2027 Commits in Maryland: Post-Fall Stock Risers, Part II

<a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2026/02/2027-commits-in-maryland-post-fall-stock-risers/">Earlier this week, we highlighted five 2027 committed players from Maryland whose stock is rising after strong fall showings.</a> Here's a look at five more who deserve some love heading into the spring.    If you didn't know where [player_tooltip player_id='173997' first='Conor' last='Gale'] was from, you'd probably guess he grew up north of the border. He's an attackman with a definite box feel—slick hands, creative “dangles,” and a knack for finishing in tight space. Through the summer and fall, he lived at that X role, and while he's most comfortable staying on his right hand, he doesn't play like a kid you can simply “force” one way. Even when defenses try to dictate his hand, he finds a route to the middle of the field or to a high-quality look on the doorstep.   A big chunk of his damage comes from five yards and in. From behind the cage, he has a real arsenal of finalizer-type moves designed to shake his defender and get his hands free. He also loves the hang-up game because he's so good at sneaking shots in from low angles. That constant threat of him getting to GLE and turning the corner draws attention, and his vision makes defenses pay. He's patient enough to let slides commit, then can deliver the next pass for assists when help collapses. Off the ball, he's just as effective—he sneaks the pipes exceptionally well and cashes in on dunks in transition consistently. Add in his ability to bring his stick across his body and finish with twister-type shots, and you've got an attackman with real flair and a game that should translate even more as things ramp up in the spring.     [player_tooltip player_id='174003' first='Luke' last='Lopez'] has the potential to come in and compete for playing time right away at Queens. He might not be the type that towers over attackmen the way some Division I staffs love, but he's strong, confrontational, and has that dawg in him. In 1v1 matchups, he'll extend out of the box and make ball-carriers uncomfortable, pushing them out of their comfort zone. He's technically sound, stays on gloves, and isn't afraid to body up and steer dodgers away from the middle. As a lefty, he also gives offenses a different look when he draws those right-handed matchups.   Lopez adds value in the clearing game too. He plays down low with FCA Maryland, but he has the confidence and stick skills to slide into an LSM role if needed. Over the summer and into the fall, he routinely carried clears over the midline, whether it was off a transition chance or in a settled clear, showing he's comfortable making plays with the ball in his stick.     UMBC stayed the course and dipped back into the Maryland public school pipeline with the pickup of [player_tooltip player_id='165898' first='Lincoln' last='Fox'], a defender who fits the traditional LSM mold. He plays with consistent pressure, loves to hunt takeaway checks, and brings the kind of motor that can flip possessions. A lot of his summer highlights came between the lines—he's willing to take calculated chances for big rewards, and that athletic presence is exactly what coaches like because it makes opposing offenses uncomfortable in their sets.   Fox competes in all the “LSM” moments: running out shots, battling for ground balls, and then turning stops into transition by pushing tempo. He's not just a disruptor—he's a connector who can get the ball out and get going the other way. Last year, Severna Park's defense was loaded, which made minutes hard to come by. This spring, he should see a lot more action as he chases a third championship ring and Severna Park pushes for its 10th straight state title.     [player_tooltip player_id='173999' first='Owen' last='Moon'] showed this summer and fall that he can compete at the Division I level, and he backed that up when he committed to Marist in December. Marist is getting a face-off specialist who's technical, tactical, and strong. At the stripe, he's efficient and doesn't waste motion getting to the clamp. His exits are quick and decisive, and he does a nice job avoiding extended tie-ups so he can turn wins into clean possessions.   One of Moon's biggest separators is his IQ. He reads how opponents are playing their wings and adjusts on the fly—exiting into open space when it's there or moving the ball quickly to his wings when that's the better play. And when he's forced to win it backward, he uses his strength well: boxing out, sealing space, and grinding out ground balls against pressure. Moon should be a major piece for Southern this spring, especially in a loaded Anne Arundel County schedule where controlling possessions can swing games.     VMI landed the exact type of defender they like in Jake Van Metre—big, physical, and wired to compete. A recent transfer from Loyola Blakefield to John Carroll, he has the makeup to be a steady presence down low alongside Christopher Allen and [player_tooltip player_id='129271' first='Zachary' last='Droski'].   On the ball, Van Metre leans into his strength. He's comfortable playing through hands and shoulders, getting into dodgers early with firm cross-check pressure to steer them off their preferred lanes and force them to their weak spots. He brings a real enforcer element to the unit, and that shows up even more as a slider—he'll close hard and put bodies on the turf when opponents get to dangerous areas. His ceiling should keep climbing as he continues to fill out athletically and gets consistent reps in John Carroll's lineup. Even with the inter-division transfer keeping him out of MIAA matchups, there's plenty of runway for his game to keep trending up this spring.

Earlier this week, we highlighted five 2027 committed players from Maryland whose stock is rising after strong fall showings. Here's a look at five more who deserve some love heading into the spring.