📈 PLL MOCK DRAFT 1.0

The 2024 PLL Draft is two weeks from today, so we’re officially in the heart of Mock Draft SZN. This newsletter will predict all eight picks in the first round.

For those who need a refresher on the draft order, the Denver Outlaws (formerly Chrome Lacrosse Club) hold the No. 1 overall pick. The New York Atlas have two first-round picks (No. 2 and No. 5 overall) after trading star attackman Chris Gray to the California Redwoods this offseason. The Philadelphia Waterdogs and Utah Archers, who met in last year’s PLL Championship Game, have the last two picks in Round 1.

The 2024 PLL Draft will be held on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPNU and ESPN+.

1️⃣ Denver Outlaws: Connor Shellenberger, Att., Virginia

Outlaws head coach Tim Soudan is not afraid to go against the grain. Everyone expected him to pick Chris Gray first overall in 2022, and instead he selected Logan Wisnauskas. Soudan isn’t ready to give up on the big lefty he already has, and that’s why I have him passing on Brennan O’Neill to pick Connor Shellenberger.

Without Brendan Nichtern in the lineup last season, Wisnauskas struggled to replicate his rookie year success. Shellenberger will give the Outlaws a true “QB1” at attack and potentially revive Wisnauskas. With Matt Brandau’s draft stock rising quickly, Denver can’t afford to wait until Round 2 to find their quarterback on offense.

2️⃣ New York Atlas: Brennan O’Neill, Att., Duke

Brennan O’Neill falling to No. 2 would be a gift for second-year head coach Mike Pressler, who spent two top-three picks on long poles in last year’s draft. O’Neill is a generational talent and the most decorated prospect in this year’s draft by far, as both the 2023 Tewaaraton Award winner and MVP of Team USA at the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship.

There are no questions about O’Neill’s ability, but what about his fit in New York’s offense? The Atlas already have Jeff Teat manning the lefty wing, and they really need a right-handed attackman after trading away Chris Gray. With a player of O’Neill’s caliber, however, you have to make the pick and figure the rest out later.

3️⃣ Maryland Whipsnakes: Matt Brandau, Att., Yale

Connor Shellenberger going over Brennan O’Neill would be shocking enough, but Whipsnakes head coach Jim Stagnitta has the potential to really shake things up with the No. 3 pick. Could he really pass on Pat Kavanagh and select Matt Brandau this early?

Yes, he can. Brandau, who is from Maryland, would be a perfect fit in between Matt Rambo and Zed Williams at attack. He is the most productive player in college lacrosse right now with 96 points. Although he was originally considered a second-round talent at best, Brandau is breaking that narrative and may even be the favorite to win the Tewaaraton Award right now.

4️⃣ Carolina Chaos: Shane Knobloch, Mid., Rutgers

Chaos head coach Andy Towers is unpredictable in the draft, but Shane Knobloch feels like a nice mix of value and fit. He is the best midfielder in this year’s draft class, and Carolina needs to replace its right-handed facilitator at that position with Dhane Smith on the holdout list.

Knobloch has some two-way ability and would be a more natural fit at midfield than free-agency acquisition Jules Heninburg, who is more impactful at attack and should compete with Brian Minicus for the role at X. Drafting Knobloch gives them the flexibility to experiment with Heningburg in such a way.

5️⃣ New York Atlas: Liam Entenmann, Goalie, Notre Dame

After scooping the best player available with the second-overall pick, the Atlas swing back around and take the best goalie in this year’s draft class with the fifth pick. Liam Entenmann was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 NCAA Tournament and his Notre Dame squad currently ranks No. 1 in the nation, putting him on the fringes of the Tewaaraton conversation.

The Atlas lost Jack Concannon to retirement this offseason. The goalies on New York’s roster right now are Drake Porter and free-agency acquisition Tim Troutner. Goalies are rarely drafted in the first round, but Entenmann is one of those rare prospects who can break the mold and start from Day 1.

6️⃣ Boston Cannons: Pat Kavanagh, Att., Notre Dame

Pat Kavanagh probably doesn’t want to fall this far, but Boston would be an awesome landing spot. His older brother Matt Kavanagh just lifted the Cannons to victory with an overtime goal in the 2024 Championship Series Final. How cool would it be to see the Kavanagh brothers team up this summer?

Head coach Brian Holman is a family-oriented coach (he signed his son Marcus Holman in free agency last year), so you know he’d buy into having another Kavanagh on his roster. With Marcus Holman and Matt Kavanagh both getting up there in age, Boston can start building their future offense around Asher Nolting and Pat Kavanagh.

7️⃣ Philadelphia Waterdogs: Ajax Zappitello, Def., Maryland

This year’s draft will be the opposite of last year’s, when we saw four defensemen and zero attackmen come off the board in the first round. New Waterdogs head coach Bill Tierney has inherited a very solid roster, and I could see his first ever PLL Draft pick being a lockdown defender in Ajax Zappitello.

Zappitello is the best player on a Maryland team that is extremely defensive-oriented. He has displayed an ability to match up against the best attackmen in college and neutralize them. Terps have historically transitioned well into the pros; this is a safe pick for a team without any pressing needs.

8️⃣ Utah Archers: Kenny Brower, Def., Duke

After losing Matt McMahon to retirement, Archers head coach Chris Bates is probably hoping that Ajax Zappitello will fall to the last pick in the first round. If the Waterdogs swipe him, Utah will feel some pressure to take the next best defenseman available and select Kenny Brower.

This won’t be a bad pick — Brower is a premium cover defenseman — but it may be criticized as a reach with guys like Syracuse midfielder Jake Stevens, Notre Dame midfielder Eric Dobson and Penn State attackman TJ Malone still on the board. Ultimately, Brower would fill a bigger need for the Archers.

📺 Weekend TV & Streaming Info

NCAA streaming info courtesy of Inside Lacrosse (all times Eastern):

Tuesday, April 23:
7 p.m. — Bryant at Brown (ESPN+)

Thursday, April 25:
4 p.m. — Holy Cross at Le Moyne (NEC Front Row)