Jules Heningburg Bio
Jules Nehemiah Heningburg is an American professional lacrosse player currently competing for the Boston Cannons of the Premier Lacrosse League. He plays as an attackman, shoots right-handed, and has built a reputation as a versatile scorer with experience in both field and box lacrosse. Across his career, Heningburg has suited up for the Florida Launch, Whipsnakes Lacrosse Club, Redwoods Lacrosse Club, Carolina Chaos, San Diego Seals, New England Black Wolves, and Albany FireWolves. He is also a founding member of the Black Lacrosse Alliance, an organization that works to broaden access to the sport.
Early Life and Background
Jules Heningburg was born on May 3, 1996, in Maplewood, New Jersey, where he grew up as the fifth of six children. His father, Gus Heningburg Jr., is Black, and his mother, Maria Morrison Heningburg, is white. His paternal grandfather, Gus Heningburg Sr., was a civil rights activist, while his grandmother, Jean Heningburg, became the first Black teacher at Montclair High School. That family legacy of public service and education shaped Heningburg’s outlook on athletics and community.
Heningburg first picked up lacrosse at Columbia High School in Maplewood before transferring to Seton Hall Preparatory School to strengthen his recruiting profile. He then chose to keep his talent in state, committing to Rutgers University. Standing 6 feet 2 inches and competing at 205 pounds, he developed into one of the most reliable attackmen in the Scarlet Knights program during his four college seasons.
Path to Lacrosse
At Rutgers, Heningburg started all 60 games he appeared in and emerged as a centerpiece of the offense. He earned United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-American honors in 2018 as a Second Team selection, with an Honorable Mention in 2017, and he was a two-time All-Big Ten pick. His combination of size, vision, and finishing ability made him a priority target for professional scouts.
That profile translated directly into the 2018 Major League Lacrosse Draft, where the Florida Launch selected him seventh overall in the first round. Later that same year, the San Diego Seals chose him 38th overall in the National Lacrosse League Draft, opening a second professional pathway in box lacrosse. The dual-draft status confirmed his standing as one of the most promising young American lacrosse players of his class.
Jules Heningburg Career
Early Career (2018)
Heningburg joined the Florida Launch for the 2018 Major League Lacrosse season and appeared in eight regular season games as a rookie attackman. He adjusted quickly to the professional level, contributing offense and absorbing the pace of the senior game. The following offseason became one of the most turbulent in North American lacrosse, as roughly 140 players, including Heningburg, signed with the upstart Premier Lacrosse League, leaving MLL rosters thin.
As a direct consequence of that mass migration, the Florida Launch franchise folded during the 2019 MLL offseason, and Heningburg’s brief MLL chapter came to a close. He simultaneously pursued a box career, being promoted from the San Diego Seals practice squad to the active roster on February 8, 2019, and appearing in one NLL game. That summer he also trained indoors with the Minneapolis Wheat Kings of the Interstate Box Lacrosse Association, helping the team reach the IBLA Nationals Tournament in Huntington Beach, California.
Whipsnakes Lacrosse Club (2019)
For the inaugural 2019 Premier Lacrosse League season, Heningburg was assigned to the Whipsnakes Lacrosse Club roster. He appeared in three games before being traded on June 17 to the Redwoods in exchange for Alec Tulett and a 2020 fourth-round draft pick. The early-season move set the stage for the longest and most productive stretch of his PLL career.
Redwoods Lacrosse Club (2019–2023)
Heningburg played five seasons for the Redwoods and grew into one of the league’s most consistent attackmen. In his first full year with the club, he posted 33 regular season points and helped steer the Redwoods to the PLL championship game, where they fell 12-11 in overtime to his former team, the Whipsnakes. The Redwoods valued his production enough to use a protected roster spot on him in the 2020 Expansion Draft, keeping him out of the hands of the Waterdogs.
The 2020 campaign was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic and played in a bubble format. Heningburg was sidelined from the bubble championship series after league doctors identified an underlying health condition. He returned in 2021 and over the next three seasons added 52 more points, earning All-Star selections in 2019, 2021, and 2022. After the 2023 season, his Redwoods contract expired and he entered free agency.
Carolina Chaos (2024)
On March 7, 2024, Heningburg signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Chaos. He played nine games for the club and contributed 15 points as a veteran scoring presence. On May 27, the organization waived him as part of the final round of cuts ahead of the 2025 season roster.
Boston Cannons (2025–Present)
After spending the first half of the 2025 season unsigned, Heningburg joined the PLL broadcast booth as a color commentator for the league’s All-Star Game. On July 9, he signed with the Boston Cannons, returning to the active roster. He scored three points in his Cannons debut, signaling a quick offensive integration with his new club.
Driving Style and Strengths
Listed at 6-2 and 205 pounds, Heningburg combines the size of a power attackman with the quick hands and vision of a finisher. He is comfortable operating from above the crease as a two-point shooter and from the wings as a feeder, and his box-lacrosse background has helped him thrive in tight spaces. He is a right-handed shooter who has long been counted on to produce in settled offense and on the man-up unit.
Notable Events and Milestones
Heningburg’s career highlights include a runner-up finish in the 2019 PLL Championship, three PLL All-Star nods, and a collegiate All-American selection in 2018. He is also a founding member of the Black Lacrosse Alliance, an initiative aimed at growing diversity in the sport.
Jules Heningburg Career Wins
Jules Heningburg has compiled a scoring record that includes 33 regular season points during the 2019 PLL season, 52 points over the 2021–2023 stretch, and 15 points in nine games during his 2024 campaign with the Carolina Chaos. Across his PLL career, he has been recognized as a three-time All-Star, with selections in 2019, 2021, and 2022, and he helped the Redwoods reach the 2019 PLL Championship Game.
PLL Highlights
Heningburg made his PLL debut with the Whipsnakes in 2019 before being traded to the Redwoods midway through the season. His first major postseason appearance came that same year, when he helped the Redwoods reach the league championship game in overtime. His most recent scoring line before joining Boston came in 2024 with Carolina, where he added 15 points in nine games.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the PLL, Heningburg appeared in one NLL game for the San Diego Seals in 2019 and spent the following summers sharpening his indoor game with the Minneapolis Wheat Kings, helping that program place third at the IBLA Nationals Tournament. He also signed with the New England Black Wolves in September 2020 and remained with the franchise as it relocated to Albany, spending time on the holdout list before being waived in March 2023.
Jules Heningburg Family
Family Background and Lacrosse Lineage
Jules Heningburg grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, the fifth of six children of Gus Heningburg Jr. and Maria Morrison Heningburg. His paternal grandfather, Gus Heningburg Sr., was a civil rights activist, and his grandmother, Jean, was the first Black teacher at Montclair High School. That heritage of activism and education informs Heningburg’s community work, including his role as a founding member of the Black Lacrosse Alliance.
Personal Life
Beyond his playing career, Heningburg has remained active in efforts to grow the game and make it more accessible to young athletes from underrepresented backgrounds. His personal website is listed as julesheningburg.com.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 PLL season opened with Heningburg unsigned after his release from the Carolina Chaos. He spent the early months training and later stepped into the broadcast booth as a color commentator for the PLL All-Star Game. The opportunity kept him close to the league and allowed him to stay game-ready while evaluating his next chapter.
On July 9, 2025, Heningburg signed with the Boston Cannons and made an immediate impact, scoring three points in his debut with the club. The midseason move gave the Cannons a proven right-handed attackman with both field and box experience heading into the second half of the schedule. With playoff positioning still in play, his veteran scoring touch is expected to factor into Boston’s stretch run.