Two Maryland lacrosse stars picked in 2024 Premier Lacrosse College Draft

Ajax Zappitello courtesy of Maryland lacrosse

After sending both Brett Makar and Kyle Long to the Premier Lacross League in last year’s draft, Maryland men’s lacrosse followed it up with two more draft picks on Tuesday night after Ajax Zappitello and Luke Wierman heard their names called.

Zappitello, the star senior defender, didn’t have to wait to come off the board after he was selected third overall to the Maryland Whipsnakes. He follows in Brett Makar’s footsteps making it two straight Terp close defenders to be drafted third overall in the PLL College Draft, while Maryland has produced at least one first-round draft pick in three consecutive years. The star defender won’t have to travel far from College Park where he will join a plethora of former Terps including former teammates Keegan Khan and Roman Puglise along with former Maryland assistant Jake Bernhardt. Maryland has nine alums on the Whipsnakes roster, a big reason why the state was able to capitalize on the local fanbase to draw a pro team to Maryland. This season, Zappitello has caused at least one turnover in each of the first ten games this year and posted at least two in eight games, adding to his 68 total caused turnovers as a Terp. Zappitello also found the back of the net in the season-opening win vs. Richmond along with the Big Ten Tournament loss vs. Penn State. Zappitello, who was named the sixth-best player in the country heading into the season by Inside Lacrosse, was named the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year as he will now look to be the next great Terps defender turned Whipsnake in the PLL.

Wierman later came off the board after being selected 25th overall to the Denver Outlaws, becoming the only face-off man selected in this year’s draft. Wierman will join former Maryland current defensive coordinator Jesse Bernhardt out west, as well as former Terps Logan Wisnauskas, Alex Smith, and Nick Grill on the Outlaws. No face-off man has ever had a career with stats as good as Wierman posted while wearing the Maryland uniform. Wierman is the all-time leader in face-offs won, and second all-time in ground balls picked up, while also owning the season records for face-offs won and taken, as well as second in ground balls in a season.

With the two latest picks, Maryland has now produced 73 draftees in program history while head coach John Tillman could watch several more get opportunities for training camp invites with Daniel Maltz, Jack Koras, and Nick Redd all potential names to look out for.

Of course, the duo of Zappitello and Wierman still have at least one more chance to put on the Maryland jersey before heading to the PLL. The Terps will host the Princeton Tigers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this Saturday, May 11 at 7:30 PM.