NXT All-American: Standouts from the 28s and 29s on Day 2

NXT Lacrosse hosted over 60 different clubs in the 2027-2029 classes in Conshochocken, Pennsylvania, this weekend on June 13-14 for the NXT All-American Lacrosse Tournament. Clubs from across the country got together just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a weekend of high-level lacrosse. On Championship Sunday, when the lights got brightest and it mattered most, these players answered the call and delivered. Here are five standout performers from day two of the NXT All-American Tournament.    Kendall Weiss sported a few different jerseys this weekend. From Vernon Township, New Jersey, and usually on the True Garden State 2027 team — even as a 2028 — she also made guest goalie appearances for the True Garden 2028 team and Roar Lacrosse 2028 out of Pennsylvania. Her willingness to step up on a scorching hot Pennsylvania summer day and play for other clubs says a lot about her character, and is something college coaches should know heading into September. She wound up playing six games on Saturday and another two on Sunday for three different clubs altogether. She is a high-level goalie always looking for extra reps.   On the field, there were few netminders that impressed me as much this weekend. She is a high-energy, good character player — the kind of goalie that makes everyone around her better, and a fun one to watch between the pipes. She has a swift drop to the knee to stop bouncers and low shots, and does a good job of getting her body behind the ball. Her situational awareness is exceptional — if she deflects a shot behind the cage with the ball nearing out of bounds, she has the speed to beat out opposing players and get her stick nearest to the ball to secure possession for her team. She is not afraid to come out of the crease and chase balls behind the cage, but does so only when she knows her defense is set up behind her. There are areas of her game still developing, as you would expect from a sophomore, but her athleticism and instincts more than make up for it.     Game-changing two-way midfielder who also takes the draw. There was a lot of talent on display this weekend, but few impressed me as much as [player_tooltip player_id='72454' first='Ava' last='Lantz']. Coming off one of the most dominant freshman seasons the state of Pennsylvania has seen in some time (75G, 24A, 97 DC), Lantz has picked up right where she left off in the early weeks on the club circuit. She was by far the most eye-opening 2029 player this weekend and led the charge on both ends for a Mid-Penn Blaze squad that secured the championship in their classification.   She is not the tallest in the draw circle, but Lantz can get UP and turn the draw into more of a tip-ball situation — using her vertical to get above taller opponents and win possession. She had more than one self-draw as a result in the playoff and championship rounds. She has a quick first step at the top of the arc to get by her defender and is plenty comfortable with both hands. Her shot speed is elite — the ball leaves her stick like it was fired from a cannon and arrives at the goalie in the blink of an eye. She can rip it on the run, from different angles, through traffic. A physical player with solid footwork on the defensive end, she can stay with opposing players moving north-south or east-west and check them away from the offensive set.   Lantz could have jumped on a 2027 club roster yesterday and had the same impact. She is a player well beyond her years, and one who should garner significant Division I interest come September. One of my favorite Pennsylvania 2029s and overall MVPs from this weekend.     [player_tooltip player_id='71750' first='Lily' last='Smith'] was a name I repeatedly noted on Sunday afternoon. A two-way midfielder from Macungie, Pennsylvania, Smith put on a clinic in front of college coaches in attendance and is a player with rising stock ahead of the September 1 recruiting opening for the class of 2028.   An initiator on the offensive end, Smith's footwork is unpredictable up top, and she is poised going either way. In one instance, she started up top, began going left, saw the help-side defender begin to slide, spun back right, and fired a laser on the run into the top-left corner after creating just enough separation on the shoulder.   Smith also had a particularly strong weekend on the defensive end. She impressed with her ability to lock down an X attacker — she does not overcommit or throw unnecessary checks when her assignment is not a threat to score. She uses her speed to stay connected and checks when they become a threat at the GLE.     From Avondale, Pennsylvania, [player_tooltip player_id='73840' first='Kylie' last='Bradley'] had an impressive weekend in Conshohocken, especially on the defensive end. She single-handedly shut down opposing offensive sets on Sunday, consistently pushing players back toward the restraining line as they tried to initiate the offense. She caused turnovers all day and could match up 1v1 from anywhere, including behind the crease. She is not the longest defender, but she has the speed to stay with and pressure opposing players. Speed is her best asset, and she uses it exceptionally well in transition when she comes up with the ball.   Bradley has a rare ability to affect any eight-meter shot taken near her position. Her closeout speed is excellent, and she can meet opposing players in front of the cage well before they are able to fire off their free-position shot.     Anne Russ and the No Excuse 28-29 Club made the trip from Nashville, Tennessee, for NXT's All-American Tournament, and Russ, a recent Tennessee Girls Lacrosse Association All-State selection, had a strong weekend in Pennsylvania. Typically working from “X”, Russ is a steady presence who does not force drives to the cage but loves to score when the opportunity presents itself. She has a quick change of speed that allows her to blow by defenders on the crease dodge, which she can pull out from either side with equal effectiveness. She does a great job of creating separation off the shoulder and getting her shot off with little space to operate. Her shot speed is elite and she can fire from multiple angles without needing room to set.   Russ is an interesting prospect. From an area not typically known as a lacrosse hotbed, she is making herself known through her play and should draw interest from high-level programs on the East Coast next September.

NXT Lacrosse hosted over 60 different clubs in the 2027-2029 classes in Conshochocken, Pennsylvania, this weekend on June 13-14 for the NXT All-American Lacrosse Tournament. Clubs from across the country got together just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a weekend of high-level lacrosse. On Championship Sunday, when the lights got brightest and it mattered most, these players answered the call and delivered. Here are five standout performers from day two of the NXT All-American Tournament.