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Syracuse attack/midfielder Michael Leo was selected No. 6 by the California Redwoods in the Premier Lacrosse League Draft Tuesday. Leo was the second SU player selected, joining Joey Spallina, who was taken No. 3 overall by the Maryland Whipsnakes.

Leo has been key to Syracuse’s success since 2024. Over his first three seasons with SU, Leo slotted in as a midfielder. His speed and athleticism made him a downhill dodging threat for the Orange. After Owen Hiltz graduated last season, Leo was moved to attack by Gary Gait. Offensive coordinator Pat March and Gait experimented with Leo there before but made it permanent a few games into the season.

The senior is on pace for the best season of his career by far. His 42 points are only two shy of his career high. Leo has 18 assists this season, an increase of 12 from 2025 and 17 combined across his freshman and sophomore seasons. With 24 goals so far, he also has the potential to best his junior season total of 32.

Over his career, Leo has recorded 149 points (102 goals, 47 assists). He was a part of SU’s loaded 2022 recruiting class. Coming out of Long Island powerhouse Saint Anthony’s High School as the No. 26 player in the class, he was actually the Orange’s seventh-highest rated recruit that year.

“Could he play attack? Could he play midfield? Could he kind of beat short sticks? Could he beat poles? I think he can do a lot of that stuff,” Leo’s trainer, Tom Schreiber, said of his PLL outlook. “And guys who can put the ball in the back of the net tend to figure out a place to play.”

Leo was selected by Redwoods general manager, Joe Spallina, father of Joey Spallina. Joe coached Leo during travel lacrosse with Team 91 on Long Island.

Published on April 14, 2026 at 7:38 pm
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