IMLCA Players Summit: Top 2028 Attackmen

For many, the IMLCA Players Summit served as the final opportunity of the calendar year to make an impression. A number of emerging names in the Class of 2028 seized that big stage, putting themselves firmly on the radar of some of the nation's top Division I programs.   As a whole, the '28 class is loaded at the attack position. Established standouts like Ben Smith, Aiden Fournier, Parker Old, Harrison Tyler, Will Niedzialek, and [player_tooltip player_id='124043' first='Austin' last='Tuttle'] — among others — were excellent, but they've been well covered in recent weeks. Here, we turn our attention to five attackmen we hadn't yet highlighted following in-person evaluations this fall, further illustrating the depth and high-end talent at the position.    Playing with a ton of confidence, Garcia put up a hat trick the first time I saw him, showing that he's able to score in bunches and do so in style. Although he's carving his own path at Salisbury, Alec shares several attributes with his highly touted '26 brother Lucas, playing with similar competitive energy and demonstrating the ability to generate offense from a variety of spots. He's strong in the two-man game, doesn't settle for below average shots, and can bang shots from range, too. He's also got ice in his veins, burying the OT winner against XLC. The younger Garcia has a phenomenal first step, and more often than not, the ball ended up in the back of the net whenever defenders took a bad approach. He possesses a soft handle and great hands, netting a quick-stick finish before the half the first time I saw PT at the event. He loves to utilize a rocker, hitch or a hesi move, and was generally a tough cover throughout the weekend.     I've been a fan of McKnight's game for quite some time, having seen him perform beyond his years at NHSLS against much older (and bigger) competition — though he has since bulked up. He was awesome at IMLCA, dazzling on Saturday in a five-goal outing against Legacy while scoring in a multitude of ways and carrying that momentum into Sunday's playoffs. A smooth, artful dodger with stellar body control, McKnight takes care of the ball and consistently plays within himself. He's fearless and tough, excelling in scrambles and in unsettled situations, picking up tough GBs and turning them into goals. You always know what you're getting from MdKnight: he never leaves anything to be desired in terms of effort and has a knack for elevating the play of those around him.      Sullivan showed highly impressive flashes running out of the box as a freshman for the MIAA champions, and if his fall and winter performances served as any indication, he's a strong candidate to break out in 2026. Sullivan possesses a deceptively quick first step and a full bag of tricks as a goal-scorer, buoyed by top-notch stick skills and true two-handedness. The ball absolutely flies out of his stick, often off a difficult-to-track three-quarters release. Well coached and adept at finding seams in opposing defenses, he gets up the hash and finishes at a high rate, plus he's outstanding off the catch. Between Sullivan, Caleb Kelly, and Aiden Fournier—who we covered extensively this fall—FCA Maryland boasts an exciting group at attack, along with several promising A/M types.     Among the '28s that I evaluated for the first time at IMLCA, Smith was the most impressive, in addition to being the most productive. He dazzled with the ball in the stick, thriving both as a goal-scorer and a passer, drawing the eyes of the defense and then tossing a pinpoint pass to the back pipe in a Sunday win over Prime Time. Unofficially, I had the Orlando native down for six goals and two assists in two games against top competition, including a five-piece against a talented Project Midwest group. In particular, I was blown away by his poise, flair for the dramatic, and knack for making the guys around him better. He darted through traffic and finished under duress, finished at 5 and 5, and got it done with both hands with regularity. He's excellent without the ball, too, executing some downright beautiful cuts then finishing in close. Simply put, when Sweetlax needed a play, Smith was the one making things happen and making defenses look silly in the process.     Carrying one of the most loaded top sixes I've seen in the class thus far, Leading Edge boasts a long list of weapons capable of putting pressure on the opposition during any given possession. We've featured several of them over the past few weeks, and even more have emerged since I first saw them at the Terp Classic in early November. In Florida, it was Warrick, a promising A/M type and X-factor with his elite feeding ability from above GLE. Making the right read every time, I witnessed him collect three beautiful assists in a shutout win on Saturday and score an impressive goal in a loss to Team 91 LI on Sunday. As a freshman, the South Jersey native earned 2nd Team All-League recognition as a middie and put out film that showcased the kind of assertiveness and poise more typical of a seasoned veteran.

For many, the IMLCA Players Summit served as the final opportunity of the calendar year to make an impression. A number of emerging names in the Class of 2028 seized that big stage, putting themselves firmly on the radar of some of the nation's top Division I programs.