Even in a losing effort, Balsamo was arguably the most unstoppable player on the field for much of the game, posting four goals and an assist and often putting the team on his back. He got the scoring started when he slipped free in front of the cage and converted a feed from Brendan Sim Brendan Sim 6'3" | M | Left Hand Chaminade | 2027 #84 Nation NY , then added a pretty low-to-low tally on EMO early in the second quarter. In the fourth quarter, he hitched and came off an excellent Sim pick to get his hands free, assisted Finn Pizzo Finn Pizzo 6'0" | M/A | Right Hand Chaminade | 2027 NY a few minutes later, then beat his man before netting a shovel shot on a dodge from X to come within two goals with under two minutes left. Every time Chaminade got on the board in the fourth quarter, Balsamo was involved in the scoring play, which tells you everything you need to know about what kind of competitor he is, along with his relentless riding display.

A classic pipeline product, John Balsamo brings a market-tested, next-level toolkit to any attack unit. A prototypical right-wing field general, he controls tempo with poise, spacing, and an eyes-up approach that keeps defenders honest. Whether initiating, orchestrating, or manipulating slides, John plays with a deliberate mindset that elevates everyone around him.

Balsamo started varsity as a sophomore in 2024 with 26 points (15G, 11A) and exploded as a junior in 2025 with 75 points (38G, 37A) while leading the Flyers to a 14–2 record. His impact is multi-dimensional — capable as a feeder, secondary dodger, or clutch finisher. When slides are aggressive, John punishes them with precise reads; when defenses hesitate, he creates scoring opportunities, sweeping topside or attacking the hash with speed and calculated dodging patterns.

What sets Balsamo apart is his command under pressure. He handles doubles and absorbs contact as if hands-free, consistently finding the optimal release point and delivering the right play without breaking rhythm. This past year, he added another gear of quickness, winning more matchups while maintaining full control of his body. His chemistry with teammates adds predictability for coaches and unpredictability for defenses — a rare combination at the high school level.

Signed to play at the University of Virginia, John Balsamo projects as a cerebral offensive leader. With three-level scoring ability, a proven clutch gene, and a refined sense of timing, he’s built to make an early impact in Charlottesville and a player defenses will have to account for on every possession.

Elevated to five-star status in August after taking his game to another level since his recruiting summer, Balsamo has received quite a bit of press here on Prep Lacrosse, and for good reason. At Project 9, he ran away with Attack MVP honors and often looked like the best player on the field, posting three goals on Monday (including a beautiful BTB tally). The Virginia commit is a total workhorse who grinds each possession, getting his as a dodger while showing fearlessness when working in traffic. With a lacrosse IQ that is off-the-charts, he has a knack for making the right play every time and is super unselfish and poised as well.

Balsamo has experienced a meteoric rise since last summer. He put on an absolute show during the fall and scored in bunches, then carried over that confidence to the spring, during which he led the Flyers in assists (37) and points (75) yet was somehow snubbed from Newsday’s First Team All-Long Island squad. This summer, Balsamo was as dominant as any attackman in the country, validating Virginia’s late spring decision to take him as a ’26 after he originally committed as a ’27 last September. A fiery competitor who plays under control at all times, he’s a high-percentage scorer who can finish the ball both fundamentally and with flair, and is a dangerous feeder able to throw guys open with his off-the-charts IQ. On top of that, he’s a demon in the riding game, picking up 31 groundballs and causing 11 turnovers as a junior.

Balsamo, a Virginia commit, is a lightning-fast attackman and a key offensive weapon for the Flyers. Typically operating from the right wing or at X, his explosive first step consistently puts him in prime scoring opportunities. He moves well within the pick game, whether cutting up the hash or sweeping off a screen to create space for his shot. Already off to a hot start, expect him to be one of the Flyers’ top offensive options this season.

Balsamo was off-the-charts in the fall and has picked up right where he left off, this time in a more structured setting. Making up an attack unit with players committed to Duke and Johns Hopkins, Balsamo has been the star of the show thus far, putting up four goals and two assists at McDonogh and two goals and three assists at Loyola. In the big win over the Eagles, his artful dodging and timely scoring were big reasons why the Flyers built a big lead and escaped with a victory. He’s so shifty and aggressive as a dodger, whether that’s from X or the wing. When he’s not beating defensemen off the dodge, he’s beating goalies with a phenomenal outside shot, so he’s particularly difficult to game-plan for. Beyond his offensive ability, Balsamo mixes it up with gritty play in the riding game and when the ball is on the ground. I don’t usually notice a huge difference in a player’s development from July to November, but Balsamo was undoubtedly an exception, and he’s elevated his game even more since the fall to become a dangerous all-around playmaker in his second year as a starter.

Balsamo is a well-rounded attackman who can be one of the top attackmen in this class when it’s said and done. Having recently committed to UVA as a 2027, he had a highly productive spring and summer with Chaminade and LI Express. Balsamo is an excellent shooter and was able to find the back of the net a ton, but it’s the number of attributes that make him so intriguing for how he’ll impact the game. Balsamo proved that in addition to his shooting, he was a very talented feeder. He can play a quarterback type of role, as he found cutters and threw terrific skip passes to elevate the players around him and have his offense succeed. In the spring, I saw firsthand the dodger Balsamo could be. He is a polished lacrosse player who is only getting more athletic, so look out for him to have a huge junior season.

Earning an All-Star nod, Balsamo turned in a highly impressive few days, finishing with an unofficial mark of seven goals and four helpers (while splitting minutes on attack) across five games then posting a pair of assists in the All-Star Game. He’s got a lot of attributes that make him a top-end attack prospect. Time and time again, I marked him down for making some beautiful cuts to create scoring opportunities. As a carrier, he got his hands free regularly and distributed at a high level, often from the righty wing. As a scorer, he beat his man to the middle by utilizing a super-quick first step and tremendous change of direction and also found the back of the net with time and room on a handful of occasions. Balsamo posted 14 goals and 10 assists as a starting attackman for the Flyers this spring.