Weekly Cover: The Future Stars Who Dazzled at the Brogden Cup

SPARKS, Md. — The future stars of the U.S. National Teams program showed up and showed out this weekend at Tierney Field, where the USA Select U16 and U18 boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams swept their way to a 16-0 record and fifth consecutive Brogden Cup title.

USA Lacrosse established the National Team Development Program in 2019 as a field lacrosse pipeline to the U.S. U20, senior and sixes teams and as an opportunity for elite high school players to experience what it’s like to train for international competition.

At this point, the proof is in the pudding. Seventeen of the 22 players who represented the United States in the World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship this summer in Hong Kong participated in the NTDP Combine and/or the Brogden Cup. Seven players vying for spots on the 2025 U.S. Men’s U20 National Team competing next summer in South Korea also have NTDP experience.

The Olympic movement has only added to the stakes. Lacrosse returns to the Summer Games in 2028. Should the IOC opt to keep the sport in the program for 2032, it’s very likely that crop of future Olympians will come from those currently competing at the U20, U18 and U16 levels. That’s why USA Lacrosse added a sixes development camp to the NTDP schedule in September.

“I really want to play on the USA team when I’m older,” USA Select U16 defenseman Jayden James (pictured above with midfielder Coleman Oby) said Saturday. “Just being in the circuit early, getting to know everyone makes it much easier when you get older. I know the process already.”

“My mindset is to get one percent better every day and playing with this group really helps me to improve,” USA Select U18 attacker Rocquette Allen said Friday. “I love lacrosse and just want to play as long as possible. I would love to go to the Olympics.”

James and Allen both have committed to play for college lacrosse superpower Syracuse. They’re two of the 20 standouts we’ve identified as the best of the 2024 Brogden Cup.

USA SELECT BOYS

John Balsamo, A, U16

The younger brother of former USA Select midfielder Charles Balsamo set the tone with two goals and two assists in a Brogden Cup-opening 11-2 win over Ontario. He likes to quarterback the offense from the wing, where the wiry attackman can feed or shoot off contact with defenders. Ranked by Inside Lacrosse as a top-100 prospect in the Class of 2026, Balsamo committed to Virginia in September — three months after his brother transferred there from Duke.

Caleb Caldwell, FO, U18

The Brogden Cup MVP was a workhorse all weekend, finishing 50-for-58 (86 percent) and scoring a pair of goals in four games. He’s big (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) for a faceoff specialist, his crippling handshake evidence enough of his wrist strength. The Dallas Jesuit (Texas) standout and USA Lacrosse All-American put up gawdy numbers (248-for-317, 78 percent) as a high school junior this year and has committed to VMI.

Aleksandr (Xandr) Godzilevsky, M, U18

His father is a cyber security advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Defense and an avid CrossFit athlete. He’s a wrestler as well as a lacrosse player at Calvert Hall (Md.). Godzilevsky’s game looks a lot like that which you would expect from someone with such a background — tough and impenetrable. He played mostly d-middie, regularly blunting bigger downhill dodgers like Team Ontario’s John Logue despite giving three inches and 30 pounds in the matchup. Mount St. Mary’s might have discovered a diamond in the rough.

Jake Ivancevic, D/LSM, U16

The Benjamin School (Fla.) and Team 91 Long Island long-stick midfielder was the MVP of the NLF National Championship in July and carried a similar swagger about him in Sparks — the highlight being a pick-six clearing pass interception he took to the house to score against Ontario. Ivancevic became the fifth top-100 recruit in the Class of 2026 to commit to Brown (and new Bears coach Jon Torpey) when he announced his decision the week before the Brogden Cup.

Jayden James, D, U16

It was easy to see why Inside Lacrosse has James as the No. 1 defenseman in the Class of 2026. He was the centerpiece of a defense that allowed just nine goals combined in four games (2.25 goals allowed per game). His communication was on point, and he’s the rare defenseman who combines sound fundamentals with opportunistic takeaways. When the Haudenosaunee closed to within one goal in the third quarter Friday and were threatening to tie the game, James came up with an over-the-head strip at midfield to squash the momentum. He also had three caused turnovers in a 10-0 shutout of Ontario.

Ryker Kemp, D, U18

Imagine what 6-foot-6, 240 pounds will look like once sculpted as part of a Division I lacrosse strength and conditioning program. That’s what Utah is getting in Kemp, the Ponte Vedra (Fla.) defenseman who looked like a man among boys this weekend. Do you prefer a punishing brand of defense? Check out this forced fumble from a Ponte Vedra football game earlier this season.

PJ Kennedy, A, U16

The youngest player to make it through the NTDP Combine, Kennedy ended up as the second-leading scorer for the USA Select U16 team with five goals and two assists over the weekend. He just turned 15 in May. A Class of 2028 prospect out of Tennessee, the Project Midwest star was already making waves after finishing as the No. 2 scorer in The Circuit — an AAA-level competition for middle school clubs.

Luke Mizro, M, U18

The Army-bound midfielder out of Auburn, N.Y., has not seen a shot he doesn’t like. The ball comes off his stick like a cannon blast. As his former Auburn High School coach told The Daily Orange of his first impression of Mizro, “He has a big body, big shot and not afraid to use it.” The younger brother of Army All-American midfielder Jacob Morin, Mizro plays both hockey and lacrosse at Skaneateles and scored 31 goals in the spring. He had a hat trick against Ontario, displaying both downhill dodging ability and a lethal rollback.

Coleman Oby, M, U16

If one play could sum up a player’s potential, it was Oby’s makeup for a miscue in the 10-0 shutout of Ontario. Stripped of the ball on a trail check while dodging down the alley, Oby collected himself, sprinted back to the defensive end, caused a turnover and then took it the length of the field to score. A Bridge Lacrosse product who played for former U.S. Men’s National Team coach Mike Pressler over the summer with Texas Nationals, Oby has raw and rare game-changing abilities that will continue to develop at the next level. He too committed to Utah.

Ethan Sands, M, U18

The lone uncommitted player on this list, Sands has a three-star rating from Inside Lacrosse and you got the sense he’ll land somewhere after demonstrating toughness and escape skills on the faceoff wing, the ability to put pressure on a defense in transition and an excellent defensive approach in six-on-six sets.

— Matt DaSilva 

USA SELECT GIRLS

Rocquette Allen, A, U18

A creative offensive player who dazzled at times with behind-the-back feeds to set up her teammates, Allen also showed she’s a strong and dynamic finisher who was able to get to cage with four goals in Friday’s game against Ontario. A Colorado native, she has committed to Syracuse.

Sabrina Asadurian, D, U16

A composed defender, Asadurian finished among the U16 team leaders in caused turnovers and ground balls in the Brogden games. Coaches touted her ability to be in the right place at the right time throughout the weekend. The three-sport high school athlete from Wantagh, N.Y., has committed to Stony Brook.

Mckenzie Brown, D, U18

Speed kills with Brown, who is a strong one-on-one defender but also great in transition. Her speed was on display throughout the weekend as she repeatedly pushed the ball to the offensive end. She’s also a standout soccer player. An STX athlete, Brown won her second Brogden Cup after competing on the U16 side last year. Ranked No. 9 by Inside Lacrosse in the Class of 2025, the McDonogh (Md.) star is headed to Northwestern.

Sienna Chirieleison, M, U18

Another STX athlete who displayed great speed and unselfish play throughout the weekend, Chirieleison also made her presence felt on draw controls, helping USA dominate possessions. The Inside Lacrosse five-star midfielder and Trinity (Pa.) standout has committed to Syracuse.

Ava Findora, M, U16

On a team full of all-stars, Findora was selected as the USA Select U16’s tournament MVP.  She made plays all over the field, helping USA dominate possession with draw controls and also contributing six goals offensively. Along with her twin sister, Brinn, she has committed to play at Virginia. They play at Downingtown West (Pa.). Ava Findora is ranked No. 6 in the Class of 2026, according to Inside Lacrosse.

Ava Fossati, M, U16

A Los Angeles native, Fossati recently transferred to McDonogh in Baltimore in her quest to face the best competition. The midfielder exhibited her all-around game last weekend, scoring three goals against Ontario on Friday and helping the USA dominate in the draw circle. Committed to Boston College, Fossati is used to traveling east while competing for the juggernaut Long Island Yellow Jackets club.

Cayden Reese, A, U16

As the daughter of two coaches, including Maryland’s Hall of Fame head coach Cathy Reese, Cayden displays great lacrosse IQ, evidenced by her passing and off-ball movement during the Brogden games. The lefty attacker, rated by Inside Lacrosse as the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2026, impressed the coaches with her ability to play at high speed and with high intensity.

Zoey Smith, M, U18

A second-year member of the National Team Development, Smith showcased her intensity and competitiveness as one of the U18 team’s draw specialists. Any loose ball within five yards seemed to end up on her stick. A multi-sport and seemingly ambidextrous athlete who plays for Lacey (N.J.) and DELAX has committed to Johns Hopkins.

Sophia Stoltz, A, U18

Stoltz served as U18 team captain and provided great leadership to an ultra-talented squad. She’s a selfless player who impressed the coaches by willingly spending much of the weekend contributing on midfield instead of her natural attack position. The Stone Ridge (Md.) standout is part another loaded North Carolina recruiting class.

Kylie Waters, M, U16

A veritable wizard with the stick in her hands, Waters tallied a team-high four goals against Ontario on Friday while still creating opportunities for everyone else. She impressed the USA Select coaches with her field vision and ability to work in tight spaces. The Milton (Ga.) midfielder has committed to Clemson.

— Paul Ohanian