ESPN High School completes its countdown to the ESPNHS 100 by breaking down the Top 25 attackers.
The Top 25 is our selections for the best players at each position. Wrapping up our boys coverage will be our selections for the Top 100 seniors and Top 50 juniors. Our girl's Top 25 begins in October.
Top 25 Attackers
1. Case Matheis, Darien (Darien, Conn.), Duke
Matheis made ESPNHS All-American second team for his play this past spring. The future Blue Devil has been arguably one of the top lacrosse players in the country the past two seasons. Matheis was named MSG Varsity Tri-State Player of the Year that includes Long Island and Hudson Valley, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The two-time All-American is the all-time assists leader at Darien.
2. Patrick Kelly, Calvert Hall (Baltimore, Md.), North Carolina
Kelly, who tallied 79 points last season, made ESPNHS Second Team All-American. The rising senior represented Baltimore at the Under Armour Underclassmen games. Kelly earned First Team All-State honors by the MSCLA, a poll voted on by lacrosse coaches in Maryland and was chosen First-Team All-Met by the Baltimore Sun.
3. Mikey Morris, Salisbury (Salisbury, Conn.), Johns Hopkins
Morris hails from the box style of lacrosse in Canada. The crafty and quick attackman has a great swim move and low to high shot on goal. Morris only played eleven games this past spring for Salisbury due to a knee injury, though he managed to score 20 goals and tallied 14 assists.
4. Devin Dwyer, Garden City (Garden City, N.Y.), Harvard
Dwyer was named ESPNHS Second Team All-American after having superb junior season for Garden City. The rising senior has been a two-time US Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American, and a three-time Academic All Nassau County. Dwyer, who played for the Long Island underclass team at the Under Armour games, is always around the cage looking to execute a quick shot.
5. James Pannell, Smithtown West (Smithtown, N.Y.), Virginia
Pannell had an amazing junior season for Smithtown West, scoring 50 goals and adding 25 assists. Pannell was a New York Newsday First-Team All Long Island and earned All-County honors as a sophomore and freshman. Pannell represented Long Island at the 2011 Under Armour underclass games.
6. Connor Frisina, Conestoga, (Berwyn, Pa.), Delaware
The junior posted 56 goals and 25 assists to lead a potent Pioneer attack and was named a U.S. Lacrosse All-American. Frisina played a big part in Conestoga's early season victory over Baltimore powerhouse, Boys' Latin. The rising senior is always moving around the crease or to set up a play. Frisina was named All-Attack by PhillyLacrosse.com and earned All-EPSLA and Central League First Team honors.
7. Brendan Gaughan, La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.), Michigan
Gaughan is big, strong attackman and has helped put West Coast lacrosse on the map. The future Wolverine earned a slew of honors in 2011: ESPNHS All-American, All-CIF, All-Conference, California Gold All Star '10 and '11. Last season Gaughan scored 79 Points on 48 goals and 31 assists. For his career he has 160 Points (100 Goals, 60 Assists).
8. Gordie Koerber, Gilman, (Baltimore, Md.), Denver
Kroeber has been on the ESPNHS radar ever since summer ball last year. The Gilman rising senior had a four goal game and was named FOX45's Prep Player of the Week for his performance in Gilman's MIAA Championship win. The Warrior 40 alumnus has a quick shot on goal and he is always around the cage. Koerber scored 31 goals and had seven assists last season.
9. Seamus Connelly, Duxbury (Duxbury, Mass.), Duke
Connelly had a productive 2011 season for Duxbury and throughout the summer. The rising senior had 55 points (35 goals, 20 assists) for the 2011 State Champions. Connelly was named King of the Hill All-Star this summer and was invited to tryout for Team USA.
10. Sean McDonagh, St. Anthony's (South Huntington, N.Y.), Harvard
McDonagh had a stellar season for the Friars, tallying 75 total points on 45 goals and 30 assists -- leading the team in both categories. The rising senior has a great crease game and a pinpoint shot on goal. McDonagh was named Warrior 40 MVP and played on the Long Island Under Armour Team this past summer.
The Next 15
11. Tyler Brooke, Conestoga (Berwyn, Pa.), Maryland
12. Conor Dalton, Loyola-Blakefield (Towson, Md.), Fairfield
13. Michael Rastivo, Ward Melville (East Setauket, N.Y.), undecided
14. Liam Giblin, Georgetown Prep (Bethesda, Md.), Johns Hopkins
15. Kylor Bellistri, Bullis School (Potomac, Md.), Brown
16. Ryan Brown, Calvert Hall (Baltimore, Md.), Johns Hopkins
17. Sean Doyle, Torrey Pines (Torrey Pines, Calif.), Cornell
18. Sean Conners, Deerfield (Deerfield, Mass.), Princeton
19. Michael Marcott, Lincoln (Portland, Ore.), Denver
20. Brendan Smith, West Islip (West Islip, N.Y.), Marquette
21. Ryan Ambler, Abington (Abington, Pa.), Princeton
22. Grant Consoletti, Oak Park (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Navy
23. Brendan Francis, Ponte Vedra (Ponte Vedra, Fla.), Navy
24. Johnny Galloway, Middletown (Middletown, Md.), Villanova
25. Al Barnhart, Blake School (Minneapolis, Minn.), Denison