Watts was a big boost of energy for his team as he dominated during the games I saw. He finished with eight face-off wins and a goal vs. Lawrenceville and then tallied 10 total wins vs. Seton Hall Prep, and looked to be in control the entire time in both games. He won it to himself most of the time with little resistance and was able to scoop ground balls with ease, even under pressure. When it turned into a ground ball scrum, the Yale commit did a great job of knocking the ball to space and used his speed to beat the opposition to the punch. He showcased a good handle of the ball and solid stick skills, making the defense respect his shot and playmaking ability.

This summer, one faceoff specialist stood out for his unique playmaking ability—so much so that I had to make sure he wasn’t listed as a midfielder. Julien Watts stands out for his playmaking ability, making him a legitimate scoring threat that forces defenses to respect him beyond the X. Technically sound with a strong base and low center of gravity, Watts consistently wins leverage. Even when he doesn’t secure the initial clamp, he makes life difficult for opponents in the exits and the ground ball battle. It’s no surprise Yale secured his commitment—Watts was a name I circled this summer, and college coaches did too.