IMLCA Players Summit: Dynamic 2028 Defenders

As we continue to wrap up our coverage from the IMLCA Players Summit—with one more offensive piece coming later this week—today's focus shifts to the defenders who stood out in Florida. These weren't just cover guys. They're playmakers who end possessions, win battles between the lines, and turn defense into transition offense.    Hassett was an anchor for the Team 91 Long Island defense during Venom's championship run at the IMLCA Players Summit. He's big, intimidating, and does a ton to kill offensive momentum. He brings the physical edge you want on the back end—hard slap checks in one-on-one defense, punishing slides, and a willingness to toss offensive players aside if they're in the way of a groundball.   He's also very confident with the ball in his stick. Hassett scoops cleanly, pushes the tempo over the midline, and isn't afraid to let it rip in transition. While a lot of what he does jumps off the page, what really separates him is the stuff you don't always notice. One of his best plays of the weekend came in the championship game when he split two players on the backside with great positioning and killed a for sure goal. Hassett has the makeup and potential to grow into a big-time player at the next level.     Watts was one of the most entertaining and dynamic defenders I saw this fall. He does a little bit of everything—home-run checks, toe drags, behind-the-backs, and letting it fly in transition. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQb0tf0259M">Even though his highlight tape is loaded with takeaway plays</a>, he knows when to dial it back, settle in, and just flat-out play defense. What really stands out is how he hunts double teams and times his slides to force turnovers. He's a vacuum on groundballs, using his pole well in scrums and showing great feel when toe-dragging his way out of traffic.   The most fun part of his game comes once he has the ball. Watts plays like an offensive player with a pole—comfortable with both hands and creative with his release points as a passer and shooter. He's the kind of LSM who can change momentum quickly and is absolutely a name to know in the 2028 class for LSMs.     An absolute giant at 6'8", Brayden Waldbauer was impossible to miss for the Legacy defense at the IMLCA Players Summit. His height and reach do real damage off the ball in passing lanes and show up on the ball with takeaway checks. A three-sport varsity athlete (basketball and football), he brings natural instincts on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he has the ability to sniff out set plays and disrupt actions before they develop. In groundball scrums, he shows a good feel for space, whether that's scooping cleanly or goosing the ball to create possession. In transition, he's a legitimate threat—comfortable pushing tempo, drawing and dumping, and even letting it rip if left alone. Waldbauer's sophomore season is one college coaches should be tracking closely as he continues to grow into his frame and develop into a high-level defender.     Sinnes has been consistently productive all fall for Leading Edge and checks every box you want in an LSM. He covers well defensively, scoops groundballs on faceoffs, plays aggressively between the lines, and generates a lot of good looks in transition. He's listed in the 5'11 range for height (for now), but he plays bigger than that, using his pole well to generate takeaways and get into passing lanes consistently.   His intangibles stand out, but it's his fundamentals that will really have college coaches calling on September 1st. He's constantly communicating on defense, positions himself well off ball, and understands when to throw a home-run check versus when to stay in front. Sinnes is the kind of LSM who quietly does a lot of things right—and those guys always find a way onto college rosters.     One of the Long Island Express defenders who deserves more attention moving forward is Mitchell Gill after his showing at the IMLCA Players Summit. He's a high-motor LSM who knows when to hit the gas and be aggressive. Between the lines, he throws real takeaway checks and is comfortable extending pressure out near the box, making it tough for dodgers to ever settle in.   In one-on-one matchups, Gill has quick feet to stay in front and the ability to recover even after taking big swings at the ball. What really stood out this fall, though, was his team defense. He plays well off ball, understands spacing, and showed precise slide timing throughout the weekend. Gill brings energy, discipline, and IQ—three traits that always translate well at the next level.

As we continue to wrap up our coverage from the IMLCA Players Summit—with one more offensive piece coming later this week—today's focus shifts to the defenders who stood out in Florida. These weren't just cover guys. They're playmakers who end possessions, win battles between the lines, and turn defense into transition offense.