2028 Midwest Sleepers: Hidden Gems from the Latest Rankings

<a href="https://preplacrosse.com/national/player-rankings/2028-midwest-region-rankings/" data-type="link" data-id="https://preplacrosse.com/national/player-rankings/2028-midwest-region-rankings/">After yesterday's 2028 Midwest rankings release</a>, today we look at the hidden gems of the class. These players have had a hard time being seen for different reasons, but when you find them, they're the kind of under-the-radar talent that coaches love to bet on and watch rise.   Use the code LABORDAY50 at checkout for 50 percent off your first payment.    Fielden is a dawg I'd want on my team. His blend of athleticism and feel for the game makes him one of the best LSMs in the region. He deserves to be mentioned alongside the area's popular face-off specialists because he was a huge reason his teams won the possession battle. He's a monster in the middle of the field. Even when opponents came to scoop ground balls off face-offs, Fielden delivered instant pressure. And when FOGOs weren't getting it done, he's the type of LSM you can insert to take a face-off and calm the storm with the pressure he provides between the lines.   That pressure starts with his feet. He can run with the quickest midfielders, extend out in space, and throw highlight-worthy checks—then recover if he doesn't hit them. LSMs get a bad rep for their sliding, but not Fielden. Opposing midfielders can't camp high near the restraining line; he'll snuff out doubles on rollbacks. His stick and ability to push transition are the final pieces that stand out. He gets up and out in an instant, scoring in tight and off stepdowns consistently.     The ceiling in Decaro's game is one of the highest in the Midwest. Recently ranked on Prep Redzone and earning game-day invites to Division I football programs, he's obviously a legit football prospect—but he should consider playing lacrosse at the next level. His freak-athlete upside jumps out to college coaches looking for SSDMs. At the Nike All-Star Games, he was phenomenal. He has the strength to knock even the strongest dodgers off their path, the athleticism to stay with them through changes of direction, and the speed to run with them. In the spring, he plays offense, so his stick is good enough to make things happen in transition.     College coaches may have missed Longo this summer—he played only one tournament with the 2028s while deciding to take a PG year. He's an athletic pole who's disruptive wherever he plays: more of an LSM, but capable of matching up against quicker attackmen. His stick, ground-ball work, and pressure fit the LSM profile. Quickness and burst show up often, especially when he's pressing the ball; he extends out with reckless abandon, and it pays off more often than not. He has a bag of takeaway checks to pull from, and he uses them all over the field. Inside the box, he takes sharp approaches with his stick out and an athletic stance, allowing him to sit back and put on the straps when needed. He shows up in team defense as well, sliding at the right time and hunting doubles when the moment calls for it.     The only ranked player from Iowa, Moran has commuted all over to be seen. He's a great example of projection at the college level: in the spring, he runs circles around Iowa competition, and this summer his potential was easy to spot. He's a quick lefty with versatility because he dodges from all over—wings, behind, and down the alley. His dodging ability makes him dangerous as both a scorer and a feeder. The way he sets up dodges to create better angles, combined with his burst and ability to get into defenders, makes him a threat. The slight deception in his shot timing and release points gives him an extra edge you don't always expect from a player out of Iowa. Moran is the type who goes all out on rides and groundballs—the kind of non-hotbed player you root for.     You either have the quick-twitch reactions to make it as a goalie at the next level, or you don't. Veenis has them—and much more. At 6'1", the lefty has good size and a stance that takes up a ton of the net. In the cage, he's calm and doesn't waste movement. When shots come, his hand speed is obvious; he can find all four corners faster than many of the known goalies in the class. Outside the net, he's incredibly mobile and athletic, with a great stick in the clear. He looks like a goalie who not only has the confidence to make every stop, no matter the context, but genuinely loves doing it.

After yesterday's 2028 Midwest rankings release, today we look at the hidden gems of the class. These players have had a hard time being seen for different reasons, but when you find them, they're the kind of under-the-radar talent that coaches love to bet on and watch rise.