Chrome Lacrosse Club’s Top Draft Prospects
By Nick Zoroya
May 5, 2023
With the May 9th 2023 PLL draft approaching, it's time to take a look at some of the talent coming out of college this year. Based on Chrome LC’s needs, we have a good idea of what Chrome LC Head Coach Tim Soudan is looking for in this draft. Here are four guys that would make an immediate impact on this years roster:
Brett Makar, Maryland, Defense
When I think of players who would fit into the Chrome LC culture, I think of Brett Makar. Makar is a team first tough guy who has been consistently asked to match up with the top players in division one. PLL draft guru Paul Caracaterra has Makar projected as the 6th overall pick, 4th ranked defenseman, and states he “can galvanize and lead a locker room like Ray Lewis. He talks, you listen. He walks, you follow.” With the retirement of captain John Ranagan, Makar also adds a vocal leader to the locker room. Wearing number one at Maryland is a high honor, one that Makar lived up to. If the Chrome LC drafts him, he would be the second consecutive Terrapin drafted in the first round, as his former college teammate Logan Wisnauskas was drafted #1 overall in the 2022 PLL draft. The strong Maryland ties, coupled with Makar’s attitude and ability make this a homerun pick.
Xander Dickson, Virginia, Attack
It’s hard to believe that people underestimate this guy. He leads his team in goals (56) and points (74) and does so in a very efficient way, committing only 15 turnovers. His ability to ride and create disruption (7 caused turnovers) cannot be understated. At 6’1, 160 he may be undersized to handle the brutally physical close defenseman at the professional level, but I could see him making the move to the midfield. This is not uncommon in the PLL where several college attackmen end up at midfield and I could see Dickson moving around like a Ryan Drenner or Jules Heningburg. Dickson gives Coach Soudan the versatility to move him around the offense as needed, whether that be at midfield or at attack which would also allow Jackson Morrill to stay at midfield. One thing is certain, Dickson can score from anywhere on the field.
Elijah Gash, Albany, LSM/D
I actually hate that Paul Carcaterra made a list of the top under the radar players in this draft because I’ve been watching Elijah Gash since he played NAIA lacrosse in Iowa. That’s right, this 6’4 monster was underrecruited coming out of high school, and played in the NAIA at St. Ambrose University before transferring to Albany. If Coach Soudan wants athleticism between the lines this guy brings it. He is rangy, he can cover, every year in Albany his skills get more refined and his ceiling isn’t close to being in sight yet. This guy has scored 10 goals with a pole including six this season alone. While he doesn’t have the lacrosse pedigree we’re used to seeing in the PLL, he has insane genes. His dad was an NFL pro-bowl fullback before becoming an NFL coach, one brother is a running back at Michigan, and his middle brother is a prospective D1 lacrosse player as well. This guy has all of the things you can't teach and Coach Soudan is the perfect guy to take his game to the next level.
Brian Tevlin, Notre Dame, Midfield/LSM
Tevlin is an interesting prospect because no coach that I’ve talked to knows where he should be drafted. His value is uniquely tied to his ability to be a jack of all trades, master of none. As a midfielder for the Irish he has 8 goals, 3 assists, and 23 ground balls. Those stats don’t blow anyone away, but when you remember that he also plays long stick middie, plays on the man down unit, you begin to understand that his value isn't measured in statistics, it’s measured by his ability to help the team. I like to think that his game is similar to Ian MacKay who has been known to do a bit of everything for the Chaos LC.
The Premier Lacrosse League 2023 College Draft starts at 7 p.m. ET on May 9. Watch all 32 picks of the draft live from ESPN Studios on ESPNU or ESPN+.
