Six Eye-Popping 2028s to Watch in the Garden State

New Jersey is filled with a ton of talent at all grade levels and the 2028 class is no exception, here's a few sophomores producing at a high level with still so much room for growth down the line.   Each of these players have been filling up the stat sheet so far this season and will look to be a big part of their team's success as we head into county tournament time.    Filler is possibly the best 2028 prospect I've seen so far. In the game I covered vs West Morris, Filler was matched up against Maryland-bound [player_tooltip player_id='71567' first='Luke' last='Gouse'] who is regarded as one of the best FOGOs in the nation and Filler held it own to say the least. He is quick on the whistle and displayed great lower body strength and awareness to fight hard in ground ball scrums, playing with aggression and intensity that is fun to watch. When he loses the draw, he is all over his opponent right away, delivering hard checks and putting in a lot of effort to make sure his opponent does not get off easy. He is currently at 176 face-off wins at a 73% win-rate and has also shown to be a threat with the ball in transition. The 3D Garden State product has netted 3 goals and dished out 4 assists so far this season, with smart plays and good stick skills. Rightfully so, Scotch Plains-Fanwood is being talked about as a top 5 team in NJ and there's no doubt Filler's production from the X is a big reason why they've had success and been able to close out games late.     After starting the year by losing 3 straight games and letting up over ten goals in each contest, [player_tooltip player_id='176743' first='Wyatt' last='Curley'] and the Red Bank Catholic defensive unit has been locking down opponents and holding them to under six goals a game on average. Between the pipes, Curley displays a wide base, making it more challenging on shooters to find their spots and get into rhythm and also does a good job of communicating with his defenders to get them into good positions. He is currently at 153 saves on the season, averaging just under 13 saves per game and does it with lightning fast reactions and shows the athleticism to get low or get from pipe to pipe in a split second. He gets aggressive near the crease to fight for possessions and does a great job of setting up the clear and being methodical when a transition chance isn't available. Curley will need to keep his production up if Red Bank Catholic is going to make a deep run this spring.     After finishing with 29 points last spring as a freshman, Corino has come out firing this year and has shown to have put a lot of work in during the summer circuit to improve his craft. He's currently first on the team in goals (37) and points (46) displaying his ability to be a leader for his team offensively even as an underclassmen. When dodging, he has good speed to get past his matchup and create separation, not needing much of an angle to be effective and when he draws a slide, he is quick to get the ball moving while the defense is out of position to help his teammates. The NJ Riot product also works well off-ball with hard cuts to the cage and swift stick skills on the crease, but also gets his nose in ground ball scrums to fight for extra possessions. Corino tallied six goals and an assist in the first round of the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex County Tournament and will look to keep up that efficient play heading into the second round and beyond.     Scannell tallied 50 points last spring, starting as a freshman and by the looks of things, it seems he will definitely surpass that mark, already with 41 points on the season (19G, 22A). He is a quick and shifty player to keep up with and has good size at the lefty attack position with quick hands in tight and good vision on dodges. The South Shore product stays active on loose balls and when he gets an unsettled chance, he's quick to make a play for his team. Scannell moves well with or without the ball, back-dooring his matchups and finding soft spots in the defense to set up for a step down off a skip pass. When shooting he deceives opposing goalies by changing planes and mixes up his shot locations to be less predictable with good accuracy and a lot of power behind it. He is sitting 2nd on the team in points and has stepped into a much large role this spring for the Mustangs with a few offensive pieces having graduated.     One of the first things you see when watching Iliescu play is his size. He is a multi-sport athlete, awarded 2nd team All-Group 5 as a linebacker and you can see he uses his size to his advantage on the lacrosse field as well. He is a stocky, strong and physical player who utilizes that strength to absorb stick checks and bounce off of body checks with a good low-center of gravity and balance. When defending from the midfield position, he puts that strength to good use when sliding or forcing a player down the alley. The BBL product currently sits 2nd on his team in points (45) and first in assists (28), showcasing his vision when drawing a double team and playing smart with the ball. When dodging, he invites contact and is a threat with both hands, not afraid to get into the teeth of the defense and take a hit along the way. He has a smooth shot either on the run or with time and room and places the ball in tough spots for goaltenders to track. Southern is out to an outstanding 10-2 record thus far and Iliescu has been a critical aspect of this Rams offensive unit.     Scott has been fantastic for North Hunterdon in his first two seasons at the varsity level, leading the team in goals and assists as a freshman last spring and continuing to be a force offensively, leading the team in points (43) thus far. When dodging, he has a quick first step out of his break to create space and dodges with his head up, showcasing the ability to beat his matchup shooting on the run or by using his vision to find an open teammate. The NJ Riot product isn't the biggest player on the field, but what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for with speed and stick skills. While he is right-hand dominant, he can play with either hand and have an impact, with good instincts and a confidence with the ball. When shooting, he has a quick release and puts the ball in good spots to make it tough on opposing goaltenders. Scott has played a large role for the Lions so far this season and he will need to keep firing on all cylinders to help his team advance in the county tournament and in the state playoffs down the road.

New Jersey is filled with a ton of talent at all grade levels and the 2028 class is no exception, here's a few sophomores producing at a high level with still so much room for growth down the line.