Uncommitted ’28s: Massachusetts Defenders to Know

The flurry of commitments in the class of 2028 is now slowing down. That's the nature of the beast as college teams start their fall seasons and coaches transition into seeing what they will have in the spring as opposed to what they want to have in two years' time. Still, there is plenty of talent out there to mine, particularly on the defensive side of the ball in this class. Here are five more guys who are on the cusp of getting the calls they've wanted since they picked up a lacrosse stick.    I've seen Flynn play multiple times for Kings, and I think he's just a commanding physical presence. Having initially started his career at Northfield Mount Hermon, Flynn has always been able to use his lateral movement to shut down or at least limit attackmen who try to slither past him. Even though he could be the kind of defenseman that slides to commit something close to homicide, he often uses the initial contact to throw his opponent off balance for an inevitable barrage of checks to pry the ball loose. Flynn is also useful in transition, often operating as the high pole in the clear or bursting up the seam as a long outlet option for the goalie.     One of several hidden gems on the Brooks roster, Ilincaru is as tough as his name is to type on the first try. He is always going to go for the loose ball regardless of the traffic around it in an attempt to key transition for his team. As a member of the '28 Tomahawks Purple squad, Ilincaru has been used as the speed pole, tasked with guarding faster players and containing their impact or ability to get topside. For Brooks, his role is a little more all-around, as he often draws one of the wheelbarrows full of top-level attackers in the ISL week in and week out. I think Ilincaru has a lot of potential; he just needs to play the right game in front of the right coach.     Another very physical defenseman, Millsom also has a touch of finesse to his game. You know, like if someone tied a hammer to a bullwhip. Millsom is just as happy slinging a shot from the outside on a slow break as he is throwing a vicious slap on a sweeping middie. He plays passing lanes extremely well and has been a big part of the Laxachusetts Black setup on the wings. Frankly, I'm a little surprised that a team hasn't come in to snatch him up yet. Physically, he has all the tools to be a successful D-1 player. I wouldn't be surprised to see him be committed before the first snow falls in the Commonwealth.     One of those do-it-all poles who can fill and play multiple roles in settled sets, I think Wajda is set for a breakout season at Thayer in the spring. I mean, talk about exceptional footwork. Wajda doesn't hang and bang as larger defensemen do, but he shuts the door with his positioning before his opponent even has an idea of how to dodge to the cage. He's as tenacious as they come; whether he is playing LSM or at close, he's always the first guy chasing the ball and the ball carrier. Wajda is also very patient carrying the ball, something that often gets overlooked when we evaluate defenders.     Starr is one of those hustle-hard, go-after-everything poles that make people want to learn how to throw a kayak check at 1 a.m. A lefty who feasts on lazy right- handed wing carriers, he's gone a little under the radar because of his height. However, he has all the hallmarks of the most underrated, but necessary, player on the roster - the rat boy shortie. However, Starr might be carving his own path as the rat boy longole. To be fair, he's far more versatile than such a role. Starr can be a perimeter cover guy as well as a team-juicing LSM at the same time. It's hard ot say where he fits in because he is actually very skilled at all of the little things that an LSM is evaluated on. He feels a lot like a “let's see him one more time” kind of guy for a few of the programs left that are still searching for another pole or two to round out their class.

The flurry of commitments in the class of 2028 is now slowing down. That's the nature of the beast as college teams start their fall seasons and coaches transition into seeing what they will have in the spring as opposed to what they want to have in two years' time. Still, there is plenty of talent out there to mine, particularly on the defensive side of the ball in this class. Here are five more guys who are on the cusp of getting the calls they've wanted since they picked up a lacrosse stick.

Shaun Flynn

HEIGHT 6'2"

WEIGHT 210

POS D/LSM

CLASS 2028

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Shaun Flynn

State: Massachusetts

School: Tabor Academy

Club: Kings

I've seen Flynn play multiple times for Kings, and I think he's just a commanding physical presence. Having initially started his career at Northfield Mount Hermon, Flynn has always been able to use his lateral movement to shut down or at least limit attackmen who try to slither past him. Even though he could be the kind of defenseman that slides to commit something close to homicide, he often uses the initial contact to throw his opponent off balance for an inevitable barrage of checks to pry the ball loose. Flynn is also useful in transition, often operating as the high pole in the clear or bursting up the seam as a long outlet option for the goalie.