Brayden Belski showed clear offensive upside as a sophomore, producing consistently while demonstrating the athleticism & assertiveness to challenge defenses with intent. Brayden is a confident dodger, comfortable sweeping to his strength & navigating pressure while absorbing contact, handling slides, re-engaging to free his hands. He remains composed when defenses collapse, capable of shooting through traffic or extending possessions by drawing attention & moving the ball with purpose. Belski is equally dangerous operating above goal or behind GLE, where his balance & body control allow him to turn the corner or create passing angles with either hand. His impact extends beyond settled offense, particularly in the ride, where he uses proper two-hand positioning & hip leverage to turn back poles & disrupt clears. Brayden stays alert around the sub-box, competing for loose possessions & creating extra opportunities through effort & awareness. After beginning his career in a more defense-oriented role, Belski enters the next phase of his development, positioned to take on greater offensive responsibility. Verbally committed to the admissions process at Yale.

Belski is a two-way mid who had an enormous impact at both ends of the field this summer. On defense, the combination of Belski’s grit and speed made life miserable for opposing offensive players. When he was on-the-ball, Belski turned his opponent multiple times before dishing out a powerful stick check or crowbar that jarred the ball loose. Belski was also a ground ball machine in traffic or on the wing during face-offs. His ability to scoop up GBs and then race down field enabled Belski to push the break for goals and assists. In settled action, Belski proved he could dodge going left or right and finish with both hands. Plus, he created for teammates by getting downhill, drawing a slide, and then moving the ball to an open teammate. Offensively, Belski is just scratching the surface of his potential.

Belski impressed me this fall with his ability as a two-way middie, thriving when going from D to O and proving himself on both ends. Tough, athletic, and possessing a well-rounded skill set, the Alabama product was the lone ’27 on Salisbury’s roster a year ago and appears primed to take on increased responsibilities after a strong offseason. When deployed as a shortstick defensive midfielder, he’s a vacuum off the wings and formidable 1v1, giving opposing middies fits and frequently forcing them into less-then-stellar shots. He has shown considerable promise on offense, where Belski is a talented two-handed shooter who gets his hands free with a strong first step, displaying an array of moves and release points.