The live big board lives at Inside Lacrosse
Prospect rankings shift every week during the college season. For the current top-of-the-board and updated positional rankings, Inside Lacrosse's Big Board and the official PLL Draft page are the sources of truth.
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) College Draft is the top outdoor professional draft in men's lacrosse. Major League Lacrosse (MLL) merged into the PLL in December 2020, so the PLL Draft is what an MLL draft became. The next draft is held in May, right after the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament, and runs 5–6 rounds.
How to read this page
Below is a position-by-position watch list built on where the top-of-the-board prospects consistently come from. Instead of listing specific names that would be stale within weeks of a college game, each section covers what pro scouts prioritize at that position and the college programs that historically produce that year's top pick.
For the exact names on this year's board, use the live sources at the top of this page or the ones linked inside each position section.
Attack A
The finishers. Attackmen score goals and quarterback the offense from behind the cage. The top attack prospect in most drafts is a Tewaaraton candidate with elite point production against ranked competition.
What pro scouts prioritize
- Shot velocity and accuracy in tight — pro defenders take away 12–15-yard shooting lanes
- Ability to dodge and finish against short-stick and long-pole defenders
- Off-hand shooting and feeding — one-handed shooters get scouted out at the pro level
- Point production efficiency (points per shot, not just raw totals)
- Big-game production in NCAA tournament weekends
Programs that consistently produce top-of-board attackmen
Where the current names live
Inside Lacrosse Big Board · PLL Draft page · USILA All-America
Midfield — Two-Way / Dodging M
Two-way midfielders who can dodge and defend a top opposing middie are the rarest commodity in the draft. The pros will always take a genuine two-way middie ahead of a one-way scorer.
What pro scouts prioritize
- Power alley dodge + time-and-room shot from 8–12 yards
- Two-way capacity — can cover a top attack-side middie without leaking on ground balls
- Sub effectiveness — can play offense and defense in the same shift, not just alternate lines
- Ground-ball rate (top pro middies clear at 55–65%)
- Transition finishing — the pros run at every opportunity
Programs that consistently produce top-of-board midfielders
Short-Stick Defensive Midfielder / Long-Stick Midfielder SSDM / LSM
SSDMs are asked to cover the opposing team's best offensive midfielder without holding a long pole. LSMs cover midfielders and take faceoff wings. Both draft categories are heavily reliant on scheme-fit and IQ, not just measurables.
What pro scouts prioritize
- Footwork against elite two-way middies (top NCAA cover assignments carry weight)
- Wing play IQ — can win a scrum, box out, or push in transition after the faceoff
- For LSMs: transition scoring plus first-line cover skills against top middies
- Frame projection — 6'2"+ SSDMs and 6'4"+ LSMs have longer NCAA-to-PLL careers on average
Programs that consistently produce top defensive midfielders
Close Defense D
Close defensemen cover attackmen inside. Pros look for footwork, off-ball IQ, and the ability to force turnovers without over-committing on the initial approach.
What pro scouts prioritize
- Head coverage on top NCAA attackmen — direct matchups vs top-10 opponents
- Off-ball rotation and slide-package IQ — playing team defense in a pro concept
- Caused-turnover rate combined with low personal-foul rate
- Reliable clearing — effective outlet, no forced passes
- Physical projection: 6'2–6'5", 200+ lbs is the modal build
Programs that consistently produce top close defenders
Faceoff FOGO
Wins possessions off the whistle. In the PLL, faceoffs matter enormously because possessions are limited and the shot clock is short. Top pro FOGOs win 60%+ at the NCAA level and can push the ball in transition after the win.
What pro scouts prioritize
- NCAA faceoff win % — 62%+ senior year is the top-of-board tier
- Ability to push in transition (not just win to a wing)
- Ambidextrous / mirror-image capability for matchup flexibility
- Wing IQ — wins on scrums, not just clean clamp wins
- SSDM/FOGO hybrid ability is a practical fit for a cap-tight pro roster
Programs that consistently produce top FOGO prospects
Goalie G
Only one is on the field. Save percentage, clearing accuracy, and communication in a pro system are the big three. Pros almost always draft exactly one goalie per year, sometimes zero.
What pro scouts prioritize
- NCAA senior save % of .560+ vs top competition
- Big-frame goalie who covers the top of the cage against pro-caliber shooters
- First-outlet clearing ability — breaks the ride and starts transition
- Poise and communication in tournament / high-pressure games
- Physical projection — NCAA goalies who add strength in the pro rookie year
Programs that consistently produce top goalie prospects
Draft-year timeline
Here's how a typical PLL Draft year plays out, so you know when to watch each source.
Preseason board
Inside Lacrosse publishes preseason All-America and preseason Big Board. Names are based on the previous year's tournament and All-America selections.
Regular season
Big Board shifts weekly with statistical performance vs ranked opponents. Watch conference tournament weekends — big games move the board.
NCAA Tournament
Tournament performance is the biggest single week for draft stock. First-team All-America selections announced at Championship Weekend.
PLL Draft
The PLL College Draft is held right after the NCAA final. Every pick is streamed live on the PLL and ESPN family of channels.
Where the authoritative current lists live
- PLL College Draft page — official draft order, results, and post-draft grades.
- Inside Lacrosse Big Board & mock drafts — the most-cited pre-draft rankings, updated multiple times per season.
- USILA All-America — coaches' postseason picks are a leading indicator of draft position.
- Tewaaraton Award — the top individual college award; nominees and finalists overlap heavily with the top of the draft board.
NLL Entry Draft (indoor / box)
The National Lacrosse League is a separate pro league — indoor box lacrosse played in NHL and mid-size arenas from October through May. The NLL Entry Draft is held in September and consists of 4–6 rounds. Draft eligibility centers on Canadian junior box lacrosse plus top U.S. NCAA field-lacrosse players who cross over.
- Official NLL Draft coverage: nll.com
- NLL prospect and draft analysis: Inside Lacrosse (NLL section)