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<p>Yesterday, we highlighted the 2029 standouts from the Team Illinois Fall College Showcase. Now, we turn the page to eight uncommitted 2028s who stood out—all Midwest prospects who earned a spot in the All-Star Game.</p>
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<p>Walking away from the showcase Saturday night, Mallory was the player I was most excited to write about. He put together a hat trick in the team-play game I watched, then added another goal in the All-Star Game. The production stood out, but the fluidity of his game was what really caught my attention. Mallory is a smooth lefty who mixes rolls into his dodges but does much of his damage with a left-to-left jab that consistently gets him to the middle. He pairs that with a quick, higher-pocket-style release, getting the ball out with one swooping cradle, whether shooting on the run or off the catch. He can also change his release points and finish with his right hand when needed. His impact extended to the ride, where he created turnovers through pure hustle and pressure on defenders' bottom hands. It rounded out a performance that gave me plenty to like beyond the scoring.</p>
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<p>Kearney was one of the most impressive FOGOs I saw this weekend. He embodies that "psssh" sound FOGOs make in the best way—quick-twitched off the whistle, strong through the clamp, and onto his exit before opponents can find a counter. His wrist and arm strength, paired with a sturdy base, helped him work through tie-ups and come away with possession. He showed the ability to exit in every direction, primarily winning the ball cleanly to himself and getting out with speed. When a clean win wasn't there, he had the awareness to goose the ball to an open teammate rather than force it to himself. Add in sure-handed stickwork, and it was hard to find any flaws in his game.</p>
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<p>I saw one significant addition to Gundlach's game during showcase team play: his impact as the one-slide defender. If he's guarding you, you don't want to put him in a position to be that first slide or rotation. He snuffs out scoring opportunities with the kind of physicality that puts bodies on the turf and makes ball carriers regret their decisions.</p>
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<p>Beyond that, my evaluation from two months ago has stayed consistent. Gundlach knows when to go for the home-run check and when to sit back and play sound defense. He brings an aggressive edge without feeling the need to chase every takeaway. It's always appealing to recruit a defender you might have to dial back rather than one you have to push to be more aggressive.</p>
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<p>It must have felt great for Brooks to play in his first tournament since last fall, after undergoing a bone graft in his knee—<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/De5xyqtPMoo/" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.instagram.com/p/De5xyqtPMoo/">especially when he delivered the play of the All-Star game.</a> After his goalie made a save, Brooks got upfield, stretched his stick out for a one-handed grab, and gave the point man a subtle fake before finishing on the run, beating the defensive rotation.</p>
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<p>A dynamic midfielder, Brooks has a lot going for him. His toe-tapping footwork frequently put defenders on skates throughout the weekend. He hit shots down the alleys, turned the corner for S-dodge finishes, and found backside attackmen for assists. He's the type of midfielder who makes a defense consider putting a pole on him or sending a slide. After so much time lost to injury, Brooks showed plenty to be excited about in his return. He stands out to me as one of the Midwest's highest-upside uncommitted midfielders in the 2028 class.</p>
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<p>During showcase team play, Mazza consistently delivered the slide that killed a dodger's momentum. His timing made the difference: he arrived a beat before the ball carrier expected him and before the dodge reached a dangerous spot. Those are the slides that take the wind out of an offense's sails. He also showed he could threaten a slide, then scrape back to his assignment, keeping dodgers guessing and showing the makings of a high-level off-ball defender.</p>
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<p>In his one-on-one matchups against Team 1, Mazza flashed a nasty wrap check. It's a weapon he has refined against righties, but he can also surprise lefties with it when they try to body him without presenting a legitimate topside threat. Just a mean defender overall—in the best way possible.</p>
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<p>"Sweeper" is how I'd describe Lavelle's game. He excels at getting to the middle from the wing and showed he could punish defenders down the alley with his left, too. In settled sets, he uses subtle shuffles to set up his dodges to create small angle advantages, eventually working his way topside. His wrist strength shows up both on the run and off the catch. Favoring a three-quarter release, Lavelle hits his spots and keeps goalies guessing. He scored twice off the catch in the All-Star Game, catching, setting his feet, and releasing in one fluid motion before defenders could shift from their off-ball responsibilities into a closeout. When defenses recognize his threat with the ball and send slides, he picks them apart with skip passes and feeds inside. Developing more underneath counters from the wing and adding a right-hand side would make him an even tougher cover—and give college programs plenty of reason to come calling.</p>
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<p>Briggs was the other faceoff specialist I'd be very interested in if I were a college coach looking for a '28. He impressed in the All-Star Game, during showcase team play, and with Headlines in club competition. What stood out at the dot was how well-rounded he is. He favors his plunger but also brings rakes, shovel counters, and a tactical understanding of how to use his wings. I was most impressed with how he handled the ball after winning possession. Briggs is fast and attacked the net with a little reckless abandon at times, but never to the point of hurting his team. Against East Ave, he drew defenders and dumped it for an assist. He also showed the ability to move the ball from different feeding angles, an important tool for a FOGO who's going to draw pressure. That comfort with his stick, paired with his speed and variety at the dot, gave me plenty to like about his game.</p>
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<p>Rice had a highlight-worthy sequence: a groundball pickup, a toe drag, and a near finish behind the back. Could he have finished without going BTB? Probably. But it's a showcase, not the state championship. His handles were serious, and he looked comfortable and reliable with the ball in his stick. Taking a closer look at his feet, Rice has what it takes to match up with more athletic dodgers. He pairs that footwork with a cross-check that knocks opponents off their line and a V-hold that keeps righties in check up the hashes. That tracked with what I saw at PLC over the summer, when Rice matched up against a top West Coast player who is now committed to a Division I program. In the stretches I watched, Rice held him without a point—a notable contrast to the production that same player put up in the other games I saw at that event.</p>
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Yesterday, we highlighted the 2029 standouts from the Team Illinois Fall College Showcase. Now, we turn the page to eight uncommitted 2028s who stood out—all Midwest prospects who earned a spot in the All-Star Game.
Walking away from the showcase Saturday night, Mallory was the player I was most excited to write about. He put together a hat trick in the team-play game I watched, then added another goal in the All-Star Game. The production…
Kearney was one of the most impressive FOGOs I saw this weekend. He embodies that "psssh" sound FOGOs make in the best way—quick-twitched off the whistle, strong through the clamp, and onto his exit before opponents can find a counter. His wrist and arm strength, paired with a sturdy base, helped him work through tie-ups and come away with possession. He showed the ability to exit in every direction, primarily winning the ball cleanly to himself and getting out with speed. When a clean win wasn't there, he had the awareness to goose the ball to an open teammate rather than force it to himself. Add in sure-handed stickwork, and it was hard to find any flaws in his game.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
I saw one significant addition to Gundlach's game during showcase team play: his impact as the one-slide defender. If he's guarding you, you don't want to put him in a position to be that first slide or rotation. He snuffs out scoring opportunities with the kind of physicality that puts bodies on the turf and makes ball carriers regret their decisions.
Beyond that, my evaluation from two months ago has stayed consistent. Gundlach knows when to go for the home-run check and when to sit back and play sound defense. He brings an aggressive edge without feeling the need to chase every takeaway. It's always appealing to recruit a defender you might have to dial back rather than one you have to push to be more aggressive.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
It must have felt great for Brooks to play in his first tournament since last fall, after undergoing a bone graft in his knee—especially when he delivered the play of the All-Star game. After his goalie made a save, Brooks got upfield, stretched his stick out for a one-handed grab, and gave the point man a subtle fake before finishing on the run, beating the defensive rotation.
A dynamic midfielder, Brooks has a lot going for him. His toe-tapping footwork frequently put defenders on skates throughout the weekend. He hit shots down the alleys, turned the corner for S-dodge finishes, and found backside attackmen for assists. He's the type of midfielder who makes a defense consider putting a pole on him or sending a slide. After so much time lost to injury, Brooks showed plenty to be excited about in his return. He stands out to me as one of the Midwest's highest-upside uncommitted midfielders in the 2028 class.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
During showcase team play, Mazza consistently delivered the slide that killed a dodger's momentum. His timing made the difference: he arrived a beat before the ball carrier expected him and before the dodge reached a dangerous spot. Those are the slides that take the wind out of an offense's sails. He also showed he could threaten a slide, then scrape back to his assignment, keeping dodgers guessing and showing the makings of a high-level off-ball defender.
In his one-on-one matchups against Team 1, Mazza flashed a nasty wrap check. It's a weapon he has refined against righties, but he can also surprise lefties with it when they try to body him without presenting a legitimate topside threat. Just a mean defender overall—in the best way possible.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
"Sweeper" is how I'd describe Lavelle's game. He excels at getting to the middle from the wing and showed he could punish defenders down the alley with his left, too. In settled sets, he uses subtle shuffles to set up his dodges to create small angle advantages, eventually working his way topside. His wrist strength shows up both on the run and off the catch. Favoring a three-quarter release, Lavelle hits his spots and keeps goalies guessing. He scored twice off the catch in the All-Star Game, catching, setting his feet, and releasing in one fluid motion before defenders could shift from their off-ball responsibilities into a closeout. When defenses recognize his threat with the ball and send slides, he picks them apart with skip passes and feeds inside. Developing more underneath counters from the wing and adding a right-hand side would make him an even tougher cover—and give college programs plenty of reason to come calling.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Briggs was the other faceoff specialist I'd be very interested in if I were a college coach looking for a '28. He impressed in the All-Star Game, during showcase team play, and with Headlines in club competition. What stood out at the dot was how well-rounded he is. He favors his plunger but also brings rakes, shovel counters, and a tactical understanding of how to use his wings. I was most impressed with how he handled the ball after winning possession. Briggs is fast and attacked the net with a little reckless abandon at times, but never to the point of hurting his team. Against East Ave, he drew defenders and dumped it for an assist. He also showed the ability to move the ball from different feeding angles, an important tool for a FOGO who's going to draw pressure. That comfort with his stick, paired with his speed and variety at the dot, gave me plenty to like about his game.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Rice had a highlight-worthy sequence: a groundball pickup, a toe drag, and a near finish behind the back. Could he have finished without going BTB? Probably. But it's a showcase, not the state championship. His handles were serious, and he…
