Millon Invitational: Delaware Valley ’28s and ’29s Who Stood Out

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Sunday, the Millon Fall Invitational gathered 25 East Coast clubs in the 2028 and 2029 grad years for a day of lacrosse at the Westtown School in Chester County, Pennsylvania.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was at the Westtown School last weekend to watch the highly competitive lacrosse action. So, today I want to profile five prospects from the Delaware Valley who shined with their incredible play at the Millon Fall Invitational.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["219372"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":219498,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af5f14e2becc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At the Millon Fall Invitational, Calhoun's finishing skills really popped. Whether he was capping off a fast break or receiving a pass on the crease during 6v6 action, Calhoun's bag of fakes and polished shooting skills enabled him to convert on those opportunities. His ability to finish in traffic with either hand was impressive. As an initiator, Calhoun displayed a quick burst and serious shake on dodges from the wing as well as X. Calhoun also proved to be a patient ball carrier who would re-dodge or carry the ball behind the net rather than force a low-percentage opportunity. College coaches will love that Calhoun is a versatile offensive prospect who played at both attack and midfield.        </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["176676"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af5f14e2bf04"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Last Sunday, D'Onofrio's speed, tenacity, and well-rounded skill set were on full display. This versatile pole operated at LSM and close defense. From both positions, D'Onofrio was a suffocating and fundamentally sound on-ball presence. I was especially impressed with D'Onofrio's ability to swiftly close out on a ball carrier while remaining under control. Additionally, D'Onofrio did a fantastic job of being physical with ball carriers and delivering aggressive stick checks without overcommitting or losing his leverage. D'Onofrio also proved to be an instinctive defender who executed timely slides and double teams. D'Onofrio flashed his solid transition skills and was a plus player in the clearing game too.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["219373"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":219499,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af5f14e2bf2d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">During the Millon Fall Invitational, Kerns proved to be a shutdown close defender. This agile and aggressive sophomore excelled at arriving early to a ball carrier and then unleashing a barrage of sticks supplemented by a healthy dose of physicality. That relentless combination forced the ball carrier to either quickly move the rock or caused a turnover. Kerns also excelled at tracking ball carriers for long stretches and peppering their hands with slaps, lifts, and pokes. His smooth lateral footwork allowed Kerns to turn his opponent multiple times during these 1v1 matchups. Kerns also displayed impressive speed and nifty stick skills on several ground ball pickups in the open field. His ability to leg the ball over midfield and into the offensive end was noteworthy, too.   <strong>   </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["174844"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af5f14e2bf4b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mark is an incredibly athletic and ridiculously fast LSM who spent last Sunday blowing up the opposing team's offensive possessions. This sophomore did an incredible job of sprinting out of the box to the ball and then stopping the opponent's transition chance. On a number of those plays, Mark delivered a heavy stick check on the ball carrier that caused a turnover. Mark was then quick to vacuum up the ground ball, turn upfield and then charge into the offensive end. College coaches will obsess over the separation speed Mark displayed as he raced through the middle third of the field. In 6v6 action, Mark's remarkable agility enabled him to stay glued to ball carriers through multiple changes of direction. On Sunday, Mark also demonstrated fantastic instincts for when to come off his man in order to deliver a powerful trail check on the ball carrier.        </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["219374"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":219503,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af5f535dfaac"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This past summer, Noujiam transferred from Amity High School in Connecticut to the Perkiomen School. After watching him at the Millon Fall Invite last Sunday, there is no doubt that Noujiam was a tremendous addition for the Panthers. Noujaim consistently executed clean pick-and-pop wins that led to unsettled scoring chances. His refined, two-handed stick skills allowed Noujiam to push the ball deep below the restraining line and then distribute to an open teammate, but he never forced ill-advised fast break opportunities. Instead, Noujiam showed that he valued possession and dropped the ball off to a waiting attackman. Noujiam also demonstrated that he had a few tricks up his sleeve as he won several draws via crafty sweeps and jabs. This uncommitted junior displayed noteworthy speed and smooth ground ball skills on those plays too.       </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->