Brennan O’Neill

Brennan O’Neill, born on April 12, 2002, in Bay Shore, New York, began his lacrosse career at a young age, following in his older sister’s footsteps. He played varsity lacrosse for Bay Shore High School in eighth grade, where he led Long Island with 98 points. He later attended St. Anthony’s High School, where he scored 153 goals and 66 assists for a total of 219 points over three seasons. His junior year was particularly notable, as he won the CHSAA Long Island championship and was named the US Lacrosse Magazine National Player of the Year after scoring seven goals in the championship game.

O’Neill committed to Penn State at age 14 but later switched his commitment to Duke University. During his collegiate career at Duke, he consistently demonstrated his scoring ability. As a freshman in 2021, he led the Blue Devils with 45 goals and 55 points. In his sophomore year, he again led the team with 53 goals and 74 points. His junior season in 2023 was a career highlight, as he led the nation with 97 points, earning both the Tewaaraton Award and the Lt. Raymond Enners Award as the nation’s top player. That year, he was the only Division I lacrosse player to rank in the top 20 nationally in points per game, goals, and assists.

His international career includes winning a gold medal at the 2022 U-21 World Lacrosse Championships, where he led Team USA with 18 goals and 25 points. In 2023, he was the youngest player to represent the US in a World Championship since 2002 and was named the tournament’s best midfielder and MVP after scoring five goals in the gold medal game against Canada. Professionally, O’Neill was the first overall pick in the 2024 Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) draft by the Denver Outlaws. He was also drafted first overall by the Philadelphia Wings in the 2024 National Lacrosse League (NLL) draft, becoming one of only four players to be selected first overall in both NLL and outdoor professional drafts.