National ASG 2028s: Six East Coast Defenders Who Popped

As we continue working through evaluations from the National All-Star Games — having already published <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2026/07/national-asg-2028s-offensive-weapons-who-finished-strong/">Part I</a> and <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2026/07/national-asg-2028s-offensive-weapons-who-finished-strong-part-2/">Part II </a>on offensive standouts — we shift our attention to the defensive side of the ball, with another installment on the event's standout SSDMs coming next.    I developed an even greater appreciation for Donoho's 1v1 ability and fundamentally sound style of play as the summer wore on, and an argument could be made that he played some of his best lacrosse during the final weekend. He caught my eye most for limiting the production of one of the better (and bigger) attackmen in the country, an outing that drew rave reviews from more than one college coach sitting nearby. Donaho checks a lot of boxes: he plays under control, has high-level footwork, and his stick is always in the right place, guiding attackmen away from where they want to go to create offense. He plays angles and picks particularly well, and once the ball is in his stick, he does a really nice job handling it and making decisions in the clearing game.     Hapgood is another defenseman whose game I have grown increasingly fond of over time, and it's easy to see the strides he has made with his footwork and stick skills since the fall. He has also added some bulk to his long 6'2" frame, further enhancing his physical tools. His length remains a hallmark of his game, allowing him to disrupt passing lanes, knock down passes, and create turnovers — all things he did consistently throughout his time at NASG. On pace to be a four-year member of both the Blue Wave's varsity football and lacrosse programs, Hapgood is clearly well-coached under the tutelage of Ric Beardsley. His stick is constantly active, whether he's clogging passing lanes or disrupting attackmen's hands, and he makes great slide decisions. I'll be intrigued to see how he continues to develop, especially as he steps into a larger role for Darien this spring. Regardless, he's trending in the right direction and projects as a player who should find a great home at the next level, likely this fall.     An energetic and disruptive defender who plays great team defense, Levay was among several Team DMV poles to make a significant impact this past weekend. A vocal presence down low who is constantly communicating, he's the type of defender who can match feet with fleet-footed attackmen or apply the necessary contact to frustrate bigger-bodied threats. He excels as a slide defender and plays with a physical edge without often putting himself in compromising positions, which is a major positive for a young prospect who isn't afraid to throw his body around. In addition, Levay possesses a smooth stick off the ground, a high motor, and has proven to be excellent in scrum situations, digging out loose balls and making the right decisions once he comes away with possession. His spring highlight tape also showcased his offensive instincts, as he flashed the ability to generate caused turnovers and spark transition opportunities during his sophomore season.     Similar to what I've written this week about several of his teammates, I can't believe this is our first published evaluation of Sim, who pieced together an impressive rising junior summer. Undoubtedly benefiting from countless backyard reps with his Top 100 recruit and Notre Dame-bound brother, Brendan, Sim is a talented and tall lefty with considerable upside. He has high-level footwork to match up with some of the more renowned attackmen in the class, staying in position at all times without ever throwing home run checks, often jarring the ball free with a subtle poke or a simple slap. In addition, he's excellent with the ball and has been known to make things in transition. After having a big year along with a number of talented 2028s on JV, Sim looks like he's poised to compete for significant minutes at the varsity level.     Plop down in a collapsible chair on the sideline, look up, and your eyes will quickly find Spinner's towering 6-foot-4 frame. He's more than just a big body, however, and at the National All-Star Games, it was clear that he was playing with a level of confidence greater than what he displayed during the first few tournaments he competed in this summer. Spinner is another defenseman who uses his length to his advantage to tip passes and disrupt offensive flow, in addition to causing turnovers when sliding. While still growing into his body and improving his footwork, he frequently made an impact for a Leading Edge defense that has plenty of star power, performing admirably within a team setting. He's constantly picking up groundballs on the first try and doing some good things in the clearing game, too. From what I hear, he was a standout with the Hilltoppers down at NHSLS back in June and is expected to step into a much bigger role as a junior after some losses to graduation.     On my radar after showing flashes during the fall, Sullivan certainly popped at NASG, coming up with big play after big play to help lead Long Island during Sunday's bracket play. One sequence late in the game perfectly summed up his impact: he forced his matchup out of bounds to give Long Island possession, then soon followed it up with a downright nasty caused turnover that sent his opponent's stick flying and drew quite a reaction from the sideline. Overall, I love the motor and compete level Sullivan displayed, not to mention his vacuum of a stick. He was a menace scooping up groundballs, whether in scrum situations or on the wings of face-offs. His hands are outstanding, and he possesses an excellent handle, comfortably carrying and dangling with either hand when needed. I'm excited to see where he takes his game from here, and I'd imagine his summer highlight reel will showcase just how much he's improved over the past several months.

As we continue working through evaluations from the National All-Star Games — having already published Part I and Part II on offensive standouts — we shift our attention to the defensive side of the ball, with another installment on the event's standout SSDMs coming next.