Shaughnessy is a quintessential low-to-the-ground attackman with an eye for hitting wild shots and passes. He can run low and slow breaks with the precision of a much older player, but also explode out of a settled six-on-six set with a vicious over-the-top hammer from a tight angle. Shaughnessy, or “Dunnie” if you’re familiar enough, is unpredictable in the best sense of the word. He’s one of those attackmen who uses his flair responsibly. Behind-the-back passes used to be seen as “too showy”, but they’re also necessary at times to get the best angle. Everyone wants an attackman who can turn nothing into something, and that’s who Shaughnessy is for Thayer and Laxachusetts.

This was somehow the first time I’d seen Shaughnessy live, and it would be fair to say that his skill set and physicality pop more from a sideline vantage point than on film. Always operating with his head up, he dodges with poise and precision, utilizing his sturdy frame to his shoulder down and soaking contact before getting his hands free. Shaughnessy had some beautiful feeds and racked up a pair of assists in the span of minutes, tossing dimes from below GLE and from the wings while making his teammates look even better. What I love about his game is that he’s far more than a feeder, as he can beat defenders off the dodge, finish appropriately inside, or bury shots from mid-range.