Men’s Lacrosse: Shellenberger, Kastner chosen in PLL Draft

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Posted on Wednesday, May. 8, 2024, 8:38 pm

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photos: UVA Athletics

Virginia attackman Connor Shellenberger and defenseman Cole Kastner were both selected in the 2024 Premier Lacrosse League College Draft Tuesday night. Shellenberger was drafted second overall by the New York Atlas, while Kastner – a native of Palo Alto, California – was selected eighth in the fourth round by the California Redwoods.

Since the league’s inception in 2019, Virginia is the only school to have seven players drafted in the first round, having at least one in each year.

Shellenberger became Virginia’s all-time assists and points leader earlier this season. He is a two-time Tewaaraton Award finalist (2022-23) and led the nation in assists in 2023. Shellenberger guided the Hoos to a national championship in 2021 and was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after recording a UVA record 24 points in the tournament. He is one of two Cavaliers in program history to be named a three-time USILA First Team All-American. In the classroom, he was tabbed the 2023 ACC Men’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Shellenberger joins former UVA teammate Xander Dickson, who is currently a member of the Atlas’ roster.

Kastner is the first UVA close defenseman to be selected in a PLL draft. He started in all four NCAA Tournament games during the Cavaliers’ 2021 national championship run. Kastner is a three-time All-ACC selection and in 2022 was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Kastner was also named a Second Team USILA All-American in 2022 after finishing the season with 31 caused turnovers, good for sixth in UVA single-season history. This year, he currently leads the ACC in caused turnovers (1.87/gm) and is 13th nationally.

Earlier this year, Kastner announced his intentions to play basketball at Stanford University for the upcoming 2024-25 season. He is expected to compete for the Redwoods in the summer of 2025. Kastner joins former teammates Jared Conners and Charlie Bertrand, both of whom were also members of the 2021 UVA national championship team.