15 USA Boys’ Youth National Team Players to Watch at Rivalry Challenge

The U.S. Youth National Teams will get a taste of the USA-Canada lacrosse rivalry with the inaugural Rivalry Challenge at USA Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md., from Sept. 18-21. 

This historic event will mark the first time the U.S. Youth National Teams will match up against their counterparts from Lacrosse Canada, the governing body for the sport in Canada.

The nine-team competition features the U15, U17 and U19 teams from the USA, Canada East and Canada West in a unique format with all of the teams competing in both traditional field lacrosse and the sixes discipline of the sport designed for the Olympics.

The U.S. rosters are littered with standouts from across the country. Here are 15 players to watch.

Jackson Allen, LSM, USA U19

An Instagram feed full of filthy plays tells you all you need to know about Allen, a USA Lacrosse All-American long-stick midfielder for Salisbury School (Conn.) and Sweetlax. He’s diabolical with the ball in his stick or on the carpet. Ranked by Inside Lacrosse as the No. 74 prospect in the Class of 2026, Allen is committed to Maryland.

Christian Caldroney, G, USA U15

As the lacrosse world awaits the college commitment of Class of 2027 five-star attackman and viral lacrosse playmaker George Caldroney, his younger brother is already making waves as part of the Class of 2029. The USA Lacrosse National Team Development Program expanded this year to include a U15 age group. The IMG Academy (Fla.) and Eclipse standout is one of two goalies on the roster.

George Caldroney, A, USA U17

One of the premier dodgers in the Class of 2027, the elder Caldroney is a returning NTDP player who has experience playing for national teams in both the box and field disciplines. He’s undersized and underrated as a passer, but also an undisputed rising star in the sport. Caldroney, who plays for IMG Academy (Fla.) and Mad Dog, is ranked by both Inside Lacrosse (No. 14) and the National Lacrosse Federation (No. 26) as one of the top players in the class.

Jack Czepiel, D, USA U17

Right behind Caldroney on IL’s 2027 list is Czepiel, the third-best defenseman of the group and ranked No. 15 nationally. The NLF has him even higher at No. 12. Starring for Tabor (Mass.) and Laxachusetts is the rare takeaway artist who also possesses sound footwork and positioning. The 5-foot-11 lefty can do a little bit of everything.

David Gould, A, USA U19

A smooth lefty operator on attack, Gould scored five goals in the championship game to lead Hamilton Southeastern (Ind.) to its second straight state title in June. The Loyola commit (Class of 2026) finished the high school season with 64 goals and 56 assists and was named a USA Lacrosse All-American.

Mason Holm, M, USA U17

A four-star prospect in the Class of 2027, Holm is 6-foot-1 and can play midfield or attack. He plays club for Brotherly Love and made Team Philly for the last two All-America Lacrosse underclass games. Holm earned rave reviews at the Best in Class event in June, where he was noted for his two-handedness and downhill dodging. He attends Episcopal Academy (Pa.)

Jayden James, D, USA U19

One of the stars of last year’s Brogden Cup, James is back for another go around with the National Team Development Program. A Syracuse commit, he’s ranked as a top-15 recruit by both the National Lacrosse Federation (No. 8) and Inside Lacrosse (No. 13). The 6-foot-1 defenseman has a swarming style and can blunt the best ball carriers. He’s been a fixture at St. John’s (D.C.) and for Next Level, powerhouse high school and club programs, respectively.

Sam Kelleher, LSM, USA U17

A versatile lefty, Kelleher is expected to be one of the top long poles in the Class of 2028. He’s a menace in the middle of the field and boasts elite stick skills. He plays for high school powerhouse Malvern Prep (Pa.) and the 2Way club program.

PJ Kennedy, A, USA U17

The youngest player to qualify for a U.S. Youth National team last summer, Kennedy transferred from Pope John Paul II (Tenn.) to renowned lacrosse school Culver Academy (Ind.) and latched onto the Mad Dog National club team. He’s 6-foot-2 and operates comfortably from the X attack spot. He’s another Class of 2028 gem who is sure to get serious recruiting attention a year from now.

Will Kovacs, G, USA U19

Co-MVP of the then-U.S. U16 team with fellow goalie Jett Stake at last year’s Brogden Cup, Kovacs was patient in his college selection process. The Paul VI (Va.) and VLC product committed to Lehigh this summer. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, he takes up a lot of space in the cage but plays spry style that belies his size.

Evan March, D, USA U17

One of the best pure cover defenders in the Class of 2027, March started as a sophomore for St. Paul’s (Md.) in the spring and starred for Baltimore Crabs over the summer. Ranked 27th overall by Inside Lacrosse and 31st by the National Lacrosse Federation, March committed to Maryland on Sunday.

Jake Neidig, A, USA U15

On the Long Island Lacrosse Journal’s Class of 2028 watch list, Neidig started for the Patchogue-Medford (N.Y.) varsity team as an eighth-grader and scored 26 goals in 2024. He has since transferred to St. Anthony’s and latched onto Long Island Express. He has a powerful shot that he can create on his own or unleash on catch-and-shoot setups.

Jett Stake, G, USA U17

When you start at goalie for a perennial high school power like Lawrenceville (N.J.) as a natural sophomore as Stake did this year, you will surely land on college coaches’ radar. Stake got a call at midnight Sept. 1 from his dream school, North Carolina, and committed within 48 hours. The National Lacrosse Federation rates the Team 91 Long Island product as the third-best goalie in the Class of 2027 and the No. 14 overall recruit.

Ben Waechter, LSM, USA U17

An offensive-minded long pole, Waechter made a splash when he scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lift Brother Rice (Mich.) to a state championship and then poured in 15 goals in six games during the NXT Philly Summer Invitational. That turned some heads. Ranked No. 11 in the Class of 2027 by the National Lacrosse Federation and No. 25 by Inside Lacrosse, Waechter committed to Duke on Monday.

AJ Yeung, FO, USA U19

One of the top faceoff specialists in the Class of 2026, Yeung is in his second year with the National Team Development Program. The Princeton commit is the No. 60 overall recruit and No. 4 faceoff athlete in his recruiting class, according to the National Lacrosse Federation. He’s got a strong clamp and elite ball placement when working with wings. He plays for Holderness (N.H.) and is the latest in a line of faceoff standouts to come out of the NH Tomahawks club program.