Who has the chance to finish this season as the Player of the Year?
There will be a lot of game-changing moments this season, including individual efforts that will carry teams to championships in 2024. Those clutch moments will separate the best from the rest of the pack.
NJ Advance Media is looking at the elite players back in the state to see who will have an inside track in Player of the Year race. Scroll through the names below to see who’s on the 2024 watch list in New Jersey.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
Macky Bonner, Lower Cape May, Sr., Midfielder
Bonner is a Ursinus commit who really has helped Lower Cape May come alive as a lacrosse program. He’s a midfielder that will play every minute of a game if his coaches needed him to. Bonner ripped it up last year with 48 goals and 37 assists for a team that finished 16-3 and made it to the Cape-Atlantic League final. He also dropped back and played defense in big spots. He was one of the best two-way players in that area of the state. This kid does not quit and he will leave it all out on the field every game he plays this spring.
Jon Brennan, Eastern, Sr., Defenseman/LSM
Brennan plays with an edge on the defensive end and that intensity really sets the tone for Eastern. This team is all business in 2024 and it wants the South, Group 4 title. This team leans on its defense and Brennan and UMBC commit Thomas Keating are two of the best long poles in New Jersey. Brennan picked up 86 ground balls a year ago and stepped up to the X and won 78 percent of the faceoffs he took. Brennan also gets in the mix on offense when an avenue opens up. He had 10 goals and five assists a year ago. He’s a great all-around player.
David Brothers, Bernards, Sr. Attackman
Brothers possesses one of the hardest shots in the state, plus he’s left-handed, and that carries a whole other level of difficulty when trying to keep him contained. Even in the rare times when Brothers is bottled up, he utilizes his quickness to create just enough space with which to direct his pinpoint passes to teammates cutting to the goal from the backside. The Wagner commit came into this season with 223 career points on 140 goals and 83 assists, and he added to that total with three goals and one assist Wednesday int the ninth-ranked Mountaineers’ 14-5 win over 19th-ranked Somerville.
Colton Carfello, Don Bosco Prep, Sr., Goalie
Carfello split time with Kai Dimaculangan in the last seven games of the 2021 season, and turned in some stunning moments in that short span to help the Ironmen finish 18-0 and win the Tournament of Champions. The St. Joseph (Pa.) commit has been a fixture between the pipes ever since. He produced a .624 save percentage last year for his 15-5 team, and he entered 2024 with 374 career stops. He led Bosco to an 11-2, opening-season win against Victor (NY) on Tuesday.
Garrett Crisp, West Morris, Sr., Attack/Midfielder
Crisp’s biggest moment thus far in the 2023-24 academic year was his game-winning, 26-yard TD run last November with 1:37 left to rally the West Morris football team to a 21-17 win over Old Tappan in the North 1, Group 3 final. But don’t carve that into stone yet as his best because the lacrosse season is just underway. The versatile Crisp scored 39 goals and assisted on 34 for 73 points, and he gobbled up 44 ground balls last spring to help the Wolfpack finish 13-7 and reach the North, Group 2 semifinals. He has 111 points in his career on 59 goals and 52 assists.
Rooke Donohoe, Ridge, Sr., Defenseman
The Colgate commit is a physical player and he is going to set the tone on defense. Ridge is going to need guys to step up on offense and make more plays this spring, but if the defense is steady, the Red Devils are going to win a lot of games. It all starts with Donohoe and if he continues to play the way he has the last few years, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound senior will be one of the state’s best defenders.
Anthony Drago, West Essex, Jr., Attack
Drago unleashes blistering shots on the cage with regularity throughout a game, though also can rattle a goalie’s confidence with his intelligent play. He put himself into dangerous scoring positions or else spots teammates in even better spots and seeks them out. The Duke commit produced 96 points last season on 64 goals and 32 assists, and he entered 2024 with 196 career points. Drago - a second-team All-State DB for the Knights last football season - missed most of Monday’s opener against Montclair with a hand injury, but x-rays were negative and he is cleared to resume action.
Daniel Flaim, Summit, Sr., Attack
It is usually difficult for Summit players to distinguish themselves individually because of the balanced structure of its offense and the zone defense it employs. But Flaim not only led the Hilltoppers with 57 points last season, but he orchestrated a number of pivotal plays that helped Summit finish 15-4, win the Group 2 title for the second time in three years and reach the Kirst Cup final. Flaim has three goals and three assists through the Hilltoppers’ first two games this season to raise his career numbers to 63 goals and 34 assists for 97 points. He will continue his career at Villanova.
Pat Grimley, Ocean City, Sr., Midfielder
Grimley is an elite player who has helped take this Ocean City program to the next level. The Raiders made it to the Group 3 title game in his freshman year and came so close to winning it all. Grimley is hoping to take Ocean City back to that game and end his career with a state championship. The Harvard commit had 57 goals and 44 assists last season. His ability to find a little space and strike is jaw-dropping and he’s been able to get it done against teams all across New Jersey. Grimley will also fill in and play defense if that’s what the situation calls for. There are not many players in the state who can match the effort that Grimley brings each game.a r
Jake Gruzas, Caldwell, Sr., Defense/LSM
The versatility that Gruzas routinely showed as a wide receiver/DB in football and wrestler in a variety of weight classes is also readily apparent on the lacrosse field. Try to find some job Gruzas can’t do, or some player he can’t cover, and the 5-9. 255-pound dynamo will most certainly prove you wrong. Last season, he helped the Chiefs to a 15-9 record and to an appearance in the Group 1 final with rugged defense, 76 ground balls, stellar transition work that included three goals and four assists, and even occasional help at the faceoff X. Gruzas scored three goals Tuesday in Caldwell’s 8-3 win over Cherokee.
Jordan Hernando, Mountain Lakes, Sr., FOGO
Hernando scores only occasionally, yet is the steady motor that the Laker offense can scarcely live without. His outstanding faceoff work over the past three seasons has helped Mountain Lakes put together a 39-8 record and reach two Group 1 finals (so far), winning one. The Bryant commit came into the season with a .687 success rate at the faceoff X, and he has thus far won 23 of 37 this season in n 11-8 win over West Morris and a 6-5 loss to No. 2 Delbarton. Hernando has won 342 of 501 draws in his career (.682) and he has nine goals and two assists.
Michael Hoarle, Wall, Jr., Midfielder
The Bryant commit has worked hard to become one of the best players in the state at the faceoff X. His efforts there helped Wall win a South, Group 2 title a year ago and his ability to win at the X will be game-changing again in 2024. Hoarle won 66 percent of his faceoffs, picked up 214 ground balls a year ago and also had 18 goals and 23 assists. The junior is an all-around impact player and he will set the tone this season for Wall.
Tyler Juhlin, Seton Hall Prep, Sr., Attack
Juhlin did not score the most goals last year for the Pirates, but he scored many of the most important ones to steer that club to a 10th straight Essex County Tournament title and into the Non-Public A final, where Seton Hall was edged in triple-overtime by Delbarton, 10-8. Among Juhlin’s timely splashdowns were the game-winner against Caldwell in the ECT championship, 4-3, and the deciding goal when the Prep edged Delbarton in overtime, 11-10, in the regular season to move to No. 1 for four weeks. The Dartmouth commit earned second team All-State honors last year with 36 goals and 23 assists for 59 points.
Connor Kelly, Manasquan, Sr., Defenseman/LSM
Kelly transferred from Bergen Catholic to Manasquan a year ago and made an immediate impact. His ability to get loose balls and move it to the attack in transition is game-changing. He also has the stick skills and speed to move it himself and take a shot at the net if a defense does not step to him. On defense, he locks in alongside guys like Bryant commit Kyle Capodanno and Parker Harms to make sure the shots that High Point commit Nick Bounassi sees are never too dangerous. That defense is going to be really hard to score on in 2024.
Patrick Kenah, Princeton, Sr., Attack
Kenah compiled seven goals and six assists in opening-season victories against West Windsor-Plainsboro North and Hopewell Valley to edge closer to reaching 300 career points, but more importantly, perhaps create some offensive momentum for the Tigers’ battle Monday against 11th-ranked Manasquan. Kenah, who has been reading scoring opportunities correctly since his freshman year, struck for 111 points last spring (68 goals, 43 assists). With 163 goals and 114 assists in his career, the Lafayette commit is 23 points away from becoming the 51st player in N.J. history to reach 300.
Daine Kostes, Bridgewater-Raritan, Sr., Midfielder
The Boston commit is a great FOGO and he won 73 percent of his faceoffs a year ago. That ability to win possession will give Bridgewater-Raritan the upper hand in a lot of games and if the offense can get good looks, it will be hard to beat the Panthers. There are a lot of unknowns this season at Bridgewater-Raritan, but this program knows that it can count on Kostes.
JP Lagunowich, Chatham, Sr., Midfielder
The versatile middie is now within five points of reaching 100 for his career after he sank three goals and assisted on one Tuesday in Chatham’s 11-6 victory over Pope John to begin the season. Lagunowich sank 35 goals and had 10 assists last year to help the Cougars finish 16-7 and reach the Group 3 final. The 6-1, 190-pound Virginia commit scored two goals in that 11-8 loss. He earned third team All-State honors.
Cody Lam, Westfield, Sr., Attack
The 6-3, 215-pound Lam is almost always marked by the opponent as Westfield’s top priority, and yet he customarily finds ways to unleash his scorching shots at key moments, or draw those anxious second defenders and find an open teammate. The Princeton commit was second on the club last year with 63 points (52 goals, 11 assists), and he also scooped up 47 ground balls to help the Blue Devils finish 12-7 and reach the North, Group 4 final. Lam has generated 146 points in his career on 114 goals and 32 assists.
Thomas McAneney, Shawnee, So., Attack
The young attackman came out last season and made an immediate impact with 52 goals and 28 assists. Shawnee won the Group 3 title for the first time in program history in 2023 and McAneney’s efforts on offense helped get the Renegades to that spot. He will be the focal point of the offense in 2024 and Shawnee expects to have another banner season. The Renegades have a lot to replace, but the talent is there to come together and light it up again.
Troy Monte, Rumson-Fair Haven, Sr., Defenseman
Monte is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound force who is ready to step up and be Rumson-Fair Haven’s top defensive presence this season. The Bucknell commit is the next in line for a program that has featured stud defenses the last few years and played physical lacrosse. Williams commit Brody Page is also back on that end of the field and will make an all-around impact. Dartmouth commit Frank Argilagos is another defensive star who should emerge for the Bulldogs. That defense will be a strength again this season and will help lead the way for the defending Group 1 champs.
Cole Pitcher, Moorestown, Sr., Attack
The Monmouth commit has the height and length to beat a defense when he gets just even the smallest room to shoot. Pitcher will be a sniper in 2024, looking to add to the 59 goals he put up a year ago. Moorestown has a lot of guys back and this group is hoping to get Moorestown back on the championship stage. The Quakers lost by a goal last season in the South, Group 3 final. Moorestown hopes to get back there and win the title this spring. Pitcher will be a leader in that effort and if this offense is clicking, the Quakers are going to be a tough team to beat.
Noah Plenn, St. Augustine, Sr., Attack
Plenn made a lot of noise a few years ago, helping St. Augustine break through and win the Non-Public A championship. Eyes are going to be on the Delaware commit again this season and he will be able to handle the pressure. Plenn had 43 goals and 20 assists last spring. His offensive impact will set the tone for this team and make a massive difference in big games.
Jack Schultz, Ridgewood, Sr., Attack
Schultz’s ability to clear his hands even against some of the state’s tougher defenseman allowed him to produce at least one goal in every game last year but two; and in those other two games (a loss to Don Bosco Prep and a win over Wall), he came up with four assists each time. Schultz, who is committed to Maryland, netted 11 goals and assisted on 11 over the final seven games to steer the Maroons (21-3) to the Group 4 state championship and then to the inaugural Kirst Cup title. He had 36 goals and 35 assists for 71 points on the season.
Graham Stevens, Pingry, Sr., Goalie
Stevens is a five-star prospect and the best goalie back in the state of New Jersey this spring. The Harvard commit turned away 197 saves last spring and has 309 saves in the past two years. Stevens is a 6-foot-2 star in net who uses that height and his length to block off angles and limit the space that offenses have to score against Pingry. This program is famous for its defense and with a goalie like Stevens in net, it’s nearly impossible to score on the Big Blue. The senior is a leader and will set the tone on the defensive end in 2024.
Ryan Trafford, Delbarton, Sr., Middie/FOGO
Delbarton’s roster is consistently so deep with talent that even some of the best must split time with others - where in other programs they would more likely play as long as they wished. Such was the case for Trafford, who had shared the faceoff role in his first three seasons with Nick Faccone, and did so with great success. He entered this year flaunting a .647 percentage with 255 wins on 394 attempts. The rugged 6-1, 195-pound star running back from the football team is not only the Green Waves’ primary faceoff man this season, but also has expanded his role on the midfield. Opponents will be seeing much more of Trafford than they would like. He will attend the U.S. Naval Academy and play both football and lacrosse.
Max Voigt, Gill St. Bernard’s, Jr., Attack
The Dartmouth commit was on fire last season, putting up 48 goals and 18 assists. His efforts in the state final helped Gill St. Bernard’s make history and win their first-ever Non-Public B title. Voigt will be counted on again this season for a team that brings back a lot of pop. Gill St. Bernard’s has all the pieces in place to come back and win another state championship.
Asher Ziv, Pingry, Sr., Attack
Ziv was good at finding opening teammates as a sophomore, but he really broke out as an all-around offensive threat last spring. The Yale commit had 37 goals and 47 assists. Ziv was on fire in the Somerset County final and paced the offense in a title win over Bridgewater-Raritan. The senior is in command of this offense and will lead an attack that is also going to lean on Johns Hopkins commit Dylan Blekicki and Lehigh commit Charlie Sherman.
Brandon Gould can be reached at bgould@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @BrandonGouldHS.
Mike Kinney can be reached at mkinney@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @MikeKinneyHS.
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