2023 Charlotte Players to Watch
We continue our Charlotte High School lacrosse coverage by highlighting 10 Players to Watch this 2023 Spring. As we previously wrote in our college lacrosse player preview, which you can find here, this isn’t necessarily the 10 best players, but they are definitely a few very good ones!
We wanted to highlight a variety of players from different teams in different parts of the city at different ages and different positions. Wherever you are and whatever game you’re watching this Spring, we hope you find the opportunity to check out one of these guys.
Here are 10 players in Charlotte to watch this Spring:
Brayson “Goose” Wilson – Senior – Cannon School – Goalie
University of North Carolina Commit
Brayson isn’t just one of the top goalies in Charlotte, he’s one of the top five goalies in the country in the senior class! When you watch him play, the first thing you’ll notice is how much he communicates. Cannon graduated A LOT on defense after the 2022 season with Miles Edmiston (Monmouth University), Aidan Swartz (Salisbury University) and Dillon Casey all moving on. They will be strong at the Faceoff X with Will Crispino (Middlebury) and freshman Quinn Frood helping to take some pressure off a young cannon defense but with a loaded schedule, Goose could be asked to make to ton of saves in 2023. He's got incredibly quick hands and makes difficult saves look easy. He’s also an exceptional athlete outside of the cage.
Karter Williams – Senior – Hough – Defense
Notre Dame Commit
When you see Williams on the field, it’s no surprise he is committed to play at Notre Dame. The 6’4” 205lbs athletic defenseman stands out as soon as you watch Hough play. Karter can match feet and physicality with anyone he covers in Charlotte. The most impressive part of his game though may be his ability to push transition and handle the ball as a defenseman. He spent a ton of time in the weight room and working on his stick skills this offseason and is poised for a great senior season.
Connor Clark – Senior – Providence Day – Midfield
Denison University Commit
Connor Clark will be asked to do a little bit of everything for Providence Day this Spring. He’s a true throwback midfielder that can play both sides of the ball and take the wings on faceoffs. I would expect the Chargers to use him on offense as much as possible but there is no doubt in the fact that he will be on the field a lot. The senior is one of the most athletic midfielders in his class and he's as tough as they come! If PD is to make another run at the state championship this Spring, Connor Clark, and classmates Will Thompson (Ohio Wesleyan) and Charlie Hanson (Sewanee) will be a big reason why.
Charlie Smith – Senior – Weddington – Defense
Providence College Commit
Offensive players will do whatever they can to avoid dodging against Charlie this Spring. The senior was arguably the top defenseman in Charlotte last Spring and helped lead Weddington to a huge upset win over Hough in the state semifinals. He plays a very physical style of defense and wants to beat you up if you have the ball. He also held Middle Creek All-American and current Ohio State freshman Tate Jones to just one goal in the state championship. Weddington graduated a lot with Ryan Kazella (York), Gabe Montognese (Christopher Newport), Will Mitchell (Penn State) and more moving on. If Weddington is to make another run at the state championship, Charlie will need to shut down the opposition’s best player every game.
Jack Ransom – Junior – Charlotte Catholic – Attack
Georgetown University Commit
Gone is Ben Irmscher (Washington & Lee) from Charlotte Catholic but the cupboard is still full with Jack Ransom (Georgetown), Colin Mendicino (Towson), Brendan Leonard, Jack Baade, Max Sovie and more back on offense. Ransom was the conference player of the year in 2022 despite being just a sophomore and is as skilled as any player in the entire country. The junior is at his best when his hands are free with time and room. If the shot is on net, there is a good chance it is going in. He has significantly improved his ability as a dodger and facilitator over the last year and will be asked to do a lot of that this Spring for a Catholic team that should compete for a state championship.
Fletcher Curtis – Junior – Myers Park – Midfield
Providence Day has Connor Clark; Myers Park has Fletcher Curtis. Fletcher is as athletic as any midfielder in the Carolinas, and you could make a compelling argument that he is the fastest from endline to endline. Curtis has been asked to carry a lot of weight on offense since his first game as a freshman at Myers Park, but he’ll be asked to do more than ever this Spring. The junior is at his best when he can get a long dodge out of the substitution box and use his speed and athleticism to get a step on his defender. He, along with sophomore Brady Knutson, will be asked to score, generate assists, play defense, and take the wings of faceoffs this Spring for what is a relatively young Myers Park team.
Ryan Ormond – Junior – Marvin Ridge – Attack
Charlotte has several very good left-handed goal scorers with the Top 2 likely being Pine Lake Prep’s Braedon Chayes (St. Joseph’s University) and Marvin Ridge’s Ryan Ormond. Ormond plays the game like a kid that grew up playing hockey. He is very good on ground balls and he’s tough with and without the ball. He always plays at 100% and he worked incredibly hard throughout the offseason on his game. He is another guy that is at his best when he catches the ball with his hands free, but he has improved as a dodger and will likely be asked to do most of the initiating for Marvin Ridge this Spring. He moves well without the ball and is always looking to back cut his defenseman to create easy scoring opportunities. Marvin Ridge graduated a lot on defense and will lean heavily on an older offense this season with Ryan and Michael Ormond as well as Jack Nicolette.
Brandon DeBerardinis – Sophomore – Lake Norman - Midfield
DeBerardinis burst on to the Charlotte lacrosse scene as a freshman when he was arguably Lake Norman’s top offensive player for most of the season. Just about everything that Lake Norman does on offense this year will run through Brandon and that could be a problem for opposing teams. He is a physical dodger with a high IQ that is capable of scoring with either hand. DeBerardinis may be one of the hardest working players in Charlotte’s loaded sophomore class. He embraces contact on his dodges and excels when he can get a defender off balance and re-dodge. Brandon spent all offseason training with older players and will be more than comfortable carrying the Lake Norman offense as just a sophomore.
Beckett Vance – Sophomore – Charlotte Christian – Midfield
A few weeks ago, when looking at players to watch this spring at the Division 1 level, I described Tucker Dordevic as one of the most fun players to watch in college lacrosse. Beckett is likely the most fun player to watch in North Carolina High School lacrosse. He’s incredibly quick, he has a very good change of direction, he can play with both hands, and he has an electric first step that can make life very difficult for defenders. He really excels using an S-Dodge to get underneath defenders and right in front of the cage for an easy goal. If you ease up at all when you’re covering him, he’s going to blow by you. Older brother Holden Vance (Wingate) has graduated so much of the offense at Christian will fall on the shoulders of Beckett and Logan Fox (Grove City College).
Banks Cutter – Freshman – Charlotte Latin – Midfield
The twin towers of Banks Cutter and sophomore Phillip Hullinger will be the focal point at Charlotte Latin this Spring and a key to everything the team does on both ends of the field. Hullinger stands about 6’3” while Cutter is a touch shorter but may have a slightly thicker frame. Neither will have a problem matching up with juniors and seniors throughout the season and both spend a ton of time in the weight room. They check the box when it comes to being “bigger, faster and stronger” than their opponent. Hullinger is slightly more two-handed and will likely draw the pole for Latin which will free up Cutter to dodge against short sticks all Spring. He is another midfielder that is at his best when he can catch the ball out of the box on a long dodge and use his size, speed, and strength to get his hands free for a shot on the run down the alley.
Heading to a game this Spring and want to know who else you should look out for, DM us on social media (@Team91CLT) and we’re happy to chat about a few more guys!
Enjoy,
Ryan Flanagan
