Kirst Chosen First Overall In The PLL College Draft; Kelleher Goes In Fourth Round

ITHACA, N.Y. — Senior CJ Kirst was chosen as the No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) College Draft by the Philadelphia Waterdogs on Tuesday evening. Kirst becomes the fourth Big Red player chosen atop the PLL Draft, more than any other college program.

Additionally, senior Hugh Kelleher, the Ivy League Midfielder of the Year, was taken in the fourth round (30th overall) by the New York Atlas. 

Kirst, the Ivy League Attackman of the Year and a candidate for the Tewaaraton Trophy, joins former Big Red stars Rob Pannell (2012), Jeff Teat (2021) and Gavin Adler (2023) as No. 1 overall selections. The four top picks surpasses both Duke and Syracuse who have had three. Kirst is the all-time leading goal scorer in NCAA Division I history with 233 scores.

The three-time All-American is the nation’s active leading scorer at 328 points, a six-time Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week in 2025 who paces all of college lacrosse with his 98 points (68 goals, 30 assists) this season. 

Kelleher, a three-time first-team All-Ivy League selection, surpassed the 100-point mark earlier this season and currently has 119 (90 goals, 29 assists). The senior has always played his best when the lights are on, scoring six game-winning goals during his career.

Kirst and Kelleher will turn their attention back to the Big Red’s postseason run, which begins Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. on Schoellkopf Field against the winner of Wednesday’s UAlbany-Siena game.