Stock Rising: Sophomore Standouts in New England

Though several months remain until the September 1 contact date for the 2028 recruitment, anticipation of this class's overall talent is growing. That rings especially true in New England prep school circles, where there's a surplus of prospects on both sides of the ball. In this piece, we take a look at five recruits who are on the rise through the first few weeks of the season.    Even among a phenomenal '28 offensive class, Beskin's skill set stands out as unique compared to his peers due to his size and authoritative style of play with the ball in his stick. He's incredibly impressive in the way that he initiates and embraces contact on his dodges, and can consistently make noteworthy plays while under duress with defenders draped all over him. The Boca Raton (Fla.) native pairs that physicality with soft hands, a full bag of tricks around the cage, and a plethora of creative release points. He's underrated as a passer, too, often pulling up like he's about to shoot before finding the open man. He's always playing under control, and there's a general smoothness and edge about him that jumps out when watching him. Watching him both live and on tape this fall, it was quickly apparent that he was due for a breakthrough spring, and he's answered the ball so far on a Loomis offense full of both established talent and promising underclassmen.     Gashi's prowess has been well-documented on Prep Lacrosse, having established himself as a '27 at Horace Greeley (N.Y.) before making the move to Taft heading into the fall. Any questions about how he'd handle the jump in competition have been answered quickly and emphatically. In his most recent outing, he poured in five goals in the Rhinos' one-goal loss to Brunswick. Two-handed and dynamic, he's got burst and superb body control, artfully dodging from X with confidence and poise. Take a less-than-stellar approach against him, and the ball is winding up in the back of the net more often than not. He's got excellent hands and a snappy release, shooting the ball from the wing at a high clip, and racking up points in transition as a reliable target at the back end of odd-man situations. Taft has a strong reputation for attracting and developing top-flight attack recruits, and Gashi looks to be next in line.     You can count on one hand the number of midfielders who get from one restraining line to the other as quickly as McGinty. Slotted into an SSDM role for the Bruins this spring, he's the kind of athlete who can tilt the field. His speed is his most elite trait, but his competitive edge is just as defining. He fully embraces his role, harassing opposing dodgers' hands and flipping his hips to stay in step, consistently disrupting scoring opportunities. McGinty is relentless off the ground, routinely winning contested balls and sparking fast breaks. In transition, his athleticism and decision-making have stood out for a 'Wick team that operates like a well-oiled machine when going from defense to offense. On the club circuit, he's everywhere, making game-changing plays in settled offense, scooping up tough groundballs, and giving opposing midfielders fits at the top of the box. With the ball in his stick, he hits another gear, making everyone around him look like they're standing still. Simply put, McGinty is a pleasure to watch and bound to be coveted by many recruiters come summer.     One of three two-way horses featured here, Morret arrived at Avon for his sophomore year after posting 130 points (102g, 28a), 69 groundballs, and 18 caused turnovers as a freshman at Trinity HS outside Pennsylvania's capital city. He has already established himself with his between-the-lines toughness, nonstop motor, and ability to do the little things at an elite level. The more you watch him, the more you appreciate Morret's game. Playing a two-way role for the Winged Beavers, his contributions have been far greater than his stat line as he acclimates to the step up in competition, and he's just scratching the surface. Whether he's on the wings of face-offs, going from D to O, or thriving in settled situations, Morret is constantly making an impact on outcomes and displaying his grit, athleticism, and competitive energy.     A raw athlete with a huge upside and outstanding bloodlines, Pritchett's dad played in the NFL, while Kane's two older brothers currently play at Georgia Tech and Alabama. Excelling at receiver and strong safety, the younger Pritchett was a Second Team All-Conference pick in football and has carried over that success to the lacrosse field, showing well at SSDM thus far. The Charleston native moves impeccably well for his size and knows how to use it to his advantage, too. Through Salisbury's first few games, he's shown the ability to flip his hips and run with some of the most athletic middies in New England, and can push fast breaks when given the opportunity. The next step for Pritchett will be improving his stick skills and his consistency and accuracy on his shot, but there's a lot to like, and his best lacrosse is ahead of him.

Though several months remain until the September 1 contact date for the 2028 recruitment, anticipation of this class's overall talent is growing. That rings especially true in New England prep school circles, where there's a surplus of prospects on both sides of the ball. In this piece, we take a look at five recruits who are on the rise through the first few weeks of the season.