NA LCS: 2019 Spring Split Top 5 Junglers

3. Akaadian (TSM)

Matthew “Akaadian” Higginbotham comes in at the number three spot in our ranking of NA junglers. TSM’s newly acquired jungler comes into the Spring in his third year of pro play since entering the scene in 2017 with Echo Fox.

Akaadian has seen mixed success from his time in the pro scene and although he has been often praised for his strong jungling capabilities, his two previous teams failed to qualify for Worlds or even playoffs for that matter.

The promotion to a high caliber team in TSM may prove to be just what he needs to solidify himself as a top contender in the jungle and he gets this shot after presumptive starting jungler Grig is out with a wrist injury. However, this type of spotlight could also be a curse and if the pressure to provide results proves too much for him, TSM may find themselves failing to make it to Worlds for a second year in a row.

2. Rush (Echo Fox)

Lee “Rush” Yoon-jae is the runner up for our list of the top NA junglers, after he spent his 2018 season with Korean team, KT Rolster. Rush performed quite well in the Korean scene and although he was largely outshined by teammate and fellow jungler, Score, he still deserves recognition for helping the team to a respectable quarter-finals Worlds appearance.

Echo Fox will be an entirely new environment for Rush and it will be interesting to see if he can provide results when he doesn’t have Korean legends like Deft and Mata backing him up.

1. Xmithie (Team Liquid)

Jake “Xmithie” Puchero claims our number one spot on our list of top NA junglers. Xmithie has been in talks as being the number one jungler in North America for a couple of years now and it is pretty safe to say these reasons hold their merit. He has helped his past teams Counter Logic Gaming and Immortals reach Worlds appearances and he is often praised for his shot calling among analysts.

Xmthie is a rare breed of player in that he tends to never make mistakes and is always where he is needed. Always securing objectives or ganking a lane, it is reasons like this that make Xmithie such a dangerous opponent and such a valuable teammate.

This is the same Team Liquid who have acquired Jensen in the mid lane and who holds one of if not the best bot lane duo in NA with Doublelift and CoreJJ. Xmithie is an asset no matter the team he is on and with the strength of his new team, Team Liquid may be a top contender for the number one seed in the NA LCS this coming Spring Split.

Do you agree with our picks on North America’s Top 5 junglers? Let us know in the comments section below who you believe is the best jungler in North America.