New Jersey’s Top Face-Off Specialists in the Class of 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For our last preseason positional write-up on the Class of 2024, we turn to the all-important face-off position. The impact of face-off specialists cannot and does not go unnoticed. Here's a look at five of the top players at the position in NJ: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["14940"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Trafford is probably the most dynamic faceoff specialist in the Class of 2024. The 4-star Navy commit will not only be playing lacrosse next year but also joining the Navy football team as a running back. Trafford has great size and speed along with a toughness and physicality that will be needed at the collegiate level. He has quick hands on the face-off and the strength to win a tight battle. Trafford can win the draw in any direction he wants and has the athleticism and skill to be able to fight for the ground ball if he sends it to open space. He is also skilled with the ball in his stick when running a fast break. He can find the open man with a smart pass or take it himself, where he has proved to be able to score the ball efficiently. One of his best attributes is how clutch Trafford is: he has shown the ability to show up and perform in high-pressure situations when the game is on the line and he has delivered more times than not which shows an immense amount of confidence. Trafford will look to build off of his 2023 campaign, having scored seven goals with a 62% win percentage on 209 attempts while helping his team to a Non-Public Group A title.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["15222"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Hernando, a 3-star Bryant signee, will look to have another great year for Mountain Lakes as the Lakers hope to snag a second state title in three years. The 5'6 senior seems to have a motor that just doesn't stop. He is strong, scrappy, and athletic with a wrestling background that he uses to react quickly on face-offs and scrap for a loose ground ball, an area in which he thrives. Hernando can win the faceoff through his legs or to himself in space, where he has shown the ability to handle the ball on the offensive side and take smart shots. Last season, he went 69 percent while taking over 350 face-offs and netting four goals plus an assist. If Mountain Lakes is going to make another run, Hernando will need to perform at the face-off X, and I believe he's ready for the challenge.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["15205"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"If Bernards is going to get back to the South Jersey Group 1 title game, then its specialists will have to play a huge role for the Mountaineers. The 3-star Michigan signee is coming off a great junior year, winning 69 percent on 396 attempts while chipping in seven goals to help Bernards finish 16-5 and 2nd in the Waterman Conference. He has lightning-quick hands and is extremely skilled in winning the face-off either between his legs or forward, where he uses his speed and stick skills to make smart plays with the ball on a fast break. He can handle the ball and shoot right off the face-off or dish it to set up a teammate. When he is unable to win it cleanly, Sardis hustles for ground balls and uses maximum effort if caught on defense. If Sardis stays consistent like he's been able to do, Somerset County better watch out.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["15284"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"With all of the makings of someone who will excel at the next level, Edwards is going to be a problem next year at Bucknell. A West Morris Central graduate, the 3-star is currently taking a PG year at The Hun School of Princeton. While playing for BBL Elite, Edwards matched up with a ton of top-ranked FOGOs and fared nicely against them. He was able to win faceoffs cleanly off the jump with a quick clamp and the strength to rake it out if needed. He's smooth when it comes to winning face-offs either in front of him to start a fast break or behind him to a teammate, and if he starts a fast break he can handle the ball pretty well. If by chance he loses the faceoff, Edwards can hold his own on the defensive side of the ball, using his physicality and good footwork to stay in front of his matchup. In his senior season, Edwards went 73% and netted three goals as the Wolfpack fell short in North Jersey's Group 2 semifinals. With Hun looking to return to the Mercer County finals once again, Edwards will be a key piece this season.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["15299"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Coming off a loss in the Somerset County finals and state semifinals, Bridgewater-Raritan will look to bounce back in a big way in 2024 and of course, it starts at the faceoff X with Kostes. The 3-star Boston University commit had a great season for the Panthers last year, winning 73 percent on 381 attempts while adding five goals and three assists. Kostes went up against a lot of Division I talent last spring and handled them nicely with his quick hands and reactions, along with the ability to win it forward or backward to keep the opponents' wings guessing. When the ball is loose, he can get scrappy and dig it out of a pile as well. When winning the faceoff cleanly and out in front, Kostes likes the give-and-go when he's not just taking it himself for a shot. He's experienced playing offense in his younger days which is why he has superior stick handling and does not get rattled when he draws a LSM. His shots are hard and very well placed and there are times he stays on offense to test the other teams' faceoff men on defense.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d897063f79d"} /-->