Maverik Showtime ’27s: Top Middies, Part II

With the 4th of July recruiting dead period now underway, we've got plenty of content to unveil from the past two weeks of action. Continuing our run through the top players in attendance from Maverik Showtime, we're back for Part II of the midfield group. ICYMI, check out the rest of our Showtime content: <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2025/06/maverik-showtime-27s-top-middies-part-i/">Top '27 Midfielders, Part I</a> <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2025/06/maverik-showtime-27s-top-performers-at-attack/">Top '27 Attackmen</a> <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2025/06/maverik-showtime-2027-and-2028-all-star-game-standouts/">'27 and '28 All-Star Game Standouts</a>    Projecting as a defensive midfielder at the next level, Barrett is the type of player whose game you don't fully appreciate unless you watch him over several games. While his size and athleticism stand out, it's his ability to do the little things well and embrace his role that makes him the player he is. Barrett is a great communicator, an intelligent sliding shortstick defender, impactful off the ground in the middle of the field and on the wings. Most of all, he embraces his role as an SSDM, and he's good for a point or two here and there in transition. If there's room to improve, I'd like to see him become more physical on a more consistent basis, as the only time I saw him get beat was when he failed to initiate contact.     Since writing up Markley over the winter, he turned in an outstanding spring, earning All-Founders League honors. Another talented midfield prospect, Markley was rather productive in transition at Showtime, accounting for at least a point in all but one game. He adds a lot in between the lines and shows off his competitive energy and grit when hunting down groundballs, then turning them into fast-break opportunities. Markley's likely to settle into a defensive midfield role at the next level, however, he's more than capable of staying on in settled sets and beating his man with a quick first step. I love his punch at the top of his boxes and how well he prevents dodging midfielders from rolling back, as it's clear he's been coached exceptionally well.     A smooth lefty with impressive two-handedness, Petruccelli racked up 21 goals and 15 assists as a sophomore for 'Set and seems to have picked up right where he left off. He was one of the best players in the field in his team's second game of the week, posting two goals and two assists. I was incredibly impressed with how well he dodged with his head up, always looking for cutters and finding them twice by putting passes right at their earhole. He was aggressive and assertive, but not to the point that he was selfish with the ball, like we so often see in showcase settings. Petruccelli has a good-looking shot on the run and was tough to step when sweeping to either direction.     This hard-nosed lefty wasn't on my radar heading into the event, but coming away from Showtime, I couldn't help but like the flashes that I saw from Fennel, who turned in an All-Star campaign. Racking up 52 goals and 40 assists as an attackman this spring, Fennel showed a level of comfort dodging from a variety of spots, and he did an excellent job of getting to high-percentage areas. Beyond that, he shoots a really pretty ball - it explodes out of his stick - and consistently mixed up his release points and placement. Overall, Fennel is super skilled and intelligent, and the right mix of assertive and unselfish.     Viewed as one of the best (if not the best) midfielders in the '27 class, Fodor was a surprise omission from the All-Star Game. Though he wasn't necessarily as productive as we've all become accustomed to seeing (he's set the bar pretty high), Fodor showed all of the attributes that will make him a hot commodity two months from now. He's a big and athletic two-way threat who consistently draws slides, but also a midfielder who never fails to get back in the hole and play tough defense. Able to absolutely fly from restraining line to restraining line then beat his man cleanly off the dodge, Fodor puts a ton of pressure on the opposition at all times and makes the correct read whenever the ball is in his stick. Plus, his shot is a thing of beauty.     A left-handed midfield initiator, Branish is part of an outstanding class of Colorado natives and had a terrific year, posting 70 goals and 30 assists for the undefeated state champs. I was struck by how many different ways he can score the ball, whether on a S-dodge, a sweep to his left, off the invert, or when dodging through the teeth of the defense while absorbing contact. Branish's dodging repertoire is just super polished, and he's got the first step and acceleration to match. He made some pretty looks and noteworthy plays between the lines throughout the camp, so he's far more than just a party starter out of the midfield. Game 5 at Maverik is always a survival of the fittest after a long week, and Branish went off for a hat trick to go with an assist, which says a lot.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mention</h2>   Grady Goodberlet, M, Honeoye Falls-Lima (N.Y.) | Sweetlax   John Lynch, M, Belmont Hill (Mass.) | 3d New England   James Riches, M, Valor Christian (Colo.) | CO Kings, Mad Dog   Karter Robichaud, M, Valor Christian (Colo.) | CO Kings, Mad Dog   Hudson Schroeder, M, Trinity-Pawling (N.Y.) | Sweetlax   Brendan Sim, M, Chaminade (N.Y.) | LI Express   Cameron Violante, M, Somers (N.Y.) | Prime Time

With the 4th of July recruiting dead period now underway, we've got plenty of content to unveil from the past two weeks of action. Continuing our run through the top players in attendance from Maverik Showtime, we're back for Part II of the midfield group.

ICYMI, check out the rest of our Showtime content:
Top '27 Midfielders, Part I
Top '27 Attackmen
'27 and '28 All-Star Game Standouts