NLL Insider

Pro defensive prospect, Kyle Rubisch, will definitely go top five in next year's NLL entry draft.

Even after officially taking his name outta the ‘09 entry draft hat, making way for long-time Six Nations teammate Sid Smith to go first overall to the Rochester Knighthawks, the Cody Jamieson-to-Rochester (eventually) talk has only gotten hotter after the K’Hawks pulled the trigger on a pair of high profile swaps that sees them bundling some first and second round picks over the next couple years for a chance to trade-then-draft the Syracuse Senior.

Already compared by many to some of the greatest to ever play the game, Jamieson WILL go first overall next September, it’s that simple.

But where does that leave everyone else?

After the jump, check out some of the names that will likely make up the first few rounds of next year’s draft, not with a Jamieson name bar on the back of their sweaters.

Kyle Rubisch – Dowling College & Brampton Excelsiors (OLA Jr. A)
This past summer’s defender of the year in NLL Insider’s Junior of the Year awards, Rubsich is a physical, hard nosed, defensive power house and leader that would fit into any NLL team’s defensive gameday depth charts even this winter. He also landed the OLA’s top defensive honour this past season too.

Curtis Dickson – University of Delaware & New Westminster Salmonbellies (BCJALL)
Like Jamieson, Dickson is a big time offensive game breaker who lit it up for the Bellies this year in his return season to the BCJALL. Heading into his Senior year with the Blue Hens, Dickson already sits at 100 goals, easily leading Delaware in scoring in ‘09. He was an All-Canadian Second Teamer this past summer, a player of the year finalist and was part of Canada’s 55-man camp.

Josh Gillam – Dartmouth College & Peterborough Lakers (OLA Jr. A & MSL)
The two-sport Dartmouth stud (also plays hockey) has been a staple in Peterborough (both juniors and seniors)for the past few years, winning both a Minto and Mann Cup all before the age of 20. Had registered huge post-season numbers for the Sr. Lakers against NLL caliber rosters and is a potential #2 pick alongside the guys mentioned above.

Derek Hopcroft – Bellarmine University & Brooklin Redmen (MSL)
The former Beaches and Saints sniper has posted even bigger numbers at the Senior level playing for the lately underachieving Brooklin Redmen, winning rookie of the year honours in ‘08. He’ll be a first round lock and maybe as high as Top 5 depending on what he does over the next year.

Dan Coates – Canisius College & K-W Kodiaks (MSL)
The former St. Catharines Athletics leader, Coates is likely the second best pure defensive prospect after Rubisch, and brings a similar hard working, zero-quit attitude to the floor too, but is also easily athletic enough to hang in the high paced, top speed NLL. Had a strong first Senior season with the Kodiaks. Coates was one of a number of future Canuck national team members that participated in Canada’s recent 55-man camp, but just failed to make the cut. The Canisius defender also landed on NLL Insider’s All-Canadian Team in ‘08 (OLA First Teamer) and was a finalist for defender of the year honours behind Curtis Manning the same summer.

Jarrett Davis – Bellarmine University & Maple Ridge Burrards (WLA)
Davis’ stock went up a lot this past WLA season, leading Maple Ridge in scoring during his first full season of Sr. A ball, only Garrett Billings, who went sixth overall to Toronto at this year’s draft, posting more rookie points in ‘09. Another strong WLA showing will no doubt make Davis a first round pro lock next year, likely already high on most scout’s and GM’s wishlist.

Ben McCullough – Potsdam State University & Brampton Excelsiors (OLA Jr. A)
Part of this summer’s strong defensive unit in Brampton alongside Rubisch and ‘09 15th overall NLL draft pick, Chris Corbeil. Another prototypical, no nonsense, meat and potatoes D guy that likely could have gone in this past year’s first round depending on some team’s draft needs. Has also shown some O pop playing middie at Potsdam (leading the school in scoring last year), McCullough’s athleticism makes him a valuable player to have on your O press too.

John McClure – Dowling College & Brampton Excelsiors (MSL)
One of the more (if not most) versatile prospects available next year, McClure has filled a role with Brampton’s back-to-back Mann Cup winning squads over the past couple years, led Dowling in scoring last year with a huge 54-goal season, but is also a worker on the floor who shags his share of loosies and can also take draws. 2010’s do-everything prospect.

Ryan McClelland – Colgate University & Brampton Excelsiors (OLA Jr. A)
McClelland’s athletic and versatile offensive game will likely work really well in the NLL, recently named to Canada’s 30-man roster as a middie. McClelland also had a pretty clutch hand with the Excels this past year with five game winners leading up to Brampton’s Minto Cup games.

Tyler Collins – Colgate University & Brooklin Redmen (MSL)
Not as high profile as some of this year’s or next year’s expected pure defensive prospects, but Collins is a big, smart and athletic pure defender that made a seamless transition to Sr. A ball this summer with the Redmen.

Holdon Vyse – Six Nations Arrows (OLA Jr. A)
Although no longer attending Onondaga CC, Vyse’s remaining year’s of NCAA eligibility kept him out of this past year’s entry draft. A strong first Sr. A season in 2010 might up his stock even more. Vyse is a smart, consistent, fundamentals defender that has been a staple in the Arrows’ back court for most if not all of his junior career.

Chase Williams – Bellarmine University & Burnaby Lakers (WLA)
He somehow fell to the 19th pick in the WLA draft last year, but continued to just straight-out get the job done for the Lakers organization in his rookie Sr. A season this past summer. Not flashy or a big point-getter, Williams is a strong role guy that will do whatever is needed of him anywhere on the court. An extremely underrated player that will make one NLL GM very happy at this time next year.

Michael Howe – Cornell University & (formerly) St. Catharines Athletics (OLA Jr. A)
Such a huge part of Cornell’s almost-national championship team last year and yet another versatile, athletic, pure defender available in 2010, one of the more defensive rich draft classes in recent years.

Brendan Gibson – Yale University & Langley Thunder (BCJALL)
A year ago, Gibson was likely on absolutely no one’s radar. 365 days later, every NLL scout better know who this kid is. Gibson, an American (Yale captain)playing his first year of junior ball in Langley this past season, was incredibly impressive for the Thunder, also standing out immensely in the middle of BC’s best at the BCJALL’s Top Prospects Game.

Brock Armour – Towson University & Nanaimo Timbermen (WLA)
Although we weren’t able to get a look at Armour this summer with the T-Men, Towson’s co-captain, heading into the 2010 season, is still considered one of the West’s top available picks next year, a gritty, likely two-way threat in the NLL, who scored two Mintos with some polished Burnaby Lakers teams. His assistant coach at Towson is Philadelphia Wings’ defender, Shawn Nadelen.

Dan McRae – RIT & Burlington Chiefs (OLA Jr. A)
He’s had some of the biggest Jr. A offensive coverage assignments over the past two-plus years with the Chiefs, usually coming out on top, and is considered by many to be one of the best pure D guys in Ontario.

Kyle O’Brien – Dowling College & Brooklin Redmen (MSL)
Former Whitby Warrior forward who’s put up good numbers at Dowling playing alongside McClure. An everyday starter for the Redmen who could fill in a number of rolls on some current pro rosters.

Sean Gillies – RIT & Orangeville Northmen (OLA Jr. A)
Gillies is another in a growing pool of Oakville-natives that are excelling in both the junior loop and college ranks, including Tigers’ teammate and 2010 D prospect McRae. A glue-type O guy that has played an important role on Orangeville’s back-to-back Minto teams over the past two summers.

Dan Lewis – Coqtuitlam Adanacs (BCJALL)
One of this past summer’s breakout keepers out west, Lewis transitioned well to the high profile starting role he landed with the Adanacs, playing clutch, athletic ball between Coquitlam’s pipes, the only starter with an above .800 save percentage and GAA lower than 7.00 in the province.

Brad Levick – Elmira College & (formerly) Whitby Warriors (OLA Jr. A)
Although former junior studs like Andrew Chapman and Dave Hodgins, who were inactive over the summer months in Canada due to school leading up to the NLL entry draft, have been passed over in recent years, Levick is definitely an interesting pro prospect, a former OLA Jr. B rookie of the year, 37-goal scorer with Elmira last year and interested in landing a gig in the NLL.

David Brock – Albany University & K-W Kodiaks (MSL)
Brock is worth keeping your eye on over the next year, the former Burlington Chief entering his last year at Albany U, the offense looking to replace the usually over 30-goals recent NLL first rounder Corey Small usually posted. Brock bounced back into OLA action this past summer with the Kodiaks. Currently probably not overly high on most team’s watchlists, a big 2010 season in the spring and summer could change that.

Steve Fryer – Brampton Excelsiors (OLA Jr. A)
Although we’ve stayed away from underage players, since they’re usually an unknown commodity until the days leading up to the draft, rumours are that Fryer, who had an off the charts first year playing for the Jr. Excels, could be entering in 2010. His strong ‘09 in Brampton’s cage, which saw the Excels nearly capture their first Minto Cup since ‘59, was a Jr. A rookie performance only outdone by Robert Church’s record breaking summer in ‘09.

Leif Paulson – Cornell University & Coquitlam Adanacs (WLA)
A solid, steady, smart defender that made the jump to the WLA this summer playing and impressing in a young Coquitlam D.

Other players to watch: Tyler Burton (Mercyhurst & St. Catharines Ahtletics), Jesse Gamble (Cornell & Orangeville Northmen), Jon Thomson (Cornell & Orangeville Northmen), Graham Bergsma (Fairfield & formerly Toronto Beaches), Kyle Brown (Bellarmine & formerly Toronto Beaches), Danny Farmer (Mars Hill & Calgary Mountaineers), Garrett Kerr (Quinnipiac & Orangeville Northmen), Ryan Hurley (Cornell), Brian Carroll (Virginia), Chris Boland (Johns Hopkins), Michael Kimmell (Johns Hopkins), Ned Crotty (Duke), Grant Krebs (Notre Dame), Kyle Wimer (UMBC) and Max Quinzani (Duke).

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