James Leary (Boxford, Mass.) is what he calls a “3D lifer.”
The former Governor’s Academy and University of Vermont star played for the first-ever 3D New England team in the summer of 2011. After his storied career at UVM — the 2018 graduate set a program record in caused turnovers (69) — he played professionally before joining 3D Georgia as a manager.
He’s since been elevated as director of lacrosse operations, overseeing recruiting across the organization’s nine brands. From his debut summer with the club to the start of the 2028 recruiting window, 3D has sent 600 boys players to NCAA programs. He is one of them.
And the New England branch is at the center of that success. 3D New England accounted for 19 of 46 commits on the class of 2027 and has already yielded 12 in the class of 2028. Landen O’Neil (Barnstable, Mass.), the No. 1 recruit in the country, headlines that group. Nate Swenson (Wellesley, Mass.; Princeton), Matthew Young (Boston, Mass.; Harvard) and Andrew Grosso (Wellesley, Mass., Johns Hopkins) were also highly-regarded ‘28s who recently committed to schools.
O’Neil’s rise to the top recruit in the nation signifies a trend: The region is producing better lacrosse players. And 3D New England has been at the forefront of that effort.
