USA Lacrosse High School Boys' Players of the Week
The USA Lacrosse Players of the Week recognize the most outstanding individual performances in high school boys’ lacrosse in each of the four active regions — Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and West — outlined in our high school coverage.
The South and West Regions completed play so are not considered this week. Games are considered from the previous Monday through Sunday.
NORTHEAST
George Hawley, Fairfield Prep (Conn.)
To win a seventh state championship in program history, and first since 2013, Fairfield Prep (Conn.) needed to figure out how to stop Kyle Colsey and Brady Pokorny, two of the most explosive offensive players in Connecticut.
George Hawley proved to be the solution.
The Dartmouth-bound junior defender locked up both future ACC attackmen to ensure this trip to the state final four was a victorious one. It started in the semifinals against Ridgefield (Conn.) and the Virginia-bound Colsey, who scored twice in the first quarter before Jesuits coach Graham Niemi decided to send Hawley his way. He’d score just once the rest of the way in Fairfield Prep’s 10-7 win.
And then in the championship game against Darien (Conn.), Hawley kept Pokorny, the Notre Dame commit, off the scoresheet altogether as the Jesuits captured the Class LL title, 9-7.
“George Hawley led our defense in two victories en route to the CIAC Class LL championship,” Niemi said. “George did an incredible job helping our defense contain two of Connecticut’s best players in Kyle Colsey and Brady Pokorny. Hawley also corralled two ground balls in the championship game and helped us clear the ball 13 out of 14 times.”
Also notable: Cole DiPietro, South Side (N.Y.); Dom Giangreco, McQuaid Jesuit (N.Y.); Matt Jeffrey, Cheshire (Conn.); Andrew Mazzei, Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.); Jack Orlando, Daniel Hand (Conn.); Brady Smith, Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.)
— Dylan Butler
MID-ATLANTIC
Brady Scioletti, Don Bosco Prep (N.J.)
Don Bosco trailed, 5-3, at halftime of the Non-Public A state championship when the Ironmen roared to life. Scioletti helped to pace an offense that caught fire for 10 second-half goals and a 13-8 win over Seton Hall Prep (N.J.) on June 6. The junior attack finished with a hat trick and three assists for a team-high six points.
Scioletti also had two goals and two assists in a hard-fought 8-5 win over Christian Brothers Academy (N.J.) in the semifinals. Scioletti, a Duke commit, paced the offense this season with 86 points on 61 goals and 25 assists, one more point than he had as a sophomore. Don Bosco won its final 11 games to finish 17-3.
Also notable: Griffin Ambuhl, Riverside (Va.) ; David Brothers, Bernards (N.J.); Wes Canton, Moorestown (N.J.); Chase Caulder, Moorestown (N.J.); Kessler Cox, Radnor (Pa.); Garrett Ferguson, Westfield (N.J.); Daniel Flaim, Summit (N.J.); Conner Fructuoso, Robinson (Va.); Drew Gaffney, West Chester Rustin (Pa.); Andrew Keaveney, Garnet Valley (Pa.); Cody Lam, Westfield (N.J.); Brendan Schwalb, Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.); Max Wickersham, La Salle (Pa.)
— Justin Feil
MIDWEST
Luke Zajdel, Detroit Catholic Central (Mich.)
The Shamrocks ended the season with 10 straight wins, all by at least six goals. Zajdel was front and center for a balanced DCC squad, including three goals and three assists in the state semifinals against Rockford. He followed with five goals in the championship game against Hartland, finishing the year with 64 goals and 37 assists. Zajdel and Lachlan Moffatt (70 goals, 54 assists) proved a deadly duo all year for the Shamrocks, who excelled in any number of areas (including ball movement and the X) throughout their tournament run.
Also notable: Keegan Kuhn, Olentangy Liberty (Ohio); Ben Godwin, Olentangy Liberty (Ohio); Khalif Hocker, St. Xavier (Ohio); Trent Yelton, St. Xavier (Ohio); Lachlan Moffatt, Detroit Catholic Central (Mich.); Nate Anderer, Hartland (Mich.); Jake Struck, Olentangy Liberty (Ohio); Gus Bell, Benilde-St. Margaret's (Minn.)
— Jonah Rosenblum
USA Lacrosse Magazine Staff
Since 1978, USA Lacrosse Magazine has inspired generations of lacrosse families to love this great game and leave it better for the next. We harness the power of storytelling to help fuel the sport’s growth and enrich the experience of participants.