We always preach that the biggest fans are often the best players – let’s give some of you aspiring best players some ammo to become the biggest fans. There is something beautiful about watching highlight tapes that make you want to spend hours in the backyard stinging corners and trying behind-the-backs; these tapes aren’t just entertaining, they’re inspiring. Let’s break down the best of the best.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a ton of film (and especially highlights) available for the OGs in the early 2000s, 1990s, and 1980s, so guys like the Gaits and even Powells won’t be in contention for the sickest tapes of all time. Despite that, if you haven’t seen the Mikey Powell front flip or the Gary Gait “Air Gait”, then you’re doing yourself a disservice.
Thompson Trio
In 2014, the Thompson brothers, Lyle and Myles, shared the Tewaaraton trophy after putting up video game numbers in style with their cousin, Ty. These three shared an attack line for the Albany Great Danes, coached by the legendary Scott Marr who is notorious for letting his players take risks, have fun, and express creativity on the lacrosse field.
Lyle, Myles, and Ty are Native Americans who grew up with a tremendous box lacrosse influence, similar to Canadian players, and their style reflected this – Lyle and Myles strictly used their strong hands while Ty strictly used his left. They were the most infamous masters of behind-the-backs, backhanded goals, and other creative ways of scoring goals.
Thompson Trio Highlights here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbSGxAfYefc
Chris Walker High School Highlights
Niche pull here, but if you are a defensive player and/or fan of takeaway artists, Chris Walkers high school tape is art. He throws over-the-heads, rusty gaits, can openers, etc. and simply hacks the hell out of people. He picks the ball up off the turf with a swagger about him and pushes transition relentlessly. Unfortunately, Chris Walker’s college career didn’t live up to the hype of this video, but he is a legend regardless.
Chris Walker High School Highlights here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ukSdSG_pts
Mac O’Keefe Junior Year College Highlights
Highlights tapes in which an underhand gun slinger relentlessly obliterates the cage for a couple minutes are the best kind. Mac O’Keefe is arguably the greatest shooter of all time, so naturally, his highlights will be pretty sick. This tape in particular, in my opinion, made it irrefutable that shooting underhand can be just as effective (seemingly more) than a traditional, fundamental overhand stroke. I’m inclined to believe that underhand gun slingers today like Hunter Chavette (Hopkins) were inspired by this man.
Mac O’Keefe Junior Year College Highlights here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4HDo-b3-C0
Pro-Tip – Skip to 1:18 in the video for the sickest “answer dodge” you’ll ever see
Mark Matthews College Highlights
Mark Matthews had some of the most effortless Canadian lefty swagger the sport has ever seen. Being a huge attackman with silky hands and a borderline abuse of the toe drag led to Mark being a straight up highlight machine at Denver. Mark Matthews is to the toe drag what Carnegie and Rockefeller are to U.S. industry.
Mark Matthews College Highlights here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-0x364ydj0
Literally Any Footage of John Grant Jr
Dude, just watch. I have no words.
You’re welcome: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rOMg8INb-0
Case Matheis 2012 Senior High School Highlights
If you’re a smaller player, or you live in Connecticut, you should know the name Case Matheis and should watch this video. This guy was quick, intelligent, and could beat you senseless with both hands. He scored like… a thousand freaking points. The edit of this particular video is sick, and back when it dropped, this video took over the dark corner of the internet that was lacrosse-focused.
Case Matheis 2012 Senior High School Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjCT-7SfG9c
Mac Bredahl 2022 Senior Highlights
Look, I’m sure seeing a D3 name here may not sit right with you; however, Mac Bredahl is one of the most effortlessly freaking dominant players in the history of D3 lacrosse. After snapping ankles behind the cage and scoring sick goals at the island for a couple years at Tufts, Duke asked him to transfer for a fifth year, but he played D1 golf at Boston College instead (he was also a phenomenal basketball player in high school). While playing in the NESCAC conference, one of the toughest D3 conferences in the country, he scored 150 points his senior year (6.8 points per game… and he often sat the 4th because they were blowing people out). Trust me, this is one of the most gangster lacrosse tapes the world has ever seen.
Mac Bredahl 2022 Senior Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWakbHRV3Tk
Other Honorable Mentions:
- Pat Spencer Career Highlights – Straight up GOAT
- Jared Bernhard Senior Year College Highlights – Arguably one of the most dominant single season performances ever
- Michael Sowers College Highlights – Ankles were broken in the production of this film
- Anything involving Jake Taylor – One of the most creative goal scorers ever
- Brennan O’Neill Career Highlights – Generational talent
Greatest Tape of All Time – Ryder Garnsey High School Highlights
Watching this video feels like watching Forrest Gump for the first time – Ryder Garnsey’s high school highlight tape is a war movie, a love story, a historical drama, etc. It makes you laugh, cry, and more. There are corners being stung, ankles being broken, heads being turned, toes being dragged, and of course, legs getting stanky. This guy played with more swagger than Allen Iverson – he talked smack, celebrated hard, and would simply score in the coolest ways possible.
Again, you’re welcome: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsybrg5z-Sk
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