Young Guns: Class of 2029 Defenders to Know, Part II

We're back with a second wave of 2029 defenders worth watching, featuring some familiar names — including the younger brothers of two five-stars. All five come from well-established prep programs, so it may take some time before they make an impact at the varsity level, but there's no doubt they'll be names we're talking about heading into 9/1 in a few years. ICYMI, the rest of this series on freshmen: <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2026/01/young-guns-class-of-2029-attackmen-to-know/">Attackmen, Part I</a> <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2026/01/young-guns-class-of-2029-attackmen-to-know-pt-2/">Attackmen, Part II</a> <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2026/01/young-guns-class-of-2029-midfielders-to-know/">Middies, Part I</a> <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2026/01/young-guns-class-of-2029-midfielders-to-know-part-ii/">Middies, Part II</a> <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2026/01/young-guns-class-of-2029-defenders-to-know/">Defenders, Part I</a>    Now at St. Anthony's, Bramoff arrived with varsity experience from Long Island Lutheran, which featured a highly talented crop of '29s (including some former '28s) who have since transferred elsewhere. A lefty who is the younger brother of Ethan, a five-star Maryland signee, Bramoff shares several of the same attributes, starting with his motor and tenacity. Dylan is gritty and confrontational on-ball, throwing checks with purpose and habitually putting his man on the ground to make his presence felt. He has a tremendous command of the defense from his spot down low and is also an asset in the middle of the field. Bramoff has to be accounted for once he crosses the midline, as he has a nose for the goal and a knack for making momentum-shifting plays with the ball in his stick.     A physical specimen at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Drescher looks the part—and that's putting it lightly. With the frame of a tight end, his feet are still catching up to his body, which is often the case for young defenders of that size. Still, there's plenty to like about what he brings to the table, and he'll benefit from being surrounded by a wealth of blue-chip defensive talent at St. Seb's to learn from. He steadily helps possessions and, more importantly, he knows what to do with the ball in his stick. Drescher consistently rolls away from pressure, makes the right decisions, and plays within himself without getting overzealous. He also knows how to finish with flair, evidenced by a nasty BTB finish at the One Percent All-Star Game last month. I'll be keeping an eye on him going forward and will be intrigued to see where his game is two years from now.     Part of an established Loomis–Hilltop connection, Deutsch arrived at the Pelicans from Cary Academy in North Carolina. Physically, he's an absolute brute at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, and with a sturdy base, he rarely gives ground at GLE. While his presence alone can deter teams from attacking him, Deutsch pairs that size with an active stick and strong anticipation. His physicality is a clear calling card, as he uses his frame more effectively than most defenders his age, leveraging his length to knock down passes, disrupt plays on the slide, and consistently push attackmen off their line. It'll be exciting to track the strides he makes in a high school program that has done a stellar job developing talent in recent years.     Another sibling of a five-star, Luke's older brother Will is a freshman LSM at Duke. As expected, there are both similarities and differences between the two, with Will having been bigger at the same age and playing right-handed, unlike the lefty Luke. Super smooth off the ground, Pedicano consistently makes quick work of face-offs by scooping cleanly and darting to the cage. He's strong in coverage as well, matching feet and steering his man into low-percentage scoring areas. Pedicano plays under control while still applying physicality, and his knack for making game-changing plays in transition makes him a true X-factor even at this early stage. Although they have some holes to fill on that end, Delbarton still has significant defensive depth, so Pedicano will likely have to wait his turn before he factors in at the varsity level.     Rosenschein is an intriguing young defender who checks a lot of boxes, highlighted by a tall frame he'll only continue to grow into over the next few years. He plays with a high motor, never taking plays off and doing the dirty work when the ball is on the ground, particularly in scrum situations. He put out some strong clips with the U.S. U-15 squad this fall and looked especially impressive running a short stick during Sixes, where his footwork stood out. I also liked what I saw from him at NHSLS, as he held his own against some tough matchups. Rosenschein boasts excellent length, a strong handle, and is effective both on and off-ball. He's at his best between the lines, moving well for his size and showing sound stick work across the board.

We're back with a second wave of 2029 defenders worth watching, featuring some familiar names — including the younger brothers of two five-stars. All five come from well-established prep programs, so it may take some time before they make an impact at the varsity level, but there's no doubt they'll be names we're talking about heading into 9/1 in a few years.

ICYMI, the rest of this series on freshmen:
Attackmen, Part I
Attackmen, Part II
Middies, Part I
Middies, Part II
Defenders, Part I