Merrill undoubtedly leveled up as a senior, having posted a modest 19-goal, 12-assist stat line as a junior, then exploding for 40 goals to go with 16 helpers as a senior for the conference champions. Another highly athletic party-starter out of the midfield, Merrill answered the bell time and time again against the Friars’ daunting non-conference schedule, blowing by defenders at will on the way to the net. The trajectory of his college career will be intriguing to follow, as he’ll be spending the fall with North Carolina’s football program.

Merrill, a midfielder committed to UNC, is also committed for football, showcasing his exceptional athleticism in both sports. He plays with great passion and toughness, always giving 100% on his dodges to get his right hand free and fire a missile past the goalie. A tough cover for defenders, Merrill combines speed with strength, running through every stick check that comes his way. He will be the top option for a strong Friars team this year.

Gary Merrill Gary Merrill 6'1" | 195 lbs | M | Right Hand St. Anthony's | 2025 #4 Nation NY once again demonstrated why he’s the top-ranked midfielder in his class. He orchestrates this offense much like he will as a dual-sport athlete, midfielder, and quarterback at UNC. In the first half of Saturday’s game, Merrill tallied four goals and one assist. His first two points came from the top center position on their man-up unit, where he showcased his impressive overhand release, pinging the top left corner. Then, from the same spot, he delivered a perfect skip-pass assist to Charlie Cacciabaudo Charlie Cacciabaudo 5'10" | A | Right Hand St. Anthony's | 2026 #75 Nation NY . The next three goals came from the Friars allowing Merrill to do what he does best: dodge and create space for his shot.

Merrill had quite a week on his home turf, dazzling at the NLF National Championships and Summer Showdown. Quite frankly, he made it look downright effortless at times. A ridiculous athlete, Merrill scored in bunches for Team 91 LI and continued to show his willingness to attack longpoles out of the midfield. At NLF, while he was still scoring off the dodge regularly, I felt like some of his best plays were when he was dodging to feed, feasting on defenses that played him as a shooter. At Summer Showdown, he scored the kind of goals that reminded everyone why he’s ranked as the top midfielder in the entire class, torching opponents with his shot on the run. His fast-twitch ability and competitive edge always show through, but it felt like he kicked his game off up a notch during this six-day stretch on Long Island.