   –[player_tooltip player_id='143689' first='Aidan' last='Collins'] (Next Level / Avon Old Farms) looked like a bully at the Terp Classic. He was physical in one-on-one matchups and wasn't shy about sliding to put guys on the turf when they tried to get the middle of the field.

A handful of 2027 defenders made strong cases for themselves at the Terrapin Classic and NAL Fall High School Invitational. Here's a closer look at 10 poles who stood out with their athleticism, aggression, team defense, and playmaking in transition.