2025 MANNEY'S MEN

Year 13 of the Nike Boys Philly Showcase brought no shortage of talent to United Sports last Saturday. Widely regarded as the nation's premier recruiting event, the Showcase hosted over 650 athletes from the 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 recruiting classes

The athletes broke out into teams based on grad year and competed in three games over the course of the day. In the afternoon college coaches looked on as faceoff midfielders had the chance to compete in the King of the X prior to the All-Star and MVP announcements. 

The annual Fab-40 All-Star Games concluded the day under the lights. Every all-star selection was given a Nike all-star gear pack that included a Nike jersey, shorts, shirt, and a specially designed all-star hoodie.

Each year Brett Manney, VP of Recruiting at NXT highlights the players that stood out above the rest. Below are those who caught Brett's eye in the class of 2025. 

Brett Manney, is a 14-year professional lacrosse player, captain of the Albany FireWolves, and two-time captain for the USA National Indoor team, serves as the VP of Recruiting at NXT. He won two bronze medals with the USA National Indoor Team. He played on Delaware's 2007 Final Four team, captained the 2008 team, made the North-South All-Star Game, and is the driving force behind Showcase Lacrosse's nationally-known events. Manney sees players from all over the country at NXT events.

ATTACK

Jacob Thibodeau, Middlesex School (MA), Fighting Clams

Incredible lefty attackmen was the theme at the showcase and it was no different at the youngest age group with Jacob. Despite being undersized, Thibodeau attacked every defender from all over the field. He dodged at the lefty wing and from behind the cage to either get to his left hand or his one arm wrap around with his right hand he has in his arsenal. He uses his size to get to great spots on the field and does not need much of an angle to score. If you take your eye off of him he easily will sneak off ball to a sweet spot to score. A talented, heady lacrosse who seems to enjoy the game and makes his team better. 

Honorable Mention:

Matt Drimmie, Everest Academy (CAN), Evolve Elite
Oliver Nappi, Hopkins School (CT), Eclipse
Brock Geraci, Governors Academy (MA), Iron Horse
Michael Ortlieb, Malvern Prep (PA), BIG4HHH

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MIDFIELD

Owen Lee, Everest Academy (CAN), Evolve Elite

When you come down from Canada it is almost a prerequisite that you have a great stick and are tough. Lee’s performance on Saturday was both of those. He was not afraid to dodge on anyone, had great hands in traffic, and always found a way to get to the middle of the field. There have not been many opportunities for Canadians in the last 18 months to play lacrosse and Lee seized the opportunity to dominate his opposition through his hard dodging and creativity all day. 

Honorable Mention:

Brett Feldmaier, McDonogh (MD), Annapolis Hawks
Owen Laatsch, Gunnery School (CT), Salt Lake
Chase Darke, Lake Braddock (VA), VLC

DEFENSE 

Hudson Jenner, Western Reserve Academy (OH), Pacific Rim (CAN)

The British Columbia native who attends school in Ohio is a smart lacrosse player always in the right place at the right time. The lefty hunts down groundballs with ease, pursues effectively off face off wings and plays all over the field. Jenner has great versatility to play LSM or close defense in my opinion. There were a ton of stud 2025 defenders at the event as fellow Canadian Carter Drynan received a lot of attention, but Jenner was always getting ground balls, smooth with the ball in his stick and won his match ups consistently. There have not been a lot of impact field defensemen from British Columbia but with Jenner on the rise he could easily change that. 

Honorable Mention:

Matt Giannetti, Rye (NY), Predators
Connor Cross, Malvern Prep (PA), Freedom
Carter Jaehn, Catholic (VA), Richmond Hawks
Rand Shepard, Philips Exeter (MA), Iron Horse
Max Luker, Hudson (OH), Burning River
Carter Drynan, Hill Academy (CAN), Evolve Elite

GOALIE

John King, Governor’s Academy (MA), NE Twisters

I love John King’s game and what is not to like. The young netminder has incredible flow and a knack for the flair with his game. For such a young player he knows when to throw outlet passes on a dime or when to get some air under it. He seems mature beyond his years, and it shows with his ability to make saves. If there was a shot up high, King was there. Shot down low and away he was there with his feet or his stick. He was also not afraid to command the defense to help set everyone up in the right spots. What a luxury the NE Twisters have with both him and fellow 2025 goalie Max Becker frustrating shooters. 

Honorable Mention:

Max Becker, Pingree School (MA), NE Twisters
Kyle Holtby, Immaculata (NJ), Team Turnpike

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