5 Syracuse men's lacrosse players selected in 2026 Premier Lacrosse League Draft

5th-ranked Syracuse men’s lacrosse (10-3, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) already had a strong start to the week: the Orange beat then-9th ranked Virginia for their eighth ranked win of the season and third top-10 victory. Tuesday's Premier Lacrosse League College Draft gave SU the opportunity to flex the muscles of its heralded 2022 recruiting class, now seniors.

That 2022 class became the nucleus that last year powered the ‘Cuse to its first appearance at Memorial Day Weekend since 2013. The class produced Syracuse’s four captains this season: defenders Billy Dwan III and Riley Figueiras, and attackmen Joey Spallina and Finn Thomson. While the Orange boasted transfers and the country’s eighth-best freshman class heading into 2026, their success through the NCAA’s third-toughest schedule has been buoyed by seniors.

“We’ll have a get together draft day and get together as a team and support those guys," SU head coach Gary Gait said ahead of Tuesday's draft. "It should be a fun day.”

It certainly was for Gait’s watch party. SU led the conference in draft selections, a stat that will play dividends in future recruiting sessions against the nation’s top programs.

Round 1, Pick 3: Attackman Joey Spallina, Maryland Whipsnakes

Most PLL mock drafts ranked Spallina as the best player available; Maryland put an end to his temporary slide to make the captain the first attackman off the board. Spallina has topped previous season point totals and is now just two points shy of becoming Syracuse’s all-time leader.

Opposing defenses play for the shot and give the senior an opportunity to become a playmaker, leading to his team-high 35 assists. In the PLL, he immediately pairs well with second-year Whipsnakes attackman Aidan Carroll, a Rookie of the Year finalist who exploded for 21 total goals last season. Maryland’s offense finished outside the top-five in goals per game last season, creating the perfect need for an all-around offensive weapon like Spallina.

Round 1, Pick 6: Midfielder Michael Leo, California Redwoods

When Joe Spallina, Joey's father, is the general manager of a PLL team, there's bound to be some home cooking for the ‘Cuse. The Leo pick is just that: California has selected Syracuse players in the first round in consecutive years (midfielder Sam English in 2024). Similar to that English pick, Leo can be used as a versatile chess piece in both a midfielder role and a scoring attack role. Leo is second on SU with 42 points, having played both attack and midfield this season.

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The captain becomes another name on the Redwood’s star-studded front line that includes 2025 Rookie of the Year Chris Kavanagh and first-team All-Pro midfielder Andrew McAdorey.

“[There's] the obvious Syracuse connection and the obvious Long Island connection," said PLL Draft expert Adam Lamberti. "But at the same time, it fills a need for the Redwoods with that lefty midfielder who can shoot on the run, shoot with their feet, set and create their own shot.”

Round 2, Pick 3: Defenseman Billy Dwan III, Maryland Whipsnakes

Maryland returned to the Orange well in the second round, this time grabbing the top pole available. SU’s arduous 2026 schedule has presented tough offensive matchups each weekend; one of those was a road matchup against then-seventh-ranked Princeton, where Dwan and Syracuse’s defense held first-round attackman selection Chad Palumbo to one goal. Dwan has anchored Syracuse to rank as the second-best scoring defense in the ACC.

In the pros, Dwan forms a strong 1-2 punch with defender Ajax Zappitello, the league’s leader in caused turnovers per game last season. The Whipsnakes had the PLL’s top scoring defense, but the Dwan selection keeps them defensively stout in an Eastern Conference that hosts the last two league MVPs.

Round 2, Pick 8: Attackman Luke Rhoa, New York Atlas

The rich get richer.

The 2025 PLL Champions added the draft’s best offensive stick into their scheme. Rhoa joins former MVPs Connor Shellenberger and Jeff Teat to reinforce 2025’s league-leading offense. The senior comes into the draft with goals in Syracuse’s last seven games and points in all but two matchups this season. Analysts rave about his off-ball contributions; the Atlas’ veteran pieces will draw in defenders, allowing Rhoa the space and time to pick his spot on net.

ESPN’s draft coverage called the selection a “luxury pick." It's certainly a luxury to nab an ambidextrous catch-and-shoot player.

Round 4, Pick 6: Short-Stick Defensive Midfielder Dante Bowen, California Redwoods

California needed to beef up following its 24-16 loss to Carolina in the Championship Series Final in March. The Redwoods host an embarrassment of riches skill-wise, but sought the toughness to contain the PLL’s top attack groups. Bowen provides midfield beef and more. The Ohio State transfer leads Syracuse’s midfield with nine caused turnovers. Bowen stands at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, and is a key contributor both on the man-down unit and in the regular midfield rotation. The graduate student’s transition game has recently sparked at the start of ACC action.

Bowen joins former Orange SSDM Carter Rice on the Redwoods. While the transfer won’t have the flashy offensive impact that California's latest youngsters have held, he provides a strong defensive bedrock.

Lamberti predicts this crop of PLL picks will even encourage SU fans to become more engaged in pro lacrosse. “This is a class that meant so much to the program," he said. "To be able to watch them this summer to continue to make an impact on their PLL teams — I think that it will be really exciting to see for Syracuse fans.”

Syracuse’s newest batch of professional selections take the PLL stage in mid-May, but there is still work to be done on the Hill. The Orange still have two regular season games, the ACC Tournament, and then the potential for an NCAA Tournament run. But first, these selected players will be honored in the JMA Wireless Dome Saturday when SU takes on Colgate for Senior Day. Gametime is set for 5 p.m. WAER has coverage starting at 4:30 with McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Faceoff.