All-America Watch List: Boys Defenders
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Throughout the season, PrepSoccer.net will focus on the top candidates for the PrepSoccer All-America honors. Today, we check out the leading boys defender candidates for fall-playing states. Admittedly, sizing up defenders during the season can be difficult — example: how…
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Continue ReadingThroughout the season, PrepSoccer.net will focus on the top candidates for the PrepSoccer All-America honors. Today, we check out the leading boys defender candidates for fall-playing states. Admittedly, sizing up defenders during the season can be difficult — example: how much of the team’s success is directly due to that player relative to the rest of the supporting cast? But in any case, from match observation and coaches recommendation, here are some names to know.
TOP ALL-AMERICA CANDIDATES
(in alphabetical order)
William Andrus William Andrus D Calvert Hall | 2022 State MD , Calvert Hall (Md.), Sr.: Take away a 5-2 win over John Carroll and Calvert Hall has allowed only three goals in 10 matches in one of the strongest conferences in the county. Andrus is coming off an all-leaguer performance in 2020 and looks like a likely repeat in 2021.
Jalen Grant Jalen Grant D Hill School | 2022 NC , Hill School (Pa.), Sr.: The Navy commit not only is a stellar defensive player, but also gets in on the attack. He scored a key goal that helped Hill School to its first win of the season, which happened at the NXT LVL Invitational. Grant was a 2021 high school graduate in North Carolina, but is enrolled in a Navy prep program at Hill School for this school year.
Skylar Cunha Skylar Cunha M St. Benedict's | 2022 NJ , St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.), Sr.: Usually a midfielder, Cunha has been pushed back to be a center back for a loaded St. Benedict’s team. He’s a team leader who is receiving NCAA Division I interest. He does like to get into the mix offensively, and he even scored a goal in St. Benedict’s recent win over Lawrenceville.
Aidan Donovan Aidan Donovan F NJ , Delbarton School (N.J.), So.: Delbarton has four shutouts in five wins and a sophomore standout has played a key role in that effort. Excluding a loss to top-ranked St. Benedict’s, Delbarton has allowed only one goal this season.
Wayne Frederick Wayne Frederick D St. Albans | 2022 State MD , St. Albans (D.C.), Sr.: The Duke commit has St. Albans off to a 4-2-2 start with its two losses coming to the No. 1 ranked team in D.C. and a Top 10 team in Maryland. Three of its four wins are by shutout. Frederick is playing more in the midfield than as a true defender, but his presence has been felt all over the field. He was battling an injury, according to his coach, but has eased his way back into the lineup lately.
Langdon Gryglas Langdon Gryglas D Arrowhead | 2022 WI , Arrowhead (Wis.), Sr.: The Brown commit has helped Arrowhead to an 11-2-1 start this season as the team is ranked No. 3 in the state. Interestingly, Arrowhead’s only losses are to the No. 1- and 2-ranked teams. Arrowhead has shut out three of its last four opponents.
Leon Ma Leon Ma M Pingry School (NJ) | 2023 NJ , Pingry School (N.J.), Jr.: Pingry has four shutouts in its last five matches, and Ma is a major reason why. While the high-scoring offense gets a lot of attention, it was Ma who was among the standouts during Pingry’s showing at the NXT LVL Invitational.
Jeremy Ogango Jeremy Ogango D Hoosac School | 2022 NY , Hoosac School (N.Y.), Sr.: A native of Kenya, Ogango plays center back and he isn’t afraid to take on players with the dribble. He’s a physically imposing force on defense.
Calvin Lemley Calvin Lemley D Rivers School | 2022 MA , Rivers School (Mass.), Sr.: The Colgate commit is one of several Division I defender commits in the talent-rich NEPSAC.
Nick Liebich Nick Liebich D Taft School | 2022 ID , Taft School (Conn.), Sr.: The Lafayette commit wins just about every ball in the air. He’s helped Taft to a 3-0 start.
Henri Richter Henri Richter D Milton Academy | 2022 MA , Milton Academy (Mass.), Sr.: The Northwestern commit is a team leader who organizes and runs the show from the back. His play has helped Milton to a 4-1-1 start, and he’s even scored a pair of goals (a free kick and a penalty kick) and assisted on a goal.
Zachary Sardi-Santos Zachary Sardi-Santos D Milton Academy | 2022 MA , Milton Academy (Mass.), Sr.: Milton just might have two of the Top 10 high school-playing defenders in the country. Sardi-Santos has committed to Harvard.
Adrian Trott Adrian Trott D South Kent School | 2022 CT , South Kent School (Conn.), Sr.: South Kent has yet to allow a goal during a 4-0-1 start, and that’s thanks to Trott, the back line and keeper Max Dunphy. Trott, a Division I prospect from Bermuda is a left back. His play in shutting down opponents has been extremely important as South Kent has scored only five goals in those five matches.
Yuxuan Yang Yuxuan Yang M Pennington School | 2022 NJ , Pennington School (N.J.), Sr.: Yang is one of the top defender prospects in the country. His play has helped Pennington to a 3-1-1 start where the only blemishes are a 1-0 loss to high school No. 1 St. Benedict’s and a draw with Prep Top 10-ranked Woodstock Academy.
Others
Ryder Barrett Ryder Barrett D Rockhurst | 2022 KS , Rockhurst Jesuit (Mo.), Sr.
Harrison Bertos Harrison Bertos D Brooks | 2023 #43 Nation MA , Brooks School (Mass.), Sr.
Jeffrey Cox Jeffrey Cox D St. Xavier | 2022 KY , St. Xavier (Ky.), Sr.
Collin Folds Collin Folds M St. Ignatius | 2022 OH , St. Ignatius (Ohio), Sr.
Jonathan Jean-Baptiste, Phillips Exeter (N.H.), Sr.
Jack Jellinek Jack Jellinek D Fort Zumwalt South | 2022 MO , Fort Zumwalt South (Mo.), Sr.
Devansh Khadka, Phillips Exeter (N.H.), Sr.
Bennette Kirn, Lexington Catholic (Ky.), Sr., Bellarmine
Sam Magner Sam Magner D Marquette | 2022 WI , Marquette (Wis.), Sr.
Alvaro Martin-Pena, Hoosac School (N.Y.), Jr.
Peter Melquist Peter Melquist D Wayzata | 2022 MN , Wayzata (Minn.), Sr.
Jacob Muckerman Jacob Muckerman D St. Thomas Aquinas | 2022 KS , St. Thomas Aquinas (Kan.), Sr.
Sebastian Manon Sebastian Manon D CT , Taft School (Conn.), Sr., Dartmouth
Cameron Parker Cameron Parker D Olentangy Liberty | 2022 OH , Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), Sr.
Alex Peters Alex Peters D Christian Brothers | 2022 MO , Christian Brothers College (Mo.), Sr.
Paolo Roditti, High Mowing (N.H.), Sr.
Brendan Schonwetter Brendan Schonwetter D Kentucky Country Day | 2022 KY , Kentucky Country Day (Ky.), Sr.
Peter Tcheleshev, Berkshire School (Mass.), Sr.
Sam Torhorst Sam Torhorst D Waterford Union | 2022 WI , Waterford Union (Wis.), Sr.
Mitchel Varley Mitchel Varley M Berwick Academy | 2022 NH , Berwick Academy (Maine), Sr., Providence
Patrick Walz Patrick Walz M KY , St. Xavier (Ky.), Sr.