Duke’s incoming men’s lacrosse class is packed with national talent, and Inside Lacrosse’s final rankings for the Class of 2026 put that on full display.
The Blue Devils placed seven rookies in the outlet’s top 100, including three in the top 10 and five inside the top 50. No other program matched Duke’s three top-10 selections.
Leading the way is Bennett Matthews, the USA Lacrosse High School National Player of the Year, who checks in at No. 2.
Right behind him is midfielder James Gillis of Chaminade at No. 3, giving Duke two of the top three spots. Attackman Tedy Frisoli completes Duke’s top-10 group at No.
Duke’s depth in the rankings keeps rolling from there. George Kelly, who played alongside Frisoli at St.
Sebastian’s, is ranked 29th overall. New Jersey products Thomas McAneney and Brett Lundberg round out the list at No. 58 and No. 97, respectively.
The seven-player group spans five states and four different positions. Frisoli and McAneney are set to add to the attack, Kelly projects as help for a defense that already has a strong reputation, Matthews and Gillis bring more firepower to the midfield, and Lundberg slots into the rope unit as a short-stick middie.
The ranking news comes with Duke already carrying plenty back from last season. The Blue Devils return 85 percent of their points, along with their entire starting close defense and both of their starting goaltenders. Duke finished 11-5 a year ago and reached the NCAA semifinals.
In Other News...
Duke Fall Camp Just Raised Two Big Roster Questions
Dukes offseason reset has already given fall camp a different feel, with the Blue Devils having to replace the production and presence of several key wide receivers while leaning on transfers to sort out the depth chart. In a recent scrimmage, redshirt freshman Jaivon Solomon made a strong case for himself at receiver, turning in one of the days most eye-catching performances as the staff keeps evaluating who can help stabilize a passing game that lost important pieces.
The other side of the ball offered its own early clues, with sophomore Bryce Davis emerging on the defensive line and showing the kind of disruption Duke wants as the season opener approaches. With roster spots and rotation roles still very much in play, the next stretch of camp should bring more clarity on how the Blue Devils plan to line up, but there are still a couple of major decisions hanging over the final weeks before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes First Scrimmage Left One Crucial Position Battle Wide Open
Dukes first scrimmage of fall camp offered an early glimpse of the offense and defense, with plenty still unsettled as the Blue Devils push through the opening stretch of August. Wide receiver Jaivon Solomon was one of the days clear standouts, while the secondary made its presence felt by breaking up passes and coming away with interceptions, a reminder that there are useful pieces on both sides of the ball even before the depth chart starts to harden.
The bigger storyline, though, remains the quarterback race, and the first live work did little to sort it out. Walker Eget and Dan Mahan are still battling for control of the offense, and with training camp just getting underway, Duke can afford to let the competition breathe a little longer before anyone separates from the pack. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Quarterback Battle Is Taking A Tense Turn In Camp
Fall camp in Durham has already put several Duke position battles under the microscope, but none carries more weight than the quarterback competition. San Jose State transfer Walker Eget and redshirt freshman Dan Mahan have been trading reps, and Manny Diaz said the two have performed closely enough that the Blue Devils still do not have a clear starter as the season opener approaches.
For Duke, the appeal of the battle is also what makes it tense: the staff is looking for the quarterback who can keep the offense on schedule and avoid the kinds of mistakes that stall drives. With both players still very much in the mix, the next stretch of camp is set up to matter more than ever as Diaz and his coaches search for the cleaner option under center. [Read more 🡒]