Notable 2027 Playmakers Still Available from the Garden State

With the summer circuit winding down as we get closer to August, the class of 2027 is also seeing their final summer tournaments drawing to a close. Here's six prospects from New Jersey that have yet to make their decision and will be looking to continue to impress college scouts this offseason.    With the flexibility to play both close D and LSM, Buchenberger opens up a lot of different challenges for his opponents. On the wings, he has a quick first step and good make-up speed on fast breaks to affect plays, while also staying active in ground ball scrums. When defending, he has an athletic stance exhibiting swift lateral movements and steady pressure on the ball with smart checks. The Little Silver (N.J.) native is not afraid of contact when sliding or getting dodged on and keeps his stick in the passing lanes to disrupt the offense and deflect skip passes. He is confident with the ball in his stick while clearing or off a loose ball and doesn't force the ball into turnover scenarios. As a part of a stellar Christian Brothers Academy defense this past spring, Buchenberger will look to continue to turn heads as the offseason progresses.     With his size and strength at the attack position, Donohue is a tough matchup for any defender. He played a big role in Ocean City's success during the spring, notching 43 goals and 24 assists (career highs in both categories), while utilizing an aggressive dodging style and the speed to beat his opponent to the middle of the field for a good look at the cage. The South Shore product also displays an impressive variety of finishing abilities, proving to be a threat from outside or in tight on the crease. He's patient with the ball while dodging, showcasing his burst of speed out of the break and the flexibility to use either hand to create. Donohue is capable of playing both attack and midfield with the same degree of production, which should help him in the recruiting process.     For the past three seasons, Goodwin has been a rockstar for Glen Ridge, earning the spot in the cage as a freshman and never looking back, while also helping them to their first-ever state title in 2025. One thing that cannot be taught, which Goodwin possesses, is the clutch gene and the ability to perform at the highest of levels in the most pressure-packed moments of a game. He leaves very few easy chances for his opponents with quick hands in tight and a patient approach to track the ball from distance. The 3D Garden State product has smooth lateral movements on off-stick shots and displays good vision in the clearing game to reduce second-chance opportunities. Coming off of a monster season consisting of 230 saves for the Ridgers, along with his production in the summer, Goodwin may not be uncommitted much longer.     With light feet and a quick change of direction when getting dodged on, Hays is a well-rounded defensive prospect. He has a threatening approach to the ball, with a wide stance and his stick extended to apply poke and lift checks. The Blue Star product times his checks well to jar the ball loose and is aggressive in scrums with good instincts to find space and win possession for his team, leading the Shawnee defense in ground balls last spring with 94. While he spends the majority of his time on the defensive end, when the chance to push in transition comes, Hays is confident and makes smart plays with the ball, tallying a pair of goals and assists in the 2026 spring. The Medford (N.J.) native should garner a good amount of attention from scouts over this summer if he continues to produce as he did for Shawnee just two months ago.     Due to his elusiveness and high lacrosse IQ at the righty attack spot, Weinkauf is a strong prospect to look at in this 2027 class. When dodging, he shows patience and is methodical in his approach to get to his spot and can be effective as a facilitator or finisher. The River Edge (N.J.) native uses his background in box to display his stick skills and toughness when getting to the middle and has shown the ability to finish strong in traffic. When off-ball, Weinkauf stays active whether on the crease or from X, with backdoor cuts and spacing, making himself available for his teammates and finding soft spots in the defense. While he only finished with 2 goals and an assist this past spring due to a loaded Don Bosco Prep lineup, Weinkauf has shown his abilities in the summer circuit with 2Way Lacrosse, rendering him a hot name still available in the 2027 class.     Khiabani is a lengthy player at 6'3" with good agility and an aggressive style of play that you love to see from any defenseman. With a crowded defensive room at Seton Hall Prep, he hasn't seen a ton of time, but his skill has been on full display playing with 3D Garden State in the summers. Khiabani has takeaway abilities, but what I like about him the most is that he doesn't throw a ton of home run checks and instead does a great job of matching feet with his opponents and pesters their hands. He attacks loose balls with confidence, looking for transition chances, but not forcing them, and has shown he can hold his own on the offensive end. The Warren (N.J.) native is an exciting prospect to watch, and it will be interesting to see what kind of role he earns for the Pirates next spring.

With the summer circuit winding down as we get closer to August, the class of 2027 is also seeing their final summer tournaments drawing to a close. Here's six prospects from New Jersey that have yet to make their decision and will be looking to continue to impress college scouts this offseason.