2027 Commits in Maryland: Post-Fall Stock Risers

These committed Maryland 2027s have earned a serious bump heading into our upcoming rankings update. Over the fall, they played with the confidence and polish you want from next-level prospects, and their production backed it up. College coaches took notice, and the film makes it easy to see why.    UMBC stayed true to its Maryland-heavy pipeline by landing lefty [player_tooltip player_id='165952' first='Zach' last='Gutierrez'] in early December, and his stock has only climbed since. Between NHSLS and the Terp Classic, he looked like a player trending up, and I'd expect that to continue as he steps into a bigger role this spring.   With both Spalding and the Hawks this fall, Gutierrez consistently showed himself as a legitimate sweep to the middle threat. As a shooter, he brings real deception. Whether he's on the run or sets his feet, he has a natural deceptive underhand/sidearm windup where he hides the ball behind him and releases the ball almost where it looks short arm. He can keep it on that same plane and sneak it past hands with a quick trigger, or he can pull the ball high to keep goalies guessing—as he did at NHSLS against Valor Christian. That deception also carries into his decision-making. He's intentional about looking off shots and feeds. And while his sweep draws plenty of attention and overplay, he's not one-dimensional—he's comfortable pulling out of pressure and getting to a righty alley look to keep defenses honest.     Shiner put himself on the national radar on ESPNU when he opened the scoring for Next Level in the Naptown Championship game with a slick toe drag. It was a perfect representation of who he is as a player—confident, creative, and a problem when he has space to dodge. Last spring at The Heights, he finished with 23 goals and 27 assists, and based on the confidence he gained over the summer, that production should exponentially grow.   As a dodger, he's a threat from anywhere, but he's especially dangerous initiating from the righty wing and from behind the cage. He can win with multiple moves, and his hitch is a real weapon—defenders lunge, slides start to creep, and he's quick to make them pay. He pairs that with a quick shot release that can beat the slide and the vision to hit the skip when the defense starts rotating. Off the ball, he's just as effective, piling up one-timer goals by staying assertive around the crease and timing his cuts in front to get his hands free before defenses can react.     This fall, [player_tooltip player_id='173887' first='Mason' last='Keller'] controlled the X and beyond. Across the Terp Classic, ALL Fall Invitational, and the IMLCA Players Summit, I had him above 50% in the reps I watched. He's quick to the whistle, wins with fast hands, and consistently gets himself to an exit in a hurry. The swipe is one of his go-to moves, and he uses it to create clean separation and immediate possession.   What makes Keller especially valuable is that it doesn't end at the stripe. He's not a “FOGO”—he's a legitimate midfielder, and he was one of DC Express' more productive offensive pieces this fall. With the ball in his stick, he's smooth, confident, and plays with quickness. He's dangerous in the open field, avoids checks well, and is quick to push tempo and turn a win into a real transition threat. He also proved he can contribute in settled sets. Keller played top middle on man-up throughout the fall and showed the vision and range to create offense and rack up points. One sequence at the IMLCA Players Summit summed him up: he forced a turnover in settled defense, handled a tough catch, pushed in transition, shrugged off a cross-check with a roll dodge, and finished on the doorstep with a subtle twister. Holy Cross is getting more than a face-off guy. They're getting an all-around lacrosse player who can win possessions and make them count.     [player_tooltip player_id='173889' first='Brody' last='Gallant'] was one of the standout players on ProStart this fall because of his overall motor and athletiscm. He's a strong athlete with good size and competes like a guy who wants to win every rep. I circled his name at the Terp Classic when he slid from the crease and forced a turnover, something you rarely see from SSDMs. Defensively, he brings real pop. He'll slide to put shooters on the turf if they try to get to the middle, and in 1v1s, he's hard to get clean separation from because he's willing to get into dodgers early and knock them off their line with his strength.   Where Gallant really separates himself is on faceoff wings and in transition. He's shifty in space with his jukes and has the change-of-direction you see from a running back. You can send bodies at him on the ride, and he'll still find a way to escape with possession—or turn it into numbers going the other way. Mercer is getting a legitimate competitor, and I wouldn't be surprised if he earns early reps because of how impactful he is off the wing and in chaotic moments.     When you learn that [player_tooltip player_id='173891' first='Palmer' last='Stablein'] has only been playing lacrosse since 2023 and that a broken arm sidelined him for much of his freshman year, his ceiling becomes clear. The raw tools are already there: size, speed, strength, and the ability to win 1v1 matchups. Sure, his stick and lax IQ need some improvement, but two more years at McDonogh will definitely prepare him for the Division I level.   Physically, Stablein sets a tone. He's a punishing cover guy who isn't shy about laying a hard check, and opposing attackmen feel him throughout the game. That edge carries into the groundball game, too. He's willing to get into the mix, comes out of scrums with possession, and his hand pressure makes opponents think twice about going for the ball. He also shows promise as a team defender. As a slider, his timing is strong, and he'll clear the crease with authority when shooters try to live inside the hub. With that kind of on-and-off-ball presence, he has the makings of a difference-maker at Hawk Hill as a turnover producer who can disrupt rhythm.

These committed Maryland 2027s have earned a serious bump heading into our upcoming rankings update. Over the fall, they played with the confidence and polish you want from next-level prospects, and their production backed it up. College coaches took notice, and the film makes it easy to see why.