Young Guns: Class of 2029 Midfielders to Know, Part II

In our fourth installment on promising 2029 talent, we return with Part 2 of the midfielders, highlighting top names from some of Connecticut and Massachusetts' most reputable prep programs.    A big, strong athlete who was pulled up to the St. Seb's varsity roster as an eighth grader, Condron will be an intriguing piece for new head coach Mike Silipo to work with over the next four years. He has quick, choppy footwork that allows him to win matchups up top and likes to deploy hesis and rocker moves when appropriate. It's clear how poised and confident he is with the ball in his stick—and for good reason—given how frequently he's involved in scoring plays. As an initiator, Condron has shown a willingness to dodge through the teeth of the defense. As a shooter, he has excellent hands and uses deception, selling high shots before going low to stymie goalies or winding up only to toss a pretty assist.     After watching Kao with the True National 2028s on a handful of occasions this fall, his electric first step and overall shiftiness immediately stood out. He was simply more athletic than everyone else on the field, popping on both ends by holding up defensively and scrapping between the lines when he wasn't snatching ankles at the top of the box. Everything he does is fast—from his footwork, to his pure speed in transition, to the pace at which he makes decisions. Kao excels at throwing fakes to freeze defenses, and more often than not, he's already gotten his shot off by the time the slide arrives.     Another product of the Rochester to Salisbury pipeline, Miller is a crafty, opportunistic, and dynamic playmaker who produces winning plays in various ways. He's a smooth shooter on the run, particularly with his three-quarters release. He can create off the invert, fill up a stat sheet off the catch, or draw the attention of the defense and dish it off to an open teammate. Tough off the ground, Miller has even had success taking face-offs when called upon. He plays and dodges hard, and just seems to have an innate nose for the goal, always keeping his feet moving and executing well-timed cuts to end up with the ball in his stick. In his last outing, he netted the game-winning goal to win the Holiday Bowl, so he's dependable in clutch scenarios, too.     There's limited film available for Rice, but even so, the pop with which he plays jumps off the screen. A member of Choate's varsity football roster as a freshman, the Fairfield native pairs an excellent stick with clean footwork. While I'm still gaining familiarity with the '29 class, I'd imagine very few freshmen shoot at Rice's level. He dodges and shoots with purpose, banging shots from deep to stretch defenses. His release is stellar — the ball absolutely flies out of his stick, often finding the upper 90. Give him the ball, and good things tend to happen. Playing for a program like Choate's is no easy task as a freshman, but Rice could be a candidate to earn meaningful minutes.     Szyluk re-classed upon joining the Winged Beavers' program after spending his freshman year at West Hartford's Northwest Catholic (Conn.), where the talented lefty posted 35 goals and 26 assists. Slick, quick, and deceptive, he led his new team in points at NHSLS over the summer, offering an early glimpse of what's to come during his time at Avon. Szyluk can flat-out move, boasting an explosive first step, impressive shake, and top-end speed that make it extremely difficult for defenders to get their hands on him. As a result, he consistently gets to his spots, pairing an outstanding handle with creativity around the cage. Continuing to add strength and develop his off-hand will be areas of emphasis moving forward, but it's easy to envision Szyluk making an early impact at AOF this spring.

In our fourth installment on promising 2029 talent, we return with Part 2 of the midfielders, highlighting top names from some of Connecticut and Massachusetts' most reputable prep programs.