Whitby lacrosse stars expected to dominate Saturday’s NLL draft

Saturday should be a huge day for lacrosse fans in Whitby as 11 of the top 50 players projected to go high in the National Lacrosse League draft – including half of the top ten and the consensus top two picks – are affiliated with the MSL’s Brooklin Lacrosse Club or the junior Whitby Warriors program.

Right at the top of the list is Oshawa native and former Warrior Dyson Williams, who is returning to Duke University for his final year of college lacrosse before embarking on a pro career.

Williams, the son of lacrosse hall of famer Shawn Williams – who also happens to coach the Las Vegas Desert Dogs – seems destined to join his father in Vegas after the club made a deal this week to move up to #2 in the draft.

Williams, whose younger brother Tucker – a top rated player himself – died at the age of eight from Burkitt’s Lymphoma, scored 60 goals last season at Duke and played for Canada at the 2023 World Field Lacrosse Championships.

The second rated prospect is also a local player with roots in both the Brooklin club and the junior A Warriors and not a bad compensation for Las Vegas should Williams senior not be able to draft his son: Adam Poitras.

Adam Poitras

The Whitby forward and Loyola University star, who is also returning to school for his final year, was the MVP in the 2022 Minto Cup for Whitby and earned a silver medal with Canada’s U21 squad at the 2022 world championships in Ireland.

Neither player suited up for Brooklin in summer play this year.

Also rated in the top ten for the draft is Jake Stevens at #6, Brock Haley, who scored an incredible 119 goals with Whitby in 2022, at #7 and Ben MacDonnell at #8.

Other players in the top 50 (as ranked by the NLL) with experience with the Brooklin club include Payton Cormier (12), Zack Young (14), Luke Pilcher (22), Jake Dolittle (31), Scott Weller (38) and Scott Reed (39).

The 2023 NLL Entry Draft is set for Saturday, September 16 at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville. Albany is scheduled to pick first, with Toronto selecting 12th.