Former Penn State men’s lacrosse star Grant Ament’s abrupt end to his collegiate career was anything but ordinary. However, he’s quickly returned to his old self just a few weeks after making his Premier Lacrosse League debut with the Archers this summer.

Ament has six goals and 12 assists in just five matches for his club, including a first-half hat-trick in the season-opening win against Atlas. With 18 points, the “assist king” sits at second in the league in offensive production behind legendary attacker Matt Rambo.

Unsurprisingly, Ament has been the best rookie in the league so far, which makes sense given he was the No. 1 pick at the 2020 PLL Draft just a little while ago.

After the victory over Atlas, many analyzed the budding rivalry between Ament and Notre Dame’s Bryan Costabile, whom Atlas took No. 2 in the draft. Ament’s three-goal and one-assist performance was nearly outshined by Costabile, who scored four goals in the eventual loss.

The Doylestown native has entered a team full of attacking prowess and has already managed to take over as the offensive centerpiece.

“It’s that Ament has become the focal point of an offense that also has Tom Schreiber, Will Manny, and Marcus Holman on it,” Inside Lacrosse’s Kyle Devitte wrote.

Amen’s efficiency has easily been the most impressive component of his quick rise to league fame.

“No one thought that Ament would struggle, and if they did they’ve quietly gone back and deleted the tweets, but no one thought Ament would be this bright of a star after the group stage of play,” Devitte wrote.

Since the opening match, Ament has continued his stellar rookie season, propelling his side into third place in group play, while Atlas struggled to a 1-3 record in sixth. The pair met on Tuesday in the first round of the playoffs, with Ament’s Archers advancing to the semifinals.

Grant Ament scores off the razor pick/slip/re-pick by Ryan Ambler.@PLLArchers @GrantAment @ryan_ambler pic.twitter.com/rgpxe6B3wu

— PLL Highlights (@PLLHighlight) July 28, 2020

Contrary to the previous meeting, neither of the two rookie phenoms showed up during the quarterfinal affair. Despite the off-day, however, it’ll be Ament and his team fighting for the trophy.

Ament and his side look forward to Thursday’s semifinal contest against the last-place Chaos, who have embodied their name by dispatching Chrome in their quarterfinal encounter.

Despite going 0-4, the Chaos were involved in some close matches in group play. The Cinderella team’s offense is done by committee. Curtis Dickson, Josh Byrne, and Jake Froccaro are all proven goal scorers, however this match has Ament written all over it.

The Chaos are susceptible to giving up 15 or more goals, and succumbing to the league’s elite. In group play, Rambo was able to earn six points in the Whipsnakes’ victory over Chaos. Should Ament be able to recapture his group play form, the rookie will be on his way to the championship match.

The Archers and Chaos will face-off at 8 p.m. on Thursday. You can watch the match live on NBC Sports Gold.