2020-21 Academy Season

I've started to see more and more this season is that teams are using players out of position for reasons that aren't immediately clear. There are some games where you have to throw away the evaluation of a player (or close to it) because they are playing a position they don't regularly play, and won't play at higher levels.

In the Cincinnati game, they had multiple players out of position. Kennedy was at CB, but is a box to box CM. Gronostaj is a CB but played RB. Schenfeld is a RB but played CB. Roy is a CF, but played CAM. The next game I watched Jaden Francis and Matt Routzahn (two of the best Union prospects) were also playing out of position. Routzahn was playing as a #8. He's a #9. Francis was playing as a #9, he's a #6. The last few games I saw Francis play he was playing as a #9.

I'm sure there is a reason for all these decisions, and I'm not going to criticize it until I know why, but some of these games it's hard to evaluate a player. I try to evaluate certain skills that might be tested more in the new position than their normal position. I don't care much about the performance in a situation like this. Teams have started experimenting a lot this season with the positions of their players. I hadn't seen this much in prior seasons, but it's a new trend at this level. I think it's probably to develop certain skills for players, and to find minutes for less versatile (and worse) players who aren't best XI, while also getting your best prospects minutes.

 

I know there was some discussion that LAFC might run over LAG with their academy very quickly due to LAG’s recruitment strategies and how bad they’ve historically been at using their academy players in the first team, but I’m not seeing it in the players these academies are producing. That’s not to say LAFC is doing a bad job, but I don’t see LAG as doing a notably worse job right now.

 

I would suggest you are missing numerous players from LAG, and maybe including a few too many from LAFC. LAG is also leading LAFC in both the U-15 and U-17 divisions.

 

I've seen it with some teams, and I have to say that I don't like it from a perspective of assessing the level of player these kids are. Just like we can say that it's an advantage to be bigger and more physical than your competition, it's an advantage to be older than your competition.

I'm not suggesting that it's the wrong thing for the development of all of these players, but my read is usually that if I see a player whose playing down an age group, I don't see much reason to track their play in that game. I think if a player cannot contribute to a caliber where the club would want them in their regular age group (against what amounts to very low level competition), they probably aren't a real pro prospect. It's already hard to narrow down who are the realistic pro prospects, and whose only a prospect if they reach their absolute ceiling. Something like that gives me a good clue.

 

I watched all the games from the playoff event. I will try to not forget any players, but I suspect I will mention about 75 players, so there's a chance I will forget one or two. I also watched a few extra games of Orlando/Miami/Atlanta during the season, so this includes those viewings.

NYCFC U-15: I need to mention that I realized I've been calling one of their players by the wrong name.

My apologies to Drew Baiera ('07). Also, I should apologize to Andres Becerra, who I now see where's #47. I'm sure someone noticed this mistake who watches this team, so please correct me if I make a mistake like this.

Back to the games, Baiera had a good tournament. Not much to add that I haven't already said. He's a similar style of player to Matthew Schenfeld (the top player in '06), but his tools are probably a half a grade worse in each area. Where he'll be at Schenfeld's age, I don't know. He is though a top level prospect, and the best '07 prospect right now IMO. Phineas Lonergan ('06) had a pretty good tournament. The scouting report I mentioned the last time is pretty similar to what I'd say after watching a few more games. I would add that he's a little better passing the ball than I initially thought, but I would still not call it a strength.

I liked what I saw from Alex Hauschild ('06) playing next to Lonergan at CB. He's a left-footed CB. Decent size, pretty calm on the ball, reads the game well, pretty good passer. Not a real standout player from a tools-perspective, but I would say he probably does have pro potential. Kelvin Da Costa ('06) played mostly as a DM in this tournament. I like his game best at CB, but he's capable of playing as a DM, CB, or RB. Joah Reyna ('07) does not really stand out that much, but I see some good tools. He has a similar athletic profile to what Gio had at the same age (Gio eventually became more athletic), he combines well, and makes good decisions. Where I would say he's lacking compared to Gio is technique and creativity.

Alexander Yagudayev ('06) in goal is a really good prospect IMO. He's among the best '06 keepers. He has great composure on set pieces. He's able to calmly catch the ball through traffic. The team tries to play out of the back from the keeper (even though the CB's often kick it long, so it makes little sense), and he's tasked with starting a lot of attacks. I don't think he's great technically, but he's better than you'd think. He also has very good reflexes, and good size. He makes the occasional error, like any GK this age, but he's been one of the real standouts of this team.

Lukas Syah ('08) has really stood out. He's a CM, more of a #8. He's playing up a few years, but I thought he looked like one of the better players in this team. He's very under-sized, which isn't surprising, given his age, but his soccer IQ is tremendous. He slows the game down so well, and is able to make decisions so quick. He passes the ball pretty well, and he has good energy, although he's under-sized and not that athletic yet, so he's a slight liability defensively/athletically against players this age. I'm not going to try to project much. We'll see how his game develops, but he's able to do well at the U-15 level already, so he may be a prospect we hear more about in a few years.

NYCFC U-17: Diego Rossi ('05) had a good game. I'm not sure he's super high-upside, but he's not a bad RB prospect. Damon Rouse ('05) was playing LCM. He had better defensive effort than what I've previously seen. I also like his game better at LB. I don't know that he has the tools to be a high level CM. The threshold is lower at LB. At either position being able to show this higher level of defensive effort will help him out because he's quick, combines well, and can dribble a little bit.

Columbus U-15: Owen Presthus ('06) had a very impressive tournament IMO. There weren't many better players. I'm a big fan, as I've mentioned before. Very two-footed playing-making #10. He plays as a winger right now in these Crew teams, but he'll move inside at higher levels IMO. Great passer, excellent on set pieces, more athletic than he looks, very skilled, and a pretty good dribbler. He's one of the better '06 attackers. Sagar Patel ('06) can play as either a CB or DM. I'm not sure about his upside, but he's an above-average athlete and above on the ball. Defensively, he doesn't really excel, and I'm not sure I see great upside, but he has some pro potential. Chris Rogers ('06) is a LB with pretty good passing and dribbling. He's probably a slightly above-average athlete. A little naive defensively, but not too bad.

Columbus U-17: Caleb Borneo ('05) has made some good improvements this year from what I've seen and heard. He's a winger/#10 who drives forward with the ball, direct attacking approach. He has decent quickness and ball control. I don't find him too creative or that great of a passer, but he causes problems for the back line. He's a very active player. I think there are some similarities to Brenden Aaronson before his improvements in the final third. Denilson Velasquez ('04) had a quiet tournament. He splits time at LB (I don't understand the decision-making there), and in the minutes he got he was a lot quieter than what I've seen previously. His left-footed delivery on crosses, and passes is probably better than any player in this age group.

Zion Scarlett ('04) has some pro potential as a winger/striker. He's a slashing type of attacker. Good size, speed, and some dribbling ability. Not the most skilled player or best finisher, but there's a base of skills that gives him a chance for a pro career. Levi Stephens ('04) didn't have the best tournament. He was playing as a RB from what I saw. I don't see that level of versatility. He's a CB-only IMO, and I'm not sure his upside at CB is that high, although I think a pro career isn't unrealistic.

Orlando U-15: Not a very talented team. The best prospect IMO is Majed Abdullah ('06). He's a CF whose pretty athletic, dribbles well, makes good runs. He causes a lot of havoc for defenses. I don't know that his finishing is that great and he's not that tall. He may fall somewhere in that Johan Gomez region where he's a good youth player, but struggles to break in at the pro level. Alejandro Granados Torres ('06) has a great left-foot as a double 8 type of midfielder, but he lacks size/quickness, and doesn't fit that well into either the #10 position (lacks quickness/creativity) or the #8 position (athletically).

Thomas Bowe ('06) is positionally similar to Granados (probably best as a double 8), but I think he has a little more pro potential. He's not as good technically, but he's quicker and more direct with a moderate level of creativity on the ball. Dominic Bell ('06) is a CB with great size and speed. He's not bad defensively either. More of a raw athlete right now than a talented soccer player, but he has potential to be good, given the athletic profile.

Orlando U-17: This team has better pro prospects than the U-15's. I'll start with the known quantity for a lot of people. Thomas Williams ('04) looks to be developing well in this team. He's a raw CB with good size/speed/passing ability. Defensively, he made no errors, and did not struggle with processing the speed of the game, which has been a problem for him. He played really well, and I think a slower development path would be good for him. Keep him in his own age group for the time being.

Alexander Freeman ('04) may be a better pro prospect than Williams. He's a RB with really good offensive skills and athleticism. He's another former attacker converted to fullback. He's a very good dribbler with some creativity, he's big and fast, he combines well with teammates. He's also pretty good defensively for a player who must've only recently converted to RB. If you wanted a comparison, he's a cross between someone like Julian Gaines and Bryan Reynolds having a similar athletic profile to both, but having the offensive profile of Reynolds and the defensive/soccer IQ profile of Gaines. The '04 age group doesn't have many good RB's. He's up there among the better ones.

David Boccuzzo ('04) is a #6 with a pretty standard profile at the position. He shields the back four, he's a slightly above-average passer with slightly above-average size and athleticism. Not a very exciting player, but I think he has pro potential. Favian Loyola ('05) is similar to Bowe from the U-15's. Double 8 type of midfielder with some creativity, but not exactly an 8 and not exactly a 10.

LA Galaxy U-15: I'll start with a player I saw last season playing up an age group. Allan Legaspi ('06) is not a very exciting player. He's a CB who has about average ability in most parts of the game. Doesn't make very many mistakes, but I don't know that he has any great tools that project too great to the pro game. Given that he's good at this level, I could see him having a pro career, but he probably lacks upside. The other CB, Emiliano Garcia ('06), is the better pro prospect IMO. He has good size, he's pretty comfortable on the ball, and good defensively. He likes to carry the ball forward, but he doesn't have the best recovery speed, and his passing could be better.

Morris Spaltenstein ('06) has good ball skills in midfield, but lacks a position (he's another of those double 8 type of midfielders). Paulo Rudisill ('06) is probably the best prospect in this team IMO. He's a similar player to Copeland Berkley from the same age group at NYRB. He's a #8 with good size, pretty good foot skills, and athleticism. He drives forward well with the ball, can pass the ball, and has very good composure on the ball. He's soft defensively, but give his age, it's not a big problem right now.

LA Galaxy U-17: This tournament was the first time I've seen the much hyped Alex Alcala ('05) play. My initial impression is that he's a very good player, but nowhere near what the hype suggests. He's a left-footed playmaking attacker. He can play either centrally or out wide. I would think he's probably a #10 long-term, but he has the quickness, dribbling ability, and low center of gravity to beat his man 1v1 out wide. He's a good passer, he combines well with teammates. I like his soccer IQ, but he's a very individualistic player, and could make simpler decisions. He's certainly very talented. I don't see many weaknesses, but the hype he's gotten for a few years, I expected a much better player.

Demitrious Tanks ('05) is probably the best pro prospect, aside from Alcala. He may be better than Alcala. He's a CB with very good size and athleticism. He's an excellent defensive player. He's better with the ball at his feet than passing it. I don't think he's ever going to be a ball-playing CB though. He's going to be known for his athleticism/defensive ability. Miguel Gonzalez ('05) is a LB/CB tweener. At CB, he's slightly undersized, but pretty mobile and good playing from the back. At LB, he's not the most dynamic offensively. He's not a bad player, but there's probably a lack of upside due to a lack of a clear position.

I don't find Nicholas Dunbar ('04) anywhere near as good as his brother, but he's not without talent. He's the exact same type of player. Think Cameron, but with less talent. Adriel Rocha ('05) didn't play very much and was being used in a weird formation when he was subbed on, so I couldn't get an extended viewing of his game, but he did once again show that he's a very good passer with excellent vision. I've said before that I'd compare him to Jonathan Perez. I haven't seen him play, aside from this game, in the past year to say how he's developing, but I previously would've suggested he's among the most underrated 05's. Victor Valdez ('04) was playing down in this age group. He had a good tournament, and a good player. However, I'm not sure his upside is that high. He makes some nice plays, but I don't know if there's an area of the game where he excels.

Miguel Avalos ('04) is a hard player for me to assess. He's a holding midfielder. He has about average size/athleticism, and ability on the ball. The first game he looked more aggressive offensively, and was driving forward through midfield in a box to box position. I liked his ability on the ball more in that game. I thought he showed pretty good tools. The second game he was shielding the back-line, and played a very conservative game on the ball. I don't know which is closer to his usual level or if it's somewhere in between. I'd consider him a prospect for now, but there was a difference in my assessments between the two games I've seen. Nicolas Perez ('04) is a #8 with some defensive bite, an aggressive offensive approach, and some ability on the ball. He's a little raw, and too aggressive on both sides of the ball.

Atlanta United U-15: This is a pretty weak age group for Atlanta United. I don't understand the talent dispersion in this academy. Their age groups either seem to be really good, and among the best there is in the country for any academy or they are pretty bad, and close to as bad as some of the worst academies in MLS. There's very little in-between.

Nash Skoglund ('06) is probably their best prospect. He's a goalkeeper. He splits time with another keeper, so he doesn't play every game. The other keeper actually plays more often. Skoglund is a little unconventional with how he plays the position, but it works. He has very good reflexes, he's pretty good passing the ball out of the back, he has good enough size, and while he makes it look very difficult, he doesn't make very many errors. He could play angles better, be a little more composed, and safer in his approach to the position, but he does have pretty good tools.

Tyrell Moore ('06) is probably their top field player prospect. He's moved around from defense to now CF. I don't see the goal-scoring ability to be a CF, but there are some good tools there between good size, speed, and soccer IQ. He'd probably be best as a RB or CB. Bryce Jamison ('06) is a talented, but raw winger. He has very good size, speed, and technique. He's very inconsistent, and I don't know about his soccer IQ. Juan Hermenegildo ('06) probably doesn't have high upside, but I appreciate his game. He's a RB whose very consistent from game to game. He doesn't have any huge strengths, but I don't see any clear weaknesses. He may not have more than low-level pro upside, but at this level, he's a good player.

Atlanta U-17: The player deployment in this team is the worst of any of the upper-level MLS academy teams IMO. Their '05 age group is very talented (about 8 real prospects), but none of them are regular starters, and only 2 of them are in the regular rotation. What makes it worse is that they have multiple players, in both the '04 and '05 age group, that they give regular game time to on this team that aren't good prospects. I don't know the reasoning for these decisions, but I don't understand much of what's going on with many of these decisions. The good news is that a few of the players I haven't seen any of all season played in this tournament, but the problem still remains.

Amari Salley ('04) had a great game in the first game of this team that I saw. He absolutely dominated. He had a goal, an assist, and a drawn PK. He has no hype, and I've went out on a limb in suggesting he's one of the better 04's. The few prior games I saw weren't very good, so I was questioning my assessment. After this tournament, I think I was initially correct in that he's a huge difference maker. If he has space over the top of a defense, he will cause havoc. He has dynamic speed, and dribbling ability. I also find that he has a good soccer IQ, is a pretty good passer, and makes good decisions in the final third. The second game, he was playing out of position, so there was very little I could take from that game.

Nigel Prince ('04) was great in both games I saw him play. He's way too good for this level. Physically, he needs to be playing against pros. He's too big, strong, and fast for players at this level. However, I think he has a pretty good read of the game defensively, and he has good composure on the ball, although his passing technique is lacking. I don't think he's only an athlete, but he has a huge athletic advantage against players his own age. They don't provide any type of meaningful challenge for him.

Brendan Lambe ('04) played one game as a #6. He played well, and was a main standout. There's not much more he needs to prove at this level. Caleb Wiley ('04) also stood out (he played two games), but he still makes a few errors, even though he's much better than most of these players. I liked that he was playing his typical LB position instead of LW that I had previously seen him play when he was playing down with this age group. He needs to work on his defensive reads. He's a good defender mostly because of his athleticism, but he struggles in the pro game with processing the game, and you even see the occasional error at this level with that.

Jonathan Villal ('05) had a pretty good tournament. He's very good in crowded areas of the field with his quickness, his ability to combine quickly with teammates, his ball control, and his soccer IQ. However, he's one of these players where you wonder what he tangibly brings to a game that will carry him to being a very good player. I have little doubt he'll be a pro player, and probably a good pro player, but I am starting to question if he has the type of calling card needed to be more than an MLS player. Daniel Sebhatu ('05) looks to be developing well. He's making better decisions on the ball, and simplifying his approach with the ball. I saw him play one game at LW, and another at CF. I don't think he's a capable winger. He's a CF. He scored a goal in the game at CF, while he added little as a winger.

Alan Carleton ('05) got two games in this tournament. He didn't get that many touches, so it's hard to take much that I hadn't previously. He's a better athlete than he looks with great composure on the ball and a great soccer IQ. He's a different style player than his brother and lacks the same natural talent, but I think he has some pretty good pro skills. If he develops further athletically, he could be very good. Ty Nero ('05) only got one half, so it's hard to take that much. They haven't given him any minutes in any previous games I had seen of this team this season, so I'm not sure how much I can advance my prior opinion. He's a CB with a good athletic profile.

Luke Brennan ('05) isn't a player who I was too impressed with previously, but I thought he had two good appearances off the bench. He's a winger with good size and athleticism, a direct approach, looks to combine with teammates, and move into space. I don't know if he's the most talented, but he plays a pro-style of game, and could probably be a fullback, if not winger.

Cincinnati U-15: This was one of those teams that was experimenting a lot. I don't have a lot to take from these games, so while I think this team has about 7-8 prospects (most of which played in this tournament), I'm not going to mention all of them because I didn't learn anything about what I saw from most of them.

Paul Chen ('06) was one player who played in his normal position. He's a DM (or a CB). He played all three games as a DM. I thought he played very well. He's not too flashy, but he has good composure on the ball, a good passing range, good size/athleticism for the position, and the necessary defensive ability, although he could play a little more physical. He's pretty close to being a YNT level player. Connor Stout ('06) is a pretty well-rounded LB. These were the first games I've seen him play. I don't see a real weakness. Defensively, I find him pretty good. Offensively, he's not the most exciting player, but he's not incapable offensively. I don't know that he's a great prospect, but LB is a position where the bar is always a little lower, and there probably aren't very many better '06 LB's.

Matthew Schenfeld ('06) was playing as a RW/LW in this tournament, and I thought he was excellent. He's a RB, but it was an interesting wrinkle to watch, even though I doubt it was tactical expertise from the coaching staff that was the reason why he wasn't playing his normal position. I don't know that I'd want him to continue playing as a winger because I think you play your best players at their best positions, and don't try to use them elsewhere because they can play elsewhere, but if you put him at winger, you are shutting down a full side of the field higher up the pitch. At this level, these players simply cannot move the ball quick enough to get around how well he closes down the ball and anticipates the decisions of these players.

Cincinnati U-17: I didn't see any pro prospects that played in these games, although they have a few who didn't play in the games I saw, so thats not to suggest this team doesn't have any pro prospects.

Philadelphia Union U-15: I took really little from what I watched of this team. I'll mention some of the prospects who appeared in this tournament. Henry Bernstein ('07), Jaden Francis ('06), Matt Routzahn ('06), Alex Perez ('06), Gavin Wetzel ('06), Dominic Wilson ('06) all were among the players that played that I learned nothing from their performances. Most of that is due to that I've seen this team enough that you probably won't learn much new about players you've seen a lot of, but some of that is also that some of these players were playing out of position (Francis, Routzahn, Perez).

I'll mention one player though that I learned something from. Unfortunately, Gael Angel Medrano ('06) just doesn't really impress me very much. He was playing down an age group from the normal U-17 age group he plays in. I was hoping he would really dominate, but I didn't see it. It's probably not in his style of play to dominate a game, and he does have some pro skills (size, finishing ability), but he's not a player I find to be too impressive during the course of a game. He doesn't make that many good plays. He either scores a goal or adds almost nothing else.

Philadelphia Union U-17: I learned more from the U-17's than the U-15's, even though I've probably seen the U-17's play more this season than the U-15's. Jackson Gilman ('04) is the captain, and best player on this team. He can play as a CB, DM or CM. I think he's probably a #6, but he was playing as a CB in the game I saw of this team in this tournament. He's very consistent. He almost never makes any errors defensively or with the ball. He has an excellent read of the game defensively, and he's more athletic than he looks. I think he'll probably be their next HG signing.

Samuel Jones ('04) was the other CB. He's a great athlete, good 1v1 defender, good size, but still could use a little work on how he reads the game defensively, and he needs even more work on his ability to play out of the back. He's a player I would not be surprised if he got a HG contract, as he's probably the only other real pro prospect among the 04's in this team, aside from Gilman. Marcelo Mazzola ('05) had two goals, and was very involved. He's always very involved between his runs off the ball, passing, dribbling, dropping deeper to get the ball from his CF position. I don't know that he's the most clinical goal-scorer or the biggest CF, but I would like to see him get a HG contract. I think he's a good pro prospect, and could be developed into a good MLS player (or better) by the Union.

Bajung Darboe ('06) was great. Between his simple direct approach, soccer IQ, athleticism, and foot skills, he's a very productive player, even against older players. He's able to impact games against older players already. As I've mentioned before, he also has a very good impact defensively for an attacker. He's able to win back the ball better than most attackers can, and he's almost always well positioned out of possession. Positionally, I see no problem with playing him as a winger, secondary striker or CF. He'll figure out how to be effective at any of these positions.

 

Part 2 (I exceeded the character limit).

Inter Miami U-15: Miles Perkovich ('06) might've improved his stock at this tournament more than any player IMO. He was dominant from the RW position. His athleticism, dribbling ability, creativity, and end-product are all top notch. There can't be many (or any) better natural wingers in this age group than Perkovich. He's also capable of playing through the middle, but I think he's better able to showcase his elite 1v1 ability as a winger.

Wladimir Francis ('06) is a little unfortunate in that the best RW and the best RB at his club are two of the best at their positions in the country, so the two positions he plays he's unable to get starting minutes. He's still pretty good though. Right now, he's more of a RWB than a RW or RB, but I think he's another of these former wingers whose going to be converted to a RB. He has good attacking skills, good athleticism, and defensively he's pretty far ahead of what you'd expect. The main issue for Francis is going to be playing time. I can't see where it's coming, unless he bets on Perkovich and Dejman quickly advancing up age groups, which provides minutes for him.

Milo Parquet ('06) has a tremendous read of the game defensively from the CB position. He's always covering for the errors of teammates, and he rarely makes any of his own errors. He's very consistent defensively. He has decent size for the position and moves well enough. He's not the most aggressive playing out of the back. He's not a flashy player, but he plays a lot of good games, and very few bad games. Tyler Bush ('07) looks to have pretty good athleticism and ball skills from the LB position. I didn't get to see enough of his game to make that much of a determination, but he was a player who impressed for his ability to get forward at LB.

Lucas De Paula ('06) is another of these understated players in an age group with a lot of really flashy players. He's an undersized #8, but he covers so much ground, he's excellent defensively, he's good at carrying the ball forward, and he's not a bad passer either. He's one of the better and more consistent performers in this Inter Miami age group. Eduardo Rojas ('06) is a winger with a good combination of athleticism, creativity, and a direct 1v1 approach.

Santi Morales ('07) looks pretty good from the #10 position. He has a good idea of what he wants to do with the ball, he plays quick, makes good decisions, and shows good passing vision. He's a little small and lacking in athleticism, but playing up an age group, that shouldn't be too unexpected.

Inter Miami U-17: Bryan Destin ('06) is a CF who was playing up with the U-17's. He has good size, speed, and an understanding of the game. He made good runs, and didn't make very many errors. I wasn't sure of his finishing ability. Ari Dejman ('06) reminds me a lot of Sergino Dest. He has a lot of flair from the RB position (can also play LB), he gets forward really well, and has underrated athleticism. Defensively, he's not great, and his very aggressive offensive approach to the game is part of that, but he does just enough defensively to get by. I don't know that he'll ever be great defensively, but I don't find his defense to be a problem.

Tyler Hall ('06) is very fast and he reads the game very well. I believe he's only played CB/RB, but I wouldn't be surprised if he could also play as a CDM. He may lack an ideal position as he's not great on the ball or the tallest, but he's a good defensive player.

Mikhail Keise ('05) has very good size at the CB position, but he's also rather mobile, and I find that he passes the ball well enough. Defensively, he's not bad either. He's probably one of the more underrated players in the '05 age group. Gabriel Velez ('05) is one of the better LB prospects in a weak LB age group. He's good getting forward with dribbling and combining with teammates. Athletically and defensively, he probably is right around average.

I had mentioned that I was including some games from the Inter Miami academy that weren't part of the tournament. Drew Hardin ('04) and Noah Allen ('04) were both playing in this game that I believe was from December. They are both currently on the USL team. Hardin was playing as a CM, and Allen as a LCB. I thought Allen was pretty good, although not as great as you'd expect, while Hardin was very quiet.

Luciano Natoli ('04) is probably the best ball-playing GK in the entire youth system. He's really good at building from the back, and it's interesting to watch. His goalkeeping isn't bad. I wouldn't say he's more than a marginal prospect without his ability on the ball, but that part of the game does matter. He has about average size and he doesn't make many errors. I don't find him overly athletic or the most comfortable coming for balls in the air. I would say he's a real prospect, but a lot of that is tied to his ability to pass the ball.

FC Dallas U-17: I've seen this team play a lot, so there's not much I'm going to add. One player whose play I've been liking more and more is Pranav DuBroff ('05). He's getting close to challenging Jones and Ramirez as the best prospect in this age group IMO. I find him pretty good defensively. He reads the game well, and I think he has good enough size/speed to play either CB or DM. He's an above-average passer of the ball also with pretty good composure.