Top 10 defensemen and LSMs to watch for in preps and high schools

Blake Brookes of Belmont Hill. (Adam Richins)

Once again, this year’s crop of defensemen and long-stick midfielders in New England is a fairly deep one. It's full of players who are as aggressive in pursuit as they are staunch in using their size and aggression to set the tone.

There are big bodies in this group who aren’t afraid to throw stick checks with precision and force. There are also compact markers, priding themselves on erasing opponents’ most dangerous threats, vacuuming up ground balls and jumpstarting fast breaks.

The region has a long history of producing top-end players, too. Look no further than former Notre Dame standout John Sexton (Sudbury, Mass.), the 2018 USILA Defensive Player of the Year, or long-stick midfielder Nick Brozowski (Concord, Mass.), a 2017 national champion and current senior at Maryland.

Looking ahead, here are some top defensemen and long-stick midfielders across New England to watch for this spring.