2026 NLL Draft - Americans to Watch
We’ve talked forwards, defenders, and goaltenders that should be on everyone’s radars, but what about those players hailing from south of the border that could hear their names called?
If Joey Spallina is indeed the first overall selection in this year’s draft, that would mark the third consecutive year that an American would be the top pick in the NLL, following Brennan O’Neill and CJ Kirst in 2024 and 2025, respectively. But there’s much more than just Spallina when it comes to compelling individuals who could be in play for teams to add to their rosters this year.
Let’s hop in and take a look at some of the most intriguing names on the board.
Photo: Syracuse Athletics
Billy Dwan, LD, Syracuse
Dwan is a massive body on the back end, standing at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. One of Dwan's defining characteristics is his physicality. He plays through contact, finishes checks with authority, and consistently wins battles around the crease. Players he matches up with have trouble gaining ground on him. While also moving well and being good off the ground, he has the intangibles that NLL teams are looking for in defenders.
With less room to manoeuvre, Dwan could be a very strong presence on a back end in the NLL.
One thing that could hold Dwan out this year, however, is his new coaching job at Fairfield. He joined the team last week as an Assistant Coach. With the weekly commitment down in Connecticut, that could make travel an issue. In that case, a team could take Dwan and stash him on the draft list until he can take a proper go at box. We’ll have to wait and see what the future holds with the defender.
Michael Leo, LT, Syracuse
Leo is a great blend of everything you’re looking for in an offensive talent. He’s a dynamic dodger who rips the pill, and he also had incredible lacrosse IQ, which helps him dissect cutting lanes or skip passes to teammates. The 5-foot-10, 190-pounder also has an incredible motor and compete level.
During his career with the Orange, Leo consistently produced while matched up against top competition and has earned multiple All-America honours while serving as Syracuse's top-scoring midfielder.
The Seaford, New York native got his first taste of box action last summer with Snake Island, playing alongside fellow Syracuse grad Joey Spallina. While it was only a handful of outings, Leo managed to nearly post a point per game.
Photo: Duke Athletics
Aiden Maguire, LD, Duke
Every single draft over the last couple of years, teams have been trying desperately to find the next short-stick defensive midfielder who can translate and become a star in box, like Ryan Terefenko and Danny Logan. Maguire looks to be the next up in that ilk.
Maguire possesses a strong build and plays with an aggressive, physical edge. He is difficult to beat one-on-one due to his lateral quickness, balance, and ability to stay in front of ball carriers. He’s consistently pressuring while having the recovery speed and strength to re-establish position if he’s a step off.
His greatest defensive strength is his ability to create disruption. Maguire has excellent timing when throwing checks and shows a strong understanding of when to attack an opponent’s hands. All of these things make him a home run player in the NLL if he commits to playing. He’s already got a leg up defending with the short stick in field.
The first-ever SSDM to be taken first overall in the PLL Draft, could a team look to take a swing at Maguire in the late first or early second and hope to hit a home run in the future?
Photo: Princeton Athletics
Chad Palumbo, LF, Princeton
Palumbo was nothing short of electric this season for the Tigers, posting 48 goals and 79 points for the Division I National Champions. What separates the Newton, Massachusetts native from the pack is his creativity, athletic dodging, and missile of a shot, which he can let go from anywhere at any angle. A lot of his goals did come from low angles coming over the top of defenders, but his overhand is equally problematic to face.
Off the dodge, he’s got a lethal jab step that he put defenders on skates with multiple times this year with the Tigers. His swim move is also great, and something he uses in tight quarters — which will benefit him indoors.
With a 6-foot-2, 205-pound build, Palumbo is going to be a tough matchup for any defender. While he doesn’t have as much box exposure as other Americans previously, he played for the Royals in the NCBS Championships in 2024, putting up 25 points in five games. It’s tough to say where Palumbo could land in this draft, but a team should make him a priority as a player to draft and stash for the future. If he can catch on inside the box the way he has in field, we could be looking at a star in the NLL.
Photo: St. Joseph’s Athletics
Liam Quinn, RD, St. Joseph’s
Quinn is a fun prospect to keep an eye on for this draft, simply because of the defender’s 6-foot-7, 245-pound frame. He possesses rare length and reach that immediately impacts one-on-one matchups as well as passing lanes. He consistently forces attackers to play from the perimeter and excels at using his size to dictate positioning without overcommitting.
An imposing, stay-at-home defenseman whose combination of elite size, physicality, and defensive IQ made him a tough matchup for opposing attackmen in college. A multi-year starter and two-time Atlantic 10 Second Team All-Conference selection.
Quinn also has multiple years of box experience, having spent 2023 in the BCJALL with Nanaimo before appearing at the 2025 NCBS Championships with the Kings. While he’ll likely be a depth pick, it’s very rarely you find a prospect with the size and defensive ability that Quinn possesses.
Photo: Penn State Athletics
Alex Ross, LD, Penn State
Ross became a shutdown defender during his time with the Nittany Lions thanks to his combination of shutdown coverage ability, disciplined decision-making, and consistent production against elite Division I competition. A four-year contributor at Penn State, Ross developed into the cornerstone of one of the nation's top defensive units while regularly drawing the assignment of opposing teams' top attackman.
Ross's greatest strength is his defensive IQ. He plays with outstanding positioning and rarely finds himself out of structure, relying on footwork and anticipation rather than overcommitting physically. He consistently takes away topside leverage, forces attackers into low-percentage areas, and excels at disrupting timing within offensive sets.
NLL teams have consistently been trying to find the next American close defenders who can translate to the indoor game and be a difference maker on the back end. Like others here, if he commits to giving box a go, Ross could be just that with his blend of smarts and defensive prowess.
Photo: Utah Athletics
Ryan Stines, RF, Utah & Mimico (OJLL)
Stines is an exceptionally versatile offensive player. While he entered college as a natural goal scorer, his game evolved into that of a complete quarterback of the offence. He consistently creates offence, demonstrating patience, poise, and a deep understanding of what the defence is trying to do on the other side of the ball.
His greatest strength is his ability to make teammates better. He manipulates slides effectively, delivers accurate skip passes, and can thread feeds through tight windows. Defences that commit early to him are routinely punished by his vision and decision-making.
Unlike some other players on here, Stines had a full summer of experience under his belt in the OJLL, where he suited up for the Mimico Mountaineers, playing alongside other prospects in this draft like Finn Thomson, Lucas Dudemaine, and Justin Lee, among others. That’ll likely see him get looked at as a pick in the draft after finishing up a strong summer outdoors.
Photo: Towson Athletics
Mikey Weisshaar, LF, Towson
Weisshaar began his career as a midfielder, and with the move to attack later in his college days, he exploded for massive point totals with the Tigers, leading him to be the second overall pick in the 2026 PLL Draft.
While standing at just 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, the Towson product is a natural goal scorer with a quick, deceptive release. He’s comfortable scoring from multiple areas of the field, including with his hands free, on the crease, and while on the move. He has great touch around the cage and in close while also thriving in unsettled situations. He’s also able to create separation with an explosive burst and agility.
While Weisshaar isn’t a lock to make the jump and give box a try, we’ve seen what the likes of Michael Sowers have done with a similar frame and abilities indoors over the last couple of seasons. He could prove to be a good bet later in the draft.