COACH COHEN
Class of 2026 Top 15 Rankings
Coach Cohen has been traveling the country watching all of the best 2026 Faceoff specialists. Below are what he believes are the best 2026s in the class in alphabetical order.
Aaron Pressman
New Trier/True Illinois
Aaron is incredibly strong. I've seen other players struggle to move him with their counters, but Aaron stands out with his ability to handle those situations. I love how, when the ball is on the ground in tight spaces, he’ll flip or kick it to create space for an easy ground ball pickup. He fights for every single ground ball and employs a variety of exits, ensuring that opponents can never predict where he’ll be going next.
AJ Yeung/Princeton
Holderness/NH Tomahawks
AJ consistently demonstrates athleticism in ways that coaches love. In one game I watched, he lost the clamp but didn't let it faze him. Instead of countering directly, he got belly-to-helmet, forcing his opponent to react. Unsure of what to do, his opponent ended up throwing the ball through his legs. AJ quickly hunted the ball down, helping his team regain possession. What stood out to me was his refusal to give up a forward exit, showing his tenacity and strategic mindset. AJ once reached out to me, not to improve his clamp, but to develop his rakes and counters. This commitment to becoming a well-rounded athlete sets him apart. I have no doubt that AJ will be playing Division 1 lacrosse in the future.
Brian McCaffery
Allentown/Leading Edge
Brian is one of the toughest faceoff athletes in the class. His strength is impressive, and he utilizes it exceptionally well. If I were his high school coach, I would let him choose whether to rake or clamp, as he excels with both techniques. His tenacity on ground balls is remarkable—he embodies a blue-collar toughness every time he's on the field, and I absolutely love that about him.
Ciaran Sweeney
McDonough/Annapolis Hawks
Ciaran is an incredible athlete, and I love watching him play. He can seamlessly switch between using a rake or a clamp, keeping his opponents constantly guessing. This unpredictability is where Ciaran truly shines. When he has the ball in his stick, I never worry about him turning it over. His 6’2” frame gives him tremendous potential for muscle growth, and his prospects for college lacrosse are extremely high.
Connor Wambach
Salisbiry School/Sweetlax Upstate
Connor can definitely put the ball in the net. He’s a significant threat in transition when he exits forward. This summer, I saw him score two goals in a game, showcasing his athleticism and ability. I trust him completely with the ball and have confidence in his decision-making.
Dominic Giangreco
McQuaid Jesuit/Sweetlax Upstate
For the past few years, watching Dom play has been incredible. His exits are impressive; he always places the ball exactly where he wants and consistently retrieves it. What stands out most about Dom is his performance during the NY State Championship game—he put his team on his back and scored the winning goal. That’s not something you see from just any FOGO; it’s the mark of a true faceoff athlete.
Ethan Goldberg
Roslyn/Rebels
Whenever Ethan exits, he doesn’t anticipate where his exit will go to. He will react to where the ball goes and hunt down the ball. Even though he uses a face flexing head, he uses the head just like an oblique flexing head. He’s so good at stabbing into the ball when he clamps. Ethan fights hard on ground balls. He’s not afraid of poles when they faceoff against them. He will clear the ball himself.
Gavin Gaertner
Mount Paran Christian/3D Georgia
Gavin’s clamp is incredibly strong—it's almost impossible to push him off the ball. I also admire his stick protection skills and spatial awareness. When he wins a faceoff backwards, he immediately scans the field and makes quick decisions while still protecting his stick. You have to respect him on the break, as he will make you pay if you don’t.
Joe Kim
Gilman/Crabs
Joe has proven why he's still one of the best in his class. His athleticism, stick handling, stick protection, and ground ball skills make him stand out. I particularly admire his decision-making with the ball; he’s fearless and will make opponents pay if they don’t respect him. Joe is always prepared to rake, clamp, or counter as needed. I appreciate a complete faceoff athlete who has all the tools to succeed.
Johan Van Oast
St. Ignatius/WCS
What I love about Johan is his decision-making when he exits backdoor. He consistently avoids passing the ball to the goalie, opting instead to clear it himself. I’m not a fan of faceoff guys who default to passing back to the goalie when going backwards or facing a pole. Johan, however, has proven that he’s a lacrosse player first and a faceoff athlete second. His athleticism is impressive—he can navigate and escape from any situation.
Leo Barbagallo/Brown
Hotchkiss/Primetime
The Showtime All-Star has an incredibly strong clamp—it's definitely his standout move. Leo is exceptionally quick with his exits, getting in and out seamlessly, which makes him very difficult to counter. He’s also tough on ground balls and prioritizes retaining possession over pushing the ball unnecessarily. I appreciate that Leo understands when it’s better to secure possession rather than force a play.
Luke Gouse
West Morris/BBL
I really appreciate Luke as a faceoff athlete, not just for his skills at the draw but for what he does immediately afterward. When Luke has the ball, he can execute an impressive 10 seconds of early offense. I value this ability in my faceoff athletes—moving the ball effectively rather than just clearing out. Luke commands respect as he charges downfield with the ball. I also loved how quick and efficient his exits are; he’s often uncounterable.
Robbie Johnson
St. Anthony's/LI Express
Robbie is incredibly athletic and arguably the most athletic faceoff athlete in the class. His ground ball skills are impressive, and his clamp is outstanding. Although he played in only a few games this summer, he made a significant impact whenever he was on the field. In the NLF Championship game, he was winning faceoffs consistently and going forward almost every time, showing that he was still performing at an elite level despite any health concerns.
Tyson Blalock
Millbrook High/91 Long Island
I trust Tyson’s ability to win faceoffs. He excels at both clamps and counters, demonstrating versatility and skill. Tyson is exceptional at hunting ground balls, using his tall frame to shield opponents from the ball. His wide variety of exits adapts to every situation, making him unpredictable and effective. I was particularly impressed by how he would sometimes avoid rotating against an opponent, only to fire off a counter and win the faceoff. I have great admiration for players who can counter effectively.
Zander Brasher
IMG/Sweetlax Florida
Zander is fantastic to watch. His hard right-hand stab gives him a distinct advantage in winning clamps. His stick skills are reminiscent of an offensive player; when the ball is in his stick, it’s as if an offensive midfielder has it. He protects his stick at an exceptional level, and every time he has the ball, I find myself expecting him to score.
HONORABLE MENTION
Cortlandt Reidenouer STAB/Mad Lax
Foster Huang Torrey Pines/WCS
Gavin Morrissey Haverford/Team Ten
Greer Boree Bolles School/Sweetlax Florida
Jacob Rosenberg American Heritage School/Sweetlax Florida
Matt Connolly Malvern/Mesa
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