ESPNHS Top 25 long stick midfielders

Key: athlete, school (city, state), college commitment if known

1. Jordan Cunningham, Lovett School (Atlanta, Ga.), Denver
Cunningham has helped put Georgia lacrosse on the map. The rising senior is quick on his feet and always putting pressure on attackman. Cunningham represented the South at the Warrior 40 and the Under Armour games this summer.

2. Timothy Stackpole, St. Anthony's (South Huntington, N.Y.), Army
Stackpole plays with a mean streak in both lacrosse and football. The Army commit was named Long Stick Midfielder of the Year in the Catholic League. Stackpole was a representative from the New York region at the Warrior 40.

3. Wes Faulkenberry, Dublin Jerome (Dublin, Ohio), Ohio State
Faulkenberry collected the hardware this past spring in Ohio as the the rising senior was named First team All-State, First Team All-Midwest, First team All-OCC, helping Dublin Jerome win the Division II state title for the second year in a row. Faulkenberry also made the Midwest underclass team at the Under Armour games.

4. David Best, Norfolk Academy (Norfolk, Va.), Penn
Best was named a 2011 All-American for his play from this past spring at Norfolk Academy. Best was the only LSM named to the Virginia-All State team for 2011 and also earned Prep league player of the year honors.

5. Dickson Smith, Holderness School (Holderness, N.H.), Virginia
Smith is a 6-foot-4 long stick midfielder who is versatile and can play close defense as well. The rising senior has a smooth style and uses his large frame and long arms to make good checks. Smith was named to the New England Underclass team at the Under Armour games, which won the event title.

6. Charlie Hushek, Brophy Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.), Bryant
Hushek is another player who is paving the way for the growth of lacrosse in his region. The future Bryant long-stick midfielder has a great attitude about the game and he has the skills to help lead him to the next level. Hushek represented the West region at the Warrior 40 in July.

7. Reilly Naton, Duxbury (Duxbury, Mass.), Yale
Naton does a great job bringing the ball up field and then looking to dump the ball off to one of his more skilled shooters and collects the easy assist. The Duxbury rising senior plays the wing on face offs and is always there to get the ground ball off the face. Naton will be a special player at the next level.

8. Mark Rizzo, George Hewlett (Hewlett, N.Y.), North Carolina
Rizzo comes from a school not known for its lacrosse, but the rising senior is doing what he can to put George Hewlett on the map. Rizzo has great stick skills and is very athletic. Plus he is a strong kid and can deliver a clean hit.

9. Curt Brooks, Wooton (Rockville, Md.), Georgetown
Brooks was named to the 2011 All-American list and was on the Baltimore Underclass team at the Under Armour games in 2010. Brooks has played varsity lacrosse all four years at Wooton. Brooks has the athleticism to play close defense as well as long stick midfielder. The Wooton LSM was named to the 2011 All-Gazette First Team.

10. Zach Esser, Fallston (Bel-Air, Md.), UMBC
Esser was one of two Maryland public school players to make the 2011 Baltimore underclass team at the Under Armour games. The rising senior does it all, he dominates on the defensive end with great stick skills and phenomenal foot-work. Esser also will face off with the long pole if needed. Esser has been on the varsity for three years and was named to the Maryland All-Public School team.

The Next Fifteen

11. Corey Wisnowski, Berkshire (Sheffield, Mass.), undecided
12. Paxton Moore, Haverford School (Haverford, Pa.), Michigan
13. Branford Rogers, St. Anne's-Belfield (Charlottesville, Va.), Rutgers
14. Joey Prieto, Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.), Delaware
15. James Dunn, Broadneck (Annapolis, Md.), High Point
16. James Burke, Duxbury (Duxbury, Mass.), Penn State
17. Patrick Conroy, Dallastown (Dallastown, Pa.), Maryland
18. Kevin Samolsky, Malvern Prep (Malvern, Pa.), Navy
19. Tommy Lyons, Darien (Darien, Conn.), undecided
20. Steve Brown, St. Sebastian's (Quincy, Mass.), Middlebury
21. Charles Keady, Fairfield Prep, (Fairfield, Conn.), Michigan
22. Calum McClelland, Richard Montgomery (Rockville, Md.), Brown
23. Frank Borgognone, Manhasset (Manhasset, N.Y.), Fairfield
24. Jay McDermott, Duxbury (Duxbury, Mass.), Syracuse
25. Chris Walker, Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), Michigan
26. Kanatiio Adams, Salmon River (Fort Covington, N.Y.), Cornell*

*Adams passed away on Jan. 2, 2012, but will be left as part of our Top 25 LSM list to honor his memory.