Playing in one of (if not the most) challenging pods at NLF, Kennedy flexed his muscles and then some. This is something that felt apparent heading into the summer, but is even more so the case now that club ball has wrapped up, as he’s a total outlier among his peers for a few reasons. Obviously, his size makes him rather different, but it’s how well he moves for his size that makes him who he is as a prospect, along with the reality that he plays both LSM and close better than anybody else I’ve seen in the class. He handles his stick like a toothpick and makes timely plays, tallying in transition against an excellent Resolute squad to ice the game in a Sunday upset. As Michael Campanile worded it in our site’s first evaluation of Kennedy back in October after Best In Class, he is constantly able to ‘dictate matchups physically’ and make opposing offenses uncomfortable with regularity. He’s just a pleasure to watch and super consistent — along with the rest of this class of longpoles, I can’t wait to see where he winds up playing at the next level.  

At 6’5 and 200 pounds, Kennedy already has an ACC-ready frame. As imposing as his size is, the length of his arms stands out even more, seemingly stretching down to the top of his kneecaps. He uses his reach to knock down passes and gobble up contested groundballs, so he’s incredibly dependable off the wing. In the first quarter of the last Thunder game I caught, I had Kennedy down for three groundballs and a caused turnover. He’s excellent off the ground, but arguably even better in transition, where he has phenomenal offensive instincts and handles his longpole like it’s a toothpick. A true end-to-end presence, Kennedy has showcased a complete skill set all fall and looks destined to draw heavy attention next September.

Tall, athletic, and physically imposing, Kennedy stood out on both ends of the field. Defensively, his combination of size and strength allowed him to easily knock dodgers off their lines and dictate matchups physically. Off the ball, he showed impressive communication and awareness — his slides came with precise timing and angles, and his length made it difficult for offenses to move the ball cleanly, often forcing turnovers or deflections.

Where Kennedy really turned heads, though, was in transition. He consistently pushed the pace, finishing with at least a goal and an assist while showing advanced instincts on when to pick, slip, or cut to the cage. His ability to either make the defense collapse on him or finish plays himself made him a true two-way threat. With his athleticism, IQ, and versatility, Kennedy projects as one of the more intriguing 2028 defensive prospects heading into next September.