Underclassmen to Watch: Early Signs of Future Stars

The fall is usually about development for underclassmen, but a few players stood out by impacting games right away. These sophomores and freshmen fit in seamlessly with their high school squads at NHSLS and continued to impress with their clubs against their own classes. They showed real skill, confidence, and feel for the game that projects well moving forward. Here's a look at some underclassmen who showed early signs of being future stars.    Brier was one of the best freshmen I saw this fall. I first caught him at NHSLS, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTsz7-jj2li/">he continued his impressive fall/winter campaign with ADVNC NDP at Sandstorm this weekend.</a> He has the size, creativity, and confidence you want to see early, and he can flat-out shoot the lights out. What stands out most for the freshman is how many different ways he can score.   At NHSLS, Brier fit right in with his Marin Catholic group, showing off his step-down game by hammering one top-right. He generates serious velocity with his shot, and there's a subtle deception in his swing—he hides the ball through most of his windup, then snaps it with different release points. Add in the fact that he's a legit threat on the run and can finish in tight by moving the goalie, and it's easy to see the ceiling here. Brier already looks like a name to know in the '29 class, and his game is only going to keep climbing as he gets older.     After watching Cai Prinzbach at NHSLS with his STAB squad, it's easy to see why he's poised for a big role in their offense as a sophomore. He brings real versatility and does a lot of things well, starting with his dodging. Prinzbach can initiate from anywhere on the field and consistently creates problems for both poles and short sticks. He has a quick burst out of his dodge and plays with constant deception, selling hard dodges only to dump it off, or showing pass before snapping off a shot in an instant.   At a minimum, he's going to be a reliable initiator who piles up assists regardless of where he lines up this spring. Add in his ability as a step-down shooter, his effectiveness in transition, and his willingness to go all out in the riding game, and you're looking at a player who impacts the game in multiple ways. Prinzbach is the type of underclassman who makes life easier for everyone else on the field—and STAB will feel that this season.     One of the best freshmen I saw on Culver's nationally ranked roster at NHSLS was Dante Pasquale. With how deep Culver is, it may take some time before he's a regular on the Prep team—but it won't take long. His scoring ability already stands out. With a box background, Pasquale is comfortable finishing in tight with creativity, places the ball well on the run, and even scored twice at NHSLS with his left hand as a natural righty.   He's also listed as a running back on Culver's varsity football team, and that athleticism shows up clearly on the lacrosse field. He's a natural mover as a dodger—able to shake defenders with quickness—but what really stands out is his ability to change pace. He's great at slowing down, getting close to his matchup, then exploding away from them like he was launched out of a cannon. Pasquale has a bright future at Culver, and he is a player you will know in the future.     Max Davis showed real two-way value for his squads this fall and fits that Swiss-army-knife mold coaches love. No matter where he lines up, he finds ways to make plays. His athleticism shows most on the defensive end and in the clearing game. You don't need to slide to him much because his feet are solid, and when he gets in the open field, he's comfortable pushing it himself as a one-man clear. On the ball, the dawg shows up—he's a pest in 1v1s, crowding hands, disrupting dodges, and wearing guys down over the course of a shift.   The lefty could see more runs on the offensive side at Spalding this spring, especially with their SSDM spots already pretty settled. He's got enough shiftiness to initiate on short sticks, a good feel for finding space off ball, legit range as a shooter, and the touch to finish in tight. Davis made his presence felt all fall, and for a sophomore, he looks like a guy who can earn minutes early and actually do something with them once he's on the field.     Chang proved last spring that he's a legitimate offensive threat, finishing with 43 goals and 18 assists at Eastside Catholic in Seattle. This fall, he re-classed and transferred to Culver, and he didn't look out of place at all with the 28/29 Culver group at NHSLS. At 5'8”, he's not going to win many size matchups, but his quickness and skill more than make up for it.   The lefty has real burst out of his dodges, enough to leave defenders behind, and when speed alone doesn't do it, he has a repertoire of moves. Hesitations, rockers, swim moves, and the ability to use his right hand all help him get to dangerous spots. He's most comfortable initiating from behind or the lefty wing, where he's dangerous going up the hashes or sweeping across the middle. He's a headache to deal with off the ball, constantly popping into passing lanes and using his quickness to create one-timer opportunities. It'll be fun to track whether Chang can carry the same production he had in Washington over to Culver and the Eagles' schedule, but the tools are clearly there.

The fall is usually about development for underclassmen, but a few players stood out by impacting games right away. These sophomores and freshmen fit in seamlessly with their high school squads at NHSLS and continued to impress with their clubs against their own classes. They showed real skill, confidence, and feel for the game that projects well moving forward. Here's a look at some underclassmen who showed early signs of being future stars.