The Maryland Whipsnakes on Wednesday acquired Levi Anderson from the California Redwoods in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round draft pick.

The trade came after the Whipsnakes offense didn’t score a second-half goal until 3:08 left in their 13-9 loss to the Boston Cannons on Saturday. The biggest issue for the Whipsnakes offense in that game was the inability to draw slides from the midfield. 

Anderson can help with that.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound rookie attackman is a skilled lefty with an extensive box lacrosse background. He uses his big frame to back down defenders and is a skilled finisher around the net. He’s a very capable feeder, as well, racking up 82 career assists at Saint Joseph’s.

Though he was an attackman in college, I would expect Anderson to run out of the box as a midfielder with the Whipsnakes, where he’ll likely receive a short-stick matchup. There, he can operate in an invert behind the net or play in a two-man game on the lefty wing with Matt Rambo.

This is a low-risk, high-reward trade given what the Whipsnakes gave up. Anderson, if put in the right situation, has the potential to be a matchup nightmare with his physical dodging. I think it’s a fantastic trade for the Whipsnakes, and quite frankly I’m a little stunned Redwoods head coach Nat St. Laurent made this trade after just drafting Anderson in the third round of the 2024 College Draft. It feels like the Redwoods were planning to release Anderson anyway and were just trying to get something back in return.

Whatever the reason, Whipsnakes head coach and general manager Jim Stagnitta gets another weapon to work with in an offensive that has lacked firepower without the injured Tucker Dordevic and Brad Smith. 

I am very excited to see how the Whipsnakes deploy Anderson within the offense.