With the 2025 NLL Draft just over a week away, we’ve covered both our top forwards and defenders to keep an eye on. But now, we want to go through some other players who our staff agreed deserved their flowers heading into draft day.

Whether it’s early renunciations, prospects flying under the radar, or just individuals we hadn’t touched on in our first few pieces, we want to talk about some of our favourite prospects who may fall just outside the first round.

Let’s jump in!

2025 NLL DRAFT ANALYSIS

FORWARDS TO WATCH

DEFENDERS TO WATCH

Julien Belair, RF, Ottawa & Whitby (OJLL)

Anyone who tuned into the OJLL Playoffs got a front row seat to the player that Belair is and what he could develop into in the pros. While he only posted 40 points during the regular season with the Warriors, he matched that total in the playoffs, while having a knack for showing up in the biggest moments of big games.

A revelation late in the summer for Whitby, the righty was a perfect complement to the likes of

Belair has declared for the 2025 draft. As a 2005-born player with one more year of junior left, Belair will likely be an individual that an NLL team can add and develop long-term. He has a solid frame that he can still build out as he gets older, he’s comfortable crashing and opening up teammates in the two-man game, but he has the skill to finish off the opportunities he gets. Belair also just makes winning plays, whether it’s a key loose ball or tracking back to stop transition. He’ll be a very interesting player to keep an eye on in this class.

Miles Botkiss, LF, Harvard & Royals (CACBLL)

A prospect that always pops up around this time because of the NCBS championships, Botkiss has been a pivotal part of the Royals teams in 2022 and 2023 that took home the NCBS Championships, playing a key role as an offensive facilitator.

Botkiss has credited his development in part to his time indoors, and he should be on team’s draft boards this year. He’s a player who can create his own shot, and on step-down looks, he can hammer the ball. Athletic and possessing a strong IQ, as he demonstrated at the NCBS Championships, it’ll be exciting to watch the California product develop in the NLL.

His arc will probably mimic that of former Royals teammate Jake Govett. If a team can be patient and let him learn alongside pro players and coaches, he could be a future everyday contributor in the NLL.

Photo: David Pickering/Peterborough Lakers

Kaden Brennan, RT, St. Bonaventure & Oakville (MSL)

If you tuned into the NCBS Championships this year, you likely would have seen Brennan feature on a Buffaloes squad that included several former and current OJLL talents. The transition player capped off his summer with that showcase after playing a full year in MSL with Oakville.

Brennan showcases his athleticism and footwork when maneuvering in the defensive zone, working well in the two-man while also being able to get through screens and matching feet with forwards. He also uses that speed to pull away for chances in transition.

The Kingsville, Ontario native has proven that he can produce offensively at the senior level, with a 13-goal, 27-point campaign last summer in OSL with the Six Nations Rivermen under his belt. Playing a full summer with Oakville — and a handful of games for the Chiefs last summer — will have Brennan ready for a jump to the pros.

Jameson Bucktooth, LF, St. Catharines (OJLL)

Shortly after we posted our Forwards to Watch piece, there were rumblings that Bucktooth would be looking to put his hat in the ring for the 2025 NLL Draft.

The 2005-born forward was a former first overall pick in the OJLL Draft, and spent his first few years with the Orangeville Northmen. His last year with them came as a member of their team that went undefeated in the regular season in 2023. However, Bucktooth was traded to St. Catharines ahead of the 2024 season but opted to stay and play Junior B in Onondaga, appearing in the Founders Cup.

This year with the Athletics, Bucktooth had 74 combined points between the regular season and postseason, serving as one of the team’s main lefty scoring threats. Bucktooth cemented his place in this class by averaging over three points a game at the Minto Cup against the top junior competition.

Dagan Carlson, RF, Maryville & Maple Ridge (WLA)

A Melfort, Saskatchewan native, Carlson played in his home province with the SWAT of the RMJALL for four seasons before he hopped further west to finish out with the Burnaby Jr Lakers.

After posting career-high numbers last summer in the BCJALL, the next step was the WLA with Maple Ridge. Carlson improved his stats year over year in junior and averaged over two points per game in his first full WLA campaign. The righty will be another depth option who could pay dividends for a team looking for depth scoring options.

He’s seen continual growth every year, and his stats against men this summer were impressive.

Jack Charboneau, LF, Johns Hopkins & Burnaby (WLA)

Watching Charboneau operate out of the front gate, the first word that comes to mind is shifty. You don’t see many forwards at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds who can free up their hands in the variety of ways that he can. When he shoots, it’s not an overpowering release, but the angles he can release from, paired with the placement, make it a dangerous one.

The lefty from Coquitlam can take his defender over the top or underneath for scoring chances, and his vision makes him a strong set-up man as well.

After graduating from junior with his hometown Adanacs, Charboneau found success in the WLA this summer with Burnaby, where he averaged over two points a game with the Lakers.

Carter Coffey, RD, Guelph & Orangeville (OJLL)

Coffey is another player who began his junior lacrosse journey in Junior C, playing for the Fergus Thistles. He made his way to the OJBLL’s Elora Hawks, winning a Founders Cup with them last summer.

Making the jump to the OJLL with Orangeville this summer, Coffey has become a staple on the Northmen’s defence, playing in all 20 regular-season contests for them and the playoffs.

The Arthur, Ontario native is a player whose game is liked by several junior coaches. Another CUFLA product, Coffey stands at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds and has strong play in his own end to go along with an ability to advance the ball up the floor with his athleticism.

He was matched up opposite Nolan Byrne for much of the Ontario Finals, and Coffey played a very strong series. He’s also gone up against Cody Malawsky in the Minto, showing how much the Northmen staff trusts him to handle big assignments.

Kaymen Diabo, RF, Kahnawake (OJBLL)

A Minto Cup Champion last summer with the Coquitlam Adanacs, Diabo opted to spend his final year of junior lacrosse playing in the OJBLL with his hometown Kahnawake Hunters. The righty was outstanding this summer, posting 100 points in the regular season and 162 points total, including the playoffs.

Helping Kahnawake capture the OJBLL championship, Diabo is going to appear in the Founders Cup and have a chance at back-to-back years with National Championships. Diabo is a multi-talented player who can free up his hands for open looks, he can fire the ball from the outside, and his vision allows him to find open lanes and teammates for high-danger chances.

He’s also had experience against older competition in the ALL, which should help him transition to pro easier.

Greg Elijah-Brown, RF, Syracuse & Six Nations (OSL)/Owen Sound (MSL)

Elijah-Brown is a natural goal-scorer, embodying the offensive instincts that every NLL general manager covets. His crucial role on Syracuse's potent man-up unit is a clear testament to his elite vision and hockey sense.

Now with the Six Nations Rivermen, he continues to showcase an innate ability to find the soft spots in a defence. He combines this intelligence with slick stick skills to finish in traffic, while his quick and accurate shot makes him a legitimate scoring threat from anywhere in the offensive zone.

Aidan Fearn, LD, Bellarmine & Six Nations (OSL/MSL)

Fearn is a player who will bring physicality, grit, and face-off accumen out of the back gate. Another member of the 2023 Northmen that went 20-0 in the regular season, Fearn has honed his craft at the dot during his collegiate career at Bellarmine and also with the Haudenosaunee Nationals.

This summer, he’s featured mostly with the Six Nations Rivemen, but he has appeared in five games for the MSL’s Chiefs. He’ll get an extended chance to play in front of scouts at the 2025 President’s Cup with the Rivermen, which should help his cause. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, he’s got a pro-ready frame but will likely need more reps against pro competition to round out his game further.

Josh Gabriele, LD, Drexel & Nanaimo (WLA)

Gabriele is a defender who displays strong footwork and athleticism, and an ability to jump into passing or shooting lanes to try and make a play to help out his goalie. The Burnaby, BC product played five years with his hometown Jr Lakers — with a brief stint with Victoria in 2023 sprinkled in there. His first season in the WLA with Nanaimo saw him finish with three points in 11 outings.

The lefty played his collegiate ball with Drexel as a short-stick defensive midfielder, which should only benefit him as he moves up to play the most athletic and dynamic players in the world.

Clifford Gaston, RF/T, RIT & Armory (UCBLL)

Gaston has been predominantly a field player since graduating junior after appearing in the Minto Cup with the Beaches in 2022. But he did pop up in the UCBLL last summer, averaging three goals and 4.5 points per game with the Armory.

During his career with RIT, Gaston became second all-time in both career points (315) and goals (229) while winning a National Championship in 2022 with the Tigers. He has a knack for scoring and has played both forward and transition in junior previously. Gaston is a bit of a question mark as to where his ceiling is if he commits to the NLL.

Jesse Gonsalvez, LD, Guelph & West Durham (OJBLL)

Each year, the Ontario Jr B Lacrosse League typically sees one or two of its standout players selected in the NLL Draft. In 2025, that standout could be Jesse Gonsalvez.

The captain of the West Durham Ironheads was named the 2024 OJBLL East Most Valuable Defensive Player, recognized for his ability to shut down opposing teams' top offensive threats consistently.

Gonsalvez combines a strong physical presence with sneaky athleticism and boasts one of the sharpest defensive lacrosse minds in junior lacrosse.

Cody Inness, RF, St. Catharines (OJLL)

One of the key pickups for the St. Catharines Athletics at the OJLL trade deadline, Inness has helped bring some added punch to their righty side heading into the Minto Cup.

He has been utilized as a depth scorer for his new squad, helping to complement the likes of Zack Toll, Tye Steenhuis, and Keaton Zavitz. He possesses a good shot and is adept at working in the two-man game. While he didn’t get to appear as much in the Minto as we’re sure he would have liked, the added eyeballs on the tournament should cement Inness as a forward that hears his name called this year.

Hugh Kelleher, RF/T, Cornell & Oakville (OJLL)

Fresh off winning a National Championship with the Big Red, Kelleher is one of, if not the best, American player available after CJ Kirst is off the board.

Like Kirst, Kelleher also cut his teeth in the OJLL, playing for Oakville in 2022. He also spent a stint with Halton Hills in the OJBLL. Even back then, Kelleher showed that he is athletic and physical with the ball in his stick.

A downhill dodger with a strong shot and solid hands, Kelleher stands at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. At that size, he could very well be looked at as a transition player in the NLL. He’s a similar frame to what Connor Kirst was coming out of college, and we’ve seen how he’s been able to thrive out of the back gate.

Mic Kelly, RF, Denver & Gaels (NCBS)

An NCBS alumnus who made waves at the Championships last year, Kelly starred for the Gaels, posting 17 points in just four games in the tournament.

Collegiately, he finished with under 100 career points at Denver, but he also spent time during his career playing as a defensive midfielder, which could aid him at making the jump to full-time play indoors. Athletic with a quick first step and a bullet of a shot, Kelly can get his hands free and set up teammates with his knack for getting separation.

Could a team look to see what he could provide as a two-way player later in the draft? With reps as an SSDM, he could be a project at transition. But Kelly could also develop out the front gate and be a legitimate future option for an NLL team with his abilities.

Caleb Khan, G, Langley (BCJALL & WLA)

Want to feel old? Khan is born in 2007 and has another three years of junior eligibility left to improve. But the thing with this young man is that he’s already has two years of senior under his belt.

The Langley, BC native has played not only Junior A and B for his hometown Thunder, but also the Sr. Thunder the last two summers. He started last year in Junior B and worked his way all the way into the WLA squad’s starter in the playoffs. He held a sub-10 goals-against average and an .840 save percentage in four outings and then played in eight postseason contests as a 17-year-old.

Khan pulled double duty for the Thunder, playing both Junior A and WLA ball full-time, holding a nearly identical statline in both — sub-10 GAA and a SV& over .810. Great numbers for a veteran, but truly absurd numbers for someone this young.

With his junior availability and proven ability against pros to this point, Khan is easily the best goalie available this year and will likely hear his name called in the second round, if not earlier, depending on if a team needs a goalie.

Ben Kromer, LD, Ottawa & Whitby (OJLL)

Kromer is in the midst of his best offensive season in his OJLL career, with 10 points in 20 games during the regular season.

Despite that, the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder is more known for his defensive ability. Kromer was a young member of the Warriors’ Minto Cup squad in 2022, and he has appeared in almost every game the team has played over the last three years.

Playing for the Gee Gees in CUFLA, Kromer can declare for the draft and step in immediately if called on. He’s got a pro-ready frame and has been a part of his fair share of massive games.

Ethan Lee, RD, Guelph & Whitby (OJLL)

Another CUFLA product playing for the Warriors, Lee has jumped off the page during the Warriors’ playoff run to the Ontario finals this summer with his atheticism and willingness to push the ball in transition.

This was Lee’s first year of Junior A lacrosse, and while he had just four points in 12 outings, he’s been a staple in the Warriors’ lineup in the postseason. When he has pushed in transition, the team has also trusted him at times to stay and play the odd shift, helping to open up space as a crasher.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder already has surpassed his regular-season points total in the playoffs, and with the OJLL Finals being front and center for the lacrosse world to see, Lee continued to rise his stock.

Seth Martineau, LD, Toronto (OJLL)

One of the key acquisitions for the Toronto Beaches at this year’s trade deadline, Martineau came in and brought some punch out of the back gate.

Standing at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, the Windsor product is a physical force on defence, and he’s surprisingly nimble for someone his size and has some good hands — just see this helper the Beaches posted on social earlier this summer.

Martineau has been playing hockey during the winter back home, so he’ll be available to be drafted if he does declare. He’s a player that the Beaches used in many different ways during this summer’s playoff run. He was on their penalty kill, last minute defence, empty-net defensive unit, and he even ran out the front door to open up forwards when needed.

He’s a raw lacrosse player, but what he put on tape with Toronto after the trade deadline makes for an intriguing project for a team that could get him in the middle stages of the draft.

Joel McCormick, RF, Robert Morris & Burnaby (WLA)

McCormick had his best production last season — his final year of junior — posting 84 points for the Burnaby Jr Lakers.

The righty posted over a point a game in his first season with the Sr Lakers this summer. McCormick has a nose for the net. His shot is strong and he can place it wherever he wants. Whether it’s short side or far side, he keeps goalies guessing with the different angles he fires the ball from.

While being 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, McCormick has the abilities offensively that can translate to the pro game. Likely to be a forward in the middle rounds, the Maple Ridge product will look to make an impression at camp if a team grabs him in the draft.

Carter Moran, LF, Owen Sound (OJBLL)

Moran has lit it up as the leading scorer for Owen Sound in the OJBLL over the past two summers. He wrapped his final year of junior ball in 2025, putting up 39 goals and 99 points for the North Stars. That was coming off a 2024 season where he hit 100 points.

A local product, Moran has taken advantage of the Owen Sound Senior teams pulling from their junior pool for call-ups, as he’s played as an AP in both the OSL and MSL each of the last two summers.

Moran stands at just 5-foot-8, 150 pounds, but he’s got a knack for the net and could be an option for a team deeper in the draft. He’s a competitor who has produced at every level he’s played in.

Lukas Olsson, RF, Richmond & Nanaimo (BCJALL)

Olsson first put himself on the radar for the NLL when he had 13 points in three Minto Cup games to wrap his junior career with the Calgary Mountaineers. Over the last two summers, the Calgary product has jumped out to the WLA, playing with the Nanaimo Timbermen.

The righty possesses the ability to open up his hands to get shots from a variety of angles. His quick first step allows him to keep defenders guessing. He can take his man over the top, and his heavy shot is extremely tough to stop. He also likes to dip his shoulder and go underneath, where he can finish on the crease.

One of the more underrated players in this draft, a righty-needy team will add Olsson to their lineup and be very happy with his overall production and play for years to come.

Jeremi Phoenix-Lefebvre, LD, Mercyhurst & Cobourg (MSL)

Phoenix-Lefebvre has made his mark in the box game as a defender and face-off specialist, spending his junior days with the Beaches before making the jump to Cobourg, where he’s played the last two summers. In field, however, he’s an offensive midfielder who led Mercyhurst in scoring in their first Division I season.

The Terrebonne, Quebec native posted a point per game in transition with the Kodiaks this summer. He has a smaller frame, standing at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, but he possesses grit and two years of experience against NLL competition. Transition upside is there, and we’ve seen the value a defender who can take draws and play regular shifts could bring to an NLL lineup.

Eddie Qu, RF, Yale & Oakville (OJLL)

Qu is another name who will have a few questions surrounding him heading into the draft. Namely, how much interest he has in playing pro lacrosse. We haven’t seen him play box since he graduated junior lacrosse with Oakville back in 2023.

But anyone who has seen Qu play knows that he showed flashes of brilliance offensively during his time with the Buzz. The Mississauga, Ontario product always found ways to maneuver through multiple defenders for scoring chances or burying a circus shot on top of the crease.

If Qu does want to play, he’s going to be an interesting prospect to watch this year. He’s got a sturdy frame at 5-foot-8, 200 pounds, which should benefit him against bigger and stronger competition than he faced in junior. He could be a depth selection that brings solid upside for the future.

Halen Rasmussen, RD, RIT & Burnaby (WLA)

We’ve talked about the importance of players who have played multiple seasons of senior lacrosse and how it could help their transition to pro. Rasmussen falls under that category.

The big-bodied defender has played parts of three summers playing up in the WLA with New Westminster while also pulling double duty with the Jr. Salmonbellies. After graduating junior in 2023, Rasmussen took a few summers away before appearing this year with. Burnaby.

Rasmussen is more of your typical stay-at-home defender, and the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder is going to mix it up and bring physicality to the table every game. You rarely find an RIT player who has a tough time transitioning to pro lacrosse. Rasmussen can join a team and compete for a spot right away.

Zach Richards, G, Dalhousie & Kitchener-Waterloo (OJLL)

Richards spent time backing up for the Northmen during the first few years of his junior career, playing behind Chris Origlieri previously and Lindyn Hill last summer. He posted an .866 save percentage in just under 200 minutes of action with Orangeville in 2024. But Richards also found himself in the three-way trade that landed Connor O’Toole in the Bunny Barn.

He’s got a solid frame at 6-foot, 245 pounds, and he moves well in the crease. When Richards was on this past summer, there weren’t many goalies better than him. He helped Kitchener-Waterloo make it back into the playoffs this summer, and he’ll likely be scooped up in the MSL Draft in the winter and operate as a tender in senior next summer.

One summer as a starter in his junior career makes it a little tougher to gauge what his ceiling will be, but Orangeville is a goalie factory, and while he probably needs a few years to develop, Richards’ strong summer should earn him a selection in this year’s draft.

Nate Senez, RF, RIT & Hawkeyes (UCBLL)

Watching the NCBS Championships, Senez was a hard player to miss on tape. Helping the Hawkeyes to the title last year in Utica, he worked alongside running mate Zach Terry to light it up offensively. The leader in assists for the tournament, the righty was able to find skip lanes to pick apart the defences while chipping in with some strong outside shooting and a quick first step.

Senez has a ton of experience in box as well. Along with playing in the UCBLL, he’s spent two summers in Junior B with the Seneca War Chiefs. He’s playing in the CANAM lacrosse league with Tonawanda, playing alongside and against some NLL talent. That will benefit him heading into the draft.

Graydon Stokes, RD, Wilfrid Laurier & Orangeville (OJLL)

Stokes is a big body on the back end who has big-game experience, spending his junior career with a Northmen squad that has been to the Ontario Finals each of the last three years along with the Minto Cup final last summer.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder focuses more on his own end, but he’s got the strength and mean streak to be a player that defensive coaches love. Stokes is a defender with a solid floor and a resume that should get him drafted in the fall.

Payton Tasse, LD, Newberry & Cobourg (MSL)

Tasse played a portion of last season with Brampton, and this year, he started with Peterborough before being traded to Cobourg, where he played under his dad, Jason. Another member of that 2022 Founders Cup-winning Nepean squad, the Ottawa product is a big body on the back end, standing at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds.

While he had just under a point a game in transition in that 2022 season, he has become more focused on the defensive side of the ball in MSL. That size and strength will be coveted on the back end, and his added reps five on five and on the penalty kill in Cobourg will help as he heads into the draft.

Zach Terry, LF, Limestone & Hawkeyes (UCBLL)

While Terry might be a project for the NLL team that drafts him this fall, his elite goalscoring is undeniable. It's a skill you can't teach, and it's what best describes the Limestone graduate's game.

As the all-time NCBS goal-scoring leader, he dedicated the past five summers to playing with the Hawkeyes in the UCBLL, culminating in an NCBS championship in 2024. Furthermore, Terry proved himself against grown men this past summer, continuing to light the lamp for the Tonawanda Braves of the CanAm Sr. B league.

Jack Travassos, LD, Newberry & Oakville (MSL)

A player that we expected to be available in last year’s class, Travassos had not yet completed his four years of NCAA eligibility. After finishing his fourth year as a grad student at Newberry, he should be in the draft this time around.

Travassos played parts of 2022 and 2023 with Brooklin, and he appeared in 10 games this summer with the Oakville Rock. Those reps in MSL will pay dividends when he heads to training camp. A 6-foot-3, 190-pound defender, Travassos has great athleticism and an ability to produce in transition. He is also strong and can stand up forwards. Playing on a younger Oakville squad with some NLL talent, Travassos also got a lot of time on the floor when he was in the lineup this summer.

If he can find more consistency with his point totals, the ceiling is there for Travassos to be a solid two-way threat in the NLL for years to come.

Amos Whitcomb, RF, Albany & Brampton (MSL)

A teammate of Bucktooth’s on that 2023 Orangeville juggernaut, Whitcomb’s bread and butter was inside finishing on that team, routinely finding soft spots in the defence and making them pay for leaving him with his hands free.

The righty is a deft finisher in tight and can fire the ball from any angle, making it tough for goalies to pick up. A 6-foot, 200-pound forward, Whitcomb proved himself last summer against senior competition, starring for the Allegany Arrows at the 2024 President’s Cup. He finished that tournament at just under a goal a game and 20 points in eight outings.

After appearing in a few MSL games with Brampton this summer, Whitcomb is headed for the draft. He likely will sit somewhere in the middle rounds in terms of a pick. But he’s someone who has a safe floor for his career. A player like him, who is willing to crash and open up space with hands like his, won’t have trouble finding a team in the NLL to give him a look.

Tommy Wood, G, Raiders LC (RMJALL)

Despite the Raiders going winless in the Minto Cup this year, Wood was a bright spot for the young squad. Over his junior career, Wood has never held a save percentage under .810, and he’s gotten heaps of big-game experience over the last two summers. He’s a big body at 6-foot-2, and while he likes to bait shooters, he takes it away with his athleticism.

Wood declared for the draft back in 2023, and despite this being his third go around, his Minto performance should warrant a team taking a flier on him and seeing if he can carve out a spot for himself on a roster.

2025 NLL Draft - Others to Watch