The 2023 Premier Lacrosse League College Draft is almost here and there’s nothing more fun than speculating about which PLL prospect will land where. I try my hand at mock draft and give my predictions for who each PLL team will select in each round–including some potential trades.
PLL College Draft – Round 1
- Atlas – Sam Handley (M)
- Redwoods – Gavin Adler (D)
- Atlas – Will Bowen (D)
- Chrome – Tucker Dordevic (A/M)
- Archers –Thomas McConvey (A/M)
- Whipsnakes – Matt Campbell (M)
- Chaos – Owen Grant (D/LSM)
- Chrome* – Brett Makar (D)
*TRADE: Waterdogs trade 8th overall pick to Chrome for 12th overall pick and Mike Messenger
In his first PLL College Draft, Mike Pressler has the luxury of selecting two players in the first round and he adds two starters in Sam Handley at first overall and Will Bowen at third overall. I would not be shocked if he decides not to select Handley to start the draft, but Handley is a unique prospect that I don’t even think has reached his peak as a lacrosse player just yet. I don’t think Pressler overthinks things and selects in my opinion the best offensive player available.
As for the Redwoods, Topher Adams laid out the numerous options they have with the second overall pick. They’ve discussed trading down and with John Grant Jr. helming this new Woods offense, an offensive player is certainly in the cards. Yet, the Redwoods defense would get an immediate upgrade with Gavin Adler in the lineup. Sure, the Woods drafted Arden Cohen third overall last year, but Adler is arguably the best player in this draft and I don’t see the team that lost two defenders in free agency and ranked last in defensive efficiency passing on Adler.
McConvey’s spot in the draft is the most interesting. I could see him going as high as first overall if Atlas decide to add a lefty who can play off ball with Jeff Teat rather than the ball-dominant, downhill dodger of Handley. Yet, I think the signing of Justin Guterding makes Atlas less likely to draft McConvey. Redwoods could also target McConvey, but passing on Adler just to add another lefty midfielder also doesn’t feel like the right move.
If Atlas or Redwoods don’t pick McConvey, I think Chrome also pass for the sole reason that Coach Tim Soudan doesn’t like drafting players that will replace those currently on his roster. Soudan’s decision will likely be between taking Tucker Dordevic or Brett Makar. Makar would be a seamless fit to succeed his Maryland coach Jesse Bernhardt, but feels a bit like a reach at fourth overall. If they pass on Dordevic, the Whipsnakes, Chaos, or Waterdogs will gladly select the versatile midfielder. So, I have Chrome taking Dordevic at fourth (and then making a move to get back into the first round…)
McConvey won’t fall past pick five—if he makes it that far at all. Coach Chris Bates and Coach Brian Kavanagh won’t pass on an opportunity to take the Vermont grad, despite their current stable of lefties. Unlike Coach Soudan, Coach Bates has largely drafted based on best-player available in the first round and I don’t think his strategy changes in 2023.
The Whipsnakes add Villanova graduate in John Haus-esque midfielder Matt Campbell. The Whipsnakes are going to draft offense in the first round and with Handley, Dordevic and McConvey off the board, Campbell makes the most sense. I think Coach Andy Towers and Chaos would also like to go offense in the first round, but they’ll also stikc to the best player available strategy and take versatile Delaware defender Owen Grant at seventh overall. So, where does that leave Brett Makar…
The Waterdogs could sit tight at pick eight and just draft Payton Rezanka, but I think they’re comfortable with their current stable of young midfielders and would rather add a slightly older, more versatile SSDM, hence—in my mock draft—they trade for Mike Messenger and move back four spots. Messenger is a bruiser who can go both ways for the Dogs and is expendable for Chrome after signing Alex Smith in free agency to join Will Haus and Ryan Terefenko at SSDM. Chrome, after passing on Makar in favor of drafting Dordevic, get their guy with the eighth pick. They move up in order to snatch him from the Cannons, who were hoping one of the top four defenders would fall to them at nine.
