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Way-Ahead 2025 PLL Mock Draft: Kirst To Philly, Kavanagh To the ’Woods, Mackesy To Boston

Way-Ahead 2025 PLL Mock Draft: Kirst To Philly, Kavanagh To the ’Woods, Mackesy To Boston

(Inside Lacrosse Photo: Oscar Forester)

The first thing you’ll likely hear about this 2025 PLL draft class is how steep of a drop-off it is from 2024’s historically great one.

After closer look at who’s actually projected to get selected next May, though, you’ll realize how misleading that statement is, particularly when incredibly talented players like Notre Dame finisher Jake Taylor and Virginia All-American midfielder Griffin Schutz will most likely slip out of the first round.

Just check out these names (in alphabetical order) who are on my watchlist and have the opportunity to jump up the board if their stock rises in the spring, but I’m not currently forecasting them to be picked in the first 16 selections.

  • Michael Bath, D, Princeton
  • Pace Billings, LSM/D, Michigan/Princeton
  • Aidan Carroll, A/M, Georgetown
  • Greg Campisi, LSM, Notre Dame/Harvard
  • Jack Fracyon, G, Penn State
  • Michael Gianforcaro, G, North Carolina/Princeton
  • Patrick Hackler, M, Johns Hopkins/Yale
  • Owen Hiltz, A, Syracuse
  • Michael Long, A, Cornell
  • Matt Licata, A, Villanova
  • Max Krevsky, M, Yale
  • Logan McNaney, G, Maryland
  • Russell Melendez, A, Johns Hopkins
  • Colin Mulshine, D, Princeton
  • Jared Paquette, G, Yale
  • Cam Rubin, M, Penn
  • Scott V. Smith, D, Johns Hopkins
  • Eric Spanos, A/M, Maryland
  • Jack Stuzin, LSM, Yale
  • Casey Wilson, SSDM, Denver

Also, a few notes on this class. I’ve written and spoken on podcasts about how deep of a goalie class this is and can be, but I’m not sure how early the dominoes will fall there. For starters, the elite group of shot-stoppers I have in mind include Penn’s Emmet Carroll, Penn State’s Jack Fracyon, North Carolina's Mike Gianforcaro, Maryland’s Logan McNaney and Yale’s Jared Paquette. Team needs-wise, California and Philadelphia are likely the ones who could draft a goalie earlier than any of the other six teams.

The defensive players are a bit tougher to gauge, so expect things to look a bit different on spring big boards and mocks. The Redwoods had the worst scoring defense, but will presumably look different if Owen Grant and Cole Kastner join the back line. Princeton products like Michael Bath, Colin Mulshine and current Michigan grad transfer Pace Billings could be candidates to creep up the big board, but erasers like Penn’s Brendan Lavelle, Hopkins' Scott Smith and Denver's Jimmy Freehill will be welcome additions for any training camp.

Face-off specialist Will Coletti is an interesting case to ponder. Entering his senior season at West Point, it’s certainly true that Army players are short-term solutions considering their service obligations. But for Philadelphia, Carolina and Boston, a season-long fix (remember, that’s how long Brendan Nichtern was freely available and it worked out quite well Chrome in that that ‘22 season) could be worth a pick sooner than later.

There are a few trades from last season that didn't significantly shake up the draft order, but are worth mentioning even if this exercise isn’t about diving deep into the third or fourth rounds. From late last season, the Waterdogs now have Maryland’s second-round pick from the Ryan Conrad deal and the Whipsnakes got Utah’s third-rounder in the Jackson Morrill deadline day deal. Additionally, the Archers own California’s third-rounder in the draft day deal that landed the Redwoods Kastner with the last pick. The Whipsnakes will have three third-rounders with their own pick, plus the Archers’ and Cannons’, thanks to last offseason's deal that involved Connor Kirst, Bryce Young for Matt Rees and picks.

This exercise differs from the IL mock drafts you’ll see in the spring, which will be more informed by team sources. For this first go, informed analysis about team needs for each PLL squad, past college performance for the players and a track record of how each head coach makes decisions has resulted in the following Way-Ahead 2025 PLL Mock Draft.

 

 

 

ROUND 1

 

1. Philadelphia Waterdogs: CJ Kirst, A, Cornell
The Waterdogs have played with two left-handers at attack the past couple seasons with Ethan Walker and Kieran McArdle forming some championship-caliber chemistry alongside their franchise centerpiece and quarterback Michael Sowers.

When Matt Brandau fell to them in the draft, they had to take him. So now that, after they ended up on the wrong side of several close contests and have the No. 1 pick, coach Bill Tierney can't overthink this choice: it's CJ Kirst. He’s too athletic, too gifted and has shown with the Team USA U-20 team that he can excel at midfield if necessary.

No matter if it’s Walker, McArdle and Sowers or Kirst, Brandau and Sowers or any combination of those guys, the squad who struggled most when it came to late-game offensive execution needs Kirst, who's a walking bucket.

With 230 points in three seasons, Kirst should be motivated after his Big Red failed to make the NCAA Tournament and his point total decreased by 17 points and 20 goals from ‘23 to ‘24. His love for the game is contagious, which could rejuvenate the Waterdogs’ locker room after a tough summer.

2. California Redwoods: Chris Kavanagh, A, Notre Dame
As a result of winning their Week 10 matchup with Philadelphia in early August, California gets to pick whoever the Waterdogs don’t want with the first pick between Kirst and Notre Dame two-time champion Chris Kavanagh. The youngest of the accomplished family, Chris Kavanagh has the chance to surpass Pat’s legacy should he complete the three-peat with the Irish next spring. He also has the opportunity to change fans’ opinions of him as the sidekick and become the leading Tewaaraton candidate if he keeps up his growth in facilitating the offense.

It’s a topic that was amusing following Notre Dame’s title win last May when Pat called out IL's annual preseason exercise ranking the Top 50 Players (coming again this Thanksgiving). In 2023, Chris Kavanagh tossed 16 assists. In 2024, he dished 37. If he can add another 15 or so dimes to his game as the sole quarterback of another deep Irish offense, then that’ll bode well for a Redwoods offense that could use more elite initiation alongside Rob Pannell. The trade for Chris Gray is still a work in progress, but if his work obligations result in him missing more time in ‘25, then Chris Kavanagh could be the answer.

3. Denver Outlaws: Andrew McAdorey, M, Duke
Tim Soudan hit home runs in last year’s draft class with Brennan O’Neill, Jake Piseno, Graham Bundy Jr., Josh Zawada and Luke Wierman all instantly filling big roles. In 2025, the questions start at the other end of the field, where veteran close defensemen Jesse Bernhardt and Michael Manley both have expiring contracts and, if either decide to retire, expect Soudan to opt for a defenseman like he did when he drafted JT Giles-Harris instead of TD Ierlan in 2021.

But as of now, it feels like it will be hard to overlook the season that Andrew McAdorey is about to have for the Blue Devils. With all their graduations, it’s McAdorey’s show to run offensively and that development could lead to a higher draft projection than maybe some fans expect. His dynamic dodging and overall speed translates well into the condensed pro game, and carving out a role for him alongside fellow Duke teammates like O’Neill and Zawada shouldn’t be too difficult.

4. Boston Cannons: Coulter Mackesy, A, Princeton
The biggest storyline following Boston’s crash out of their quarterfinal contest at Gillette last season was Matt Kavanagh falling out of the lineup and the subsequent struggles for Chris Aslanian, Matt Campbell and whoever else slid down there to find success alongside righties Marcus Holman and Asher Nolting.

Coulter Mackesy is the perfect pick here as a result. He’s displayed he can completely run the show like his 78-point sophomore season in 2023 and can also play with another elite scoring option like this past 64-point ‘24 campaign. His slick wing dodging and stepdown ability makes him an instant fit for the Cannons, and it’s unlikely that Denver or Philadelphia would want him given their in-house options. Should Boston worry that California may be ready to move on from the Ryder Garnsey experience to scoop him up?

5. Carolina Chaos: Sam King, A, Harvard
After passing on Pat Kavanagh and Matt Brandau in the first round last year, there’s no telling what Andy Towers might do at five here. But after only scoring a goal in the semifinals, the lowest output in any professional field lacrosse game ever, Carolina certainly needs to keep bringing in offensive talents as they move on from the Canadians like Dhane Smith who decided to keep playing box during their summers.

Sam King offers a more dynamic option to run the offense than their current attackmen. He’s improved his overall game and certainly his production every season with the Crimson. Ross Scott led Chaos in goals as a third-round rookie last year, but his production had steadily declined from his breakout 75-point season in 2022 when the Scarlet Knights made it to the Final Four.

6. New York Atlas: Brendan Lavelle, D, Penn
With an offense that boasts MVP Jeff Teat, a Connor Shellenberger who played hurt his rookie season, and off-ball savant Xander Dickson plus the horses in the midfield, I’m expecting New York to shore up the defense with their first-round selection.

Gavin Adler was a DPOY finalist, Brett Makar looked vastly improved back to close after playing LSM as a rookie and while Michael Rexrode certainly isn’t to blame for their narrow one-goal defeat in the epic semifinal to Maryland, this can be a cutthroat business at times. Brendan Lavelle is the lone first-team All-American close defenseman returning for 2025, and his tape covering O’Neill alone has skyrocketed his stock ever since. 

7. Maryland Whipsnakes: Ben Ramsey, SSDM, Notre Dame
This feels like the easiest to project draft selection, but then again I did think the Whips were going to want Pat Kavanagh with their third pick this time last year.

Ajax Zappitello will be an all-star for Maryland for years to come and it worked out with Rookie of the Year TJ Malone falling all the way to the third round. A lot of drafting is all about knowing who will be left on the board if you opt to go the “team need” route, and there’s no team need greater for the Whipsnakes than giving Roman Puglise some help at SSDM.

Captain Jake Bernhardt is one of the best leaders in the sport, but after him Jim Stagnitta had to play Jack Koras and later Wheaton Jackoboice out of position to get more fresh legs there. While they made it back to the title game thanks to defensive strengths everywhere else, Notre Dame’s Ben Ramsey might be the best defensive midfield prospect since Danny Logan came out in ‘21 (and he wasn’t picked until 11th overall). Ramsey offers elite on-ball coverage, sound off-ball instincts, incredible GB play on face-off wings and is a threat in transition. He’s the full package. Without a second-rounder, I'd think Stags wants that team need addressed and lives with the Colin Squires and Alex Mazzone duo instead of getting a guy like Ben Wayer in the post-Michael Ehrhardt days.

8. Utah Archers: Sam English, M, Syracuse/Princeton
Graeme Hossack told me he wants the back line of himself, Warren Jeffrey and rookie Mason Woodward to stick together for as long as they can after their title game victory, so I don’t think using a first-rounder on Levi Verch or even a more natural LSM like Wayer, is necessary as long as Jon Robbins re-signs in free agency.

One of the most important positions in the PLL in the 32-second shot clock era has become the midfielders who are versatile and athletic enough to take the wings of face-offs and can create instant offense. Sam English is in that exact mold.

 

ROUND 2

 

9. Philadelphia Waterdogs: Will Coletti, FO, Army
10. California Redwoods: Emmet Carroll, G, Penn
11. Denver Outlaws: Jimmy Freehill, D, Denver
12. Boston Cannons: Jake Taylor, A, Notre Dame
13. Carolina Chaos: Griffin Schutz, M, Virginia
14. New York Atlas: Ryan Cohen, A/M, Michigan
15. Philadelphia Waterdogs (via Maryland Whipsnakes): Ben Wayer, LSM, Virginia
16. Utah Archers: Levi Verch, D, Saint Joseph’s

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