Inside Lacrosse is proud to unveil the Nike Lacrosse/IL Freshman Rankings, the final ranking for the Class of 2026 as they arrive on campus with a full focus on a bright future.
Virginia’s Lucas Garcia enters college as the No. 1 player in the class. Originally ranked No. 9 in the class when first ranked three years ago, Garcia moved up to No. 2 following an outstanding junior season and now caps off his career as the top player. His incredible speed, quickness and dodging ability makes him a nightmare of a cover and a threat with every touch. While UVA has no shortage of current offensive QBs, Garcia provides yet an elite scoring punch to play alongside the Millon Brothers.
Previous No. 1 James Gillis (Duke) is set to miss the fall because of back surgery. The class’s original No. 1 player, Dylan Faison, reclassified to the 2025 class and was a gameday player for Notre Dame last season.
Garcia headlines a strong UVA class that features seven Top 100 selections. Notre Dame leads with nine players represented. Maryland, Duke and Johns Hopkins fall right behind them.
Twenty-three members of the class are designated as 5-Star recruits, and 19 players who were previously unranked are now in the Top 100.
Stay tuned for more from the Class of 2026, including Class breakdowns, deeper positional rankings and more.
Nike Lacrosse/IL Freshman Rankings5-Stars
1. Lucas Garcia, A, Brunswick (Conn.), Prime Time | Virginia
2. Bennett Matthews, M, Bedford (N.H.), NH Tomahawks | Duke
3. James Gillis, M, Chaminade (N.Y.), LI Express | Duke
4. Joe Ligas, D, Whitney (Calif.), WCS, ADVNC | Notre Dame
5. AJ Theodorakakos, D, Penfield (N.Y.), Sweetlax | Army
6. Tedy Frisoli, A, St. Sebastian's (Mass.), Laxachusetts | Duke
7. Ethan Bramoff, D/LSM, St. Anthony's (N.Y.), LI Express | Maryland
8. Jacob Johnston, M, St. Anthony's (N.Y.), LI Express | Johns Hopkins
9. Hunter Metz, A, McDonogh (Md.), Baltimore Crabs | Notre Dame
10. Brady Mollot, A, Spalding (Md.), Annapolis Hawks | Maryland
11. Ty Curry, A, St. Sebastian's (Mass.), Laxachusetts | Notre Dame
12. Jayden James, D, St. John's (D.C.), Next Level | Syracuse
13. Noah Han, A, Georgetown Prep (Md.), Next Level | Princeton
14. Danny Riely, M, Malvern Prep (Pa.), Team Ten | Notre Dame
15. Danny Rooney, A, St. Anthony's (N.Y.), Shore2Shore | Maryland
16. Jackson Orcutt, M, Episcopal Academy (Pa.), Team Ten | North Carolina
17. Michael Brennan, LSM, Loomis Chaffee (Conn.), LI Express | Harvard
18. Cooper Brozek, A, Deerfield (Mass.), Evolve Elite | Harvard
19. John Balsamo, A, Chaminade (N.Y.), LI Express | Virginia
20. Mack Smink, A, Noble & Greenough (Mass.), 3d New England | Princeton
21. Dylan Novak, D, Malvern Prep (Pa.), Team Ten | Notre Dame
22. Tuck Gilbane, A, Noble & Greenough (Mass.), Laxachusetts | Princeton
23. Brian Burke, LSM, St. Sebastian's (Mass.), Laxachusetts | Harvard
Full Top 100 Freshman Rankings here.
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