NE West I: Deerfield's Young Guns To Watch In 2025

As always, Deerfield's talent pipeline remains stocked, even after graduating a senior class loaded with multi-year contributors and another blue-chip postgrad group. With a fresh wave of highly regarded postgrads joining forces with experienced seniors and a promising junior class, the Big Green aims to build on last year's 11-6 campaign—one that ended on a sour note with an 11-goal loss to top-ranked Lawrenceville.   Breaking into Deerfield's rotation as an underclassman is no small task, but these eight standouts are expected to push for early playing time and have bright futures ahead.    I was incredibly impressed with what I saw out of Borg this fall, <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/11/terp-classic-27s-top-attack-performers-from-the-dmv-and-miaa/">highlighting the Bethesda (Md.) native after the Terp Classic</a>. Looking the part at 6'1 and 170 pounds, he's an excellent athlete who plays with a lot of energy but is always under control, rarely making mistakes. Favoring a three-quarters release, his stick and shooting are dialed in and he has a strong repertoire of dodges to free his hands when dodging from the top of the boxes and the wings. Borg's vision is advanced as a top-down feeder, as he's always making the right play. When Borg is lined up on attack, he provides a boost in the riding game, and when he's at midfield, he's far from a liability when left on defense. There's a lot to like about what he brings to the table — it feels like he never stops making positive plays.     This NYC resident is a phenomenal athlete who has shown a ton of promise while establishing himself as a force on the '28 circuit for a highly regarded 2Way squad. Constantly applying pressure to the positions, he makes a living getting to his spots at will and has considerable range and heat on his outside shot. Dance has excellent wrists, throwing fakes and using deception to freeze the defense and weaving through highly occupied areas for fancy finishes from close range. I've also been impressed with how well he uses his left hand, and it's clear he's gaining confidence on that front.     A 6'3, 195-pound lefty from Sudbury (Mass.), Donnellan played on JV last year before making the varsity football roster as a linebacker and wide receiver. As a close defender, he has a sturdy base and a strong lower body that he utilizes when steering his man around GLE. With his long arms and punishing checks, he's able to harass ball-carriers and make his presence felt as an off-ball defender. Putting out some rock-solid film coming away from One Percent and Best In Class, he's an asset due to his command in the clearing game and runs the field effectively in transition.     Hevesy already has a strong athletic profile, having started a handful of games at QB for the Big Green this fall. The New Canaan product can bump up top to play LSM or thrive down low (where I think he'll play in college), staying heavy on the hands while playing with a high motor. His checks are thrown with intent, and he does a great job of maintaining sound footwork while using his stick to cause disruption. Hevesy is super smooth off the ground and capable with the ball in his stick in transition as well. I'm a fan of his instincts, athleticism, and competitive energy, and I'll be intrigued to see what kind of role he's able to carve out as a sophomore.     An Energizer Bunny type who goes extremely hard and embraces all facets of the game, Kelusky plays with the heart, grit, and tenacity you'd expect from the son of NLL legend Tracey Kelusky. The 5'9 lefty from Peterborough (Ont.) thrived in a d-mid/two-way role for the Big Green as a freshman, blossoming more as the season went on after coming off a long season as a member of DA's varsity hockey roster. A moment in the fourth quarter of a tightly contested game against Loomis Chaffee properly sums up his impact: Kelusky scored a big goal, then lined up on the wing and gobbled up a huge contested GB. Fleet-footed and highly athletic, he's just as capable of clamping down on his matchup as he is attacking his man with the ball in his stick when given the opportunity. Kelusky's a lot of fun to watch and has big-time potential.     A two-sport varsity athlete as a freshman, McDonough makes up for a lack of prototypical size with tremendous tenacity and a relentless approach to the position. He caught my eye back in November at the A.L.L. event, demonstrating the ability to smoothly pick the ball up off the carpet and wreak havoc in the middle of the field. Due to his stick work and physicality, he's valuable on the wings of face-offs and often makes plays that lead to goals. McDonough, who hails from Dover (Mass.), is more than capable with the ball in his stick and has a nose for the goal upon crossing the midline.     Scalzo's 6'1, 195-pound frame jumps out at first, as he has a strong, sturdy, and athletic build that serves him well. Pairing ideal size with excellent hand speed, he's incredibly disciplined and workmanlike at the X, demonstrating the ability to win the ball to himself with regularity and cleanly scooping the ball off the turf on the first try. He's always a threat to go forward, but he's capable of winning in a multitude of ways and looked even more technically sound this fall, having re-classed and transferred from Ridgewood (N.J.) to Deerfield after a strong summer with the Towermen. Scalzo has a Big 10 commit ahead of him in the senior class, but he's expected to get plenty of secondary reps before slotting in as the primary draw man in 2026 and 2027.     The next in line for the Weller clan, Danny doesn't have anything in terms of tape but certainly passed the eye test this fall. He's still growing into his large frame and learning how to use his length to his advantage, and he's got great feet and strong defensive principles. Weller always seems to sniff out the ball, then jumps out to start fast breaks, frequently taking matters into his own hands by putting the ball in the back of the net. I love how active and impactful he is in the passing lanes, knocking down or intercepting passes and getting the ball off the carpet on his first try. If I had to guess, he should be able to put himself in the mix at LSM this spring.

As always, Deerfield's talent pipeline remains stocked, even after graduating a senior class loaded with multi-year contributors and another blue-chip postgrad group. With a fresh wave of highly regarded postgrads joining forces with experienced seniors and a promising junior class, the Big Green aims to build on last year's 11-6 campaign—one that ended on a sour note with an 11-goal loss to top-ranked Lawrenceville.