UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State sophomore Hunter Aquino, senior Jon King, and senior Alex Ross have been named 2026 Preseason Nike Lacrosse Men’s DI Media All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse. For Aquino and Ross, this is their second honor already this preseason, being recognized by USA Lacrosse Magazine on the outlet’s third team last week.
Aquino posted a record-setting six Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors in 2025. The recognitions culminated in the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award. Aquino scored 16 goals and dished 21 assists to total 37 points on the season. He ranked second in the conference in assists per game (1.31) and 11th in points per game (2.31), consistently the only freshman in the Big Ten in the top 12 in those respective categories throughout 2025.
King, who is one of Penn State’s 2026 captains, was honored this offseason with the program’s No. 11. The number 11 is presented to a young man who has persevered in the face of adversity. The number 11 jersey, worn by Michael Jacober from 2002-05, has become symbolic of the strength and compassion of the 2005 Penn State lacrosse team who rallied around Michael after his family was tragically killed in a plane crash during his senior season. King is coming off a 2025 campaign where he posted a pair of goals and an assist as a short-stick defensive midfielder. A gritty player on the wings and a hard hitter, King has caused 22 turnovers in his career, including 15 last season. He has scooped 68 groundballs, 50 of which came during his junior year.
Ross’s efforts in 2025 also earned him a second team All-Big Ten nod. In the national semifinal, the Davidsonville, Maryland native held the 2025 Tewaaraton winner, Cornell’s CJ Kirst, to zero points for the first and only time in his five-season career. Ross finished 2025 with 31 ground balls and 24 caused turnovers. A threat in transition, he also tallied a goal in Penn State’s 13-12 overtime win over Cornell in the regular season.
The trio and the rest of the Nittany Lions are set to kick of the 2026 campaign next week when the team hosts Colgate on Sunday, February 1 at 12 p.m. in Holuba Hall. For fans at home, the action will be streamed live via B1G+.