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In high school, Bay Shore’s Brennan O’Neill was named the USA Lacrosse National Player of the Year after his junior season at St. Anthony’s.
Now in his third collegiate season with lacrosse powerhouse Duke, the hulking attackman is on top again. This time, he’s the country’s points leader and is playing for the nation’s top-ranked team.
Through 11 games, O’Neill has a whopping 61 points. This week, following a dominating six-goal, three-assist performance in the Blue Devils’ 16-14 win over previously No. 1 Virginia, he was named the ACC Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week. He also earned placement on the USILA Team of the Week.
O’Neill’s nine points against the Cavaliers are the most by a Duke player in an ACC contest since Justin Guterding had nine against Virginia in 2018. His final goal was Duke’s 16th; it sealed the victory and vaulted the Blue Devils to No. 1.
O’Neill, at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, is an imposing force in the offensive end of the field. He has scored at least five points in eight games this season.
Across his career, he’s done it 19 times. He has seven hat tricks in 2023 and 27 in total at Duke.
Duke (10-1) on Saturday plays at No. 2 Notre Dame. Nine players on Duke’s roster, including four who played for St. Anthony’s, are from Long Island.
O’Neill started his high school career as an eighth-grader on Bay Shore’s varsity squad and tallied 98 points, according his Duke bio page. In three seasons at St. Anthony’s (the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of his senior season), he totaled 219 points (153 goals and 66 assists). He also played outside linebacker for the Friars’ football team.
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