National Fall Boys PoY candidates for 2022

The final fall honors have yet to be announced, but we're looking ahead to the 2022 season. The following seven players figure to be the frontrunners for next year's National Player of the Year honors. These players all have the talent to follow in a long line of exceptional high school players to emerge in the past eight years that this honor has been named. Of the previous winners, Jack Harrison (2014 honoree) is currently is playing for Leeds United in the EPL, and Ousseni Bouda (2018) recently was selected in the first round of the MLS Draft. The 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019 winners were all NCAA Division I standout performers. There was no award given in the pandemic-interrupted 2020 season, and the 2021 honor has yet to be announced. Looking ahead to the 2022 fall high school season ... <strong>M [player_tooltip player_id="11106" first="Alex" last="Barger"], Naperville North (Ill.), Jr.</strong> Barger was the Naperville Sun Player of the Year for 2021. The Indiana commit is exceptionally technical and controls the game from the midfield. He primarily plays the No. 6 position. He finished last season with 11 goals and 14 assists. [caption id="attachment_34142" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-34142" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/10/output_image1635424816615-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> <strong>Kristian Fletcher (27).</strong> <em>Photo: Landon School</em>[/caption] <strong>M [player_tooltip player_id="11758" first="Kristian" last="Fletcher"], Landon School (Md.), Jr.</strong> Fletcher is likely the most highly courted of all high school players in the 2022 and 2023 graduating classes. While starring at Landon this past fall, he already had a youth contract offer from Borussia Dortmund. Following the high school season, he trained with Manchester United. At this point, according to his high school coach, Fletcher will return to Landon for his senior year and then sign a professional contract since he’s presently underage for a professional deal. Fletcher was The Washington Post Player of the Year this past fall after a 26-goal, nine-assist showing in 17 matches. Fletcher has exceptional speed and he is very dynamic on the ball. <strong>F [player_tooltip player_id="18528" first="Ransford" last="Gyan"], St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.), Soph.</strong> Gyan might be the most exciting player in high school soccer. He’s exceptionally small, just a few inches over 5 feet, but he’s amazingly quick and almost impossible to defend. He scored 16 goals and had 12 assists in only 13 matches as the pandemic limited the Gray Bees from playing a full schedule since the team plays mostly out-of-state opponents. <strong><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-31750" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/09/IMG_20210918_151007625-150x150.jpg" alt="St. Benedict's" width="150" height="150" />M [player_tooltip player_id="18530" first="Molik" last="Jesse Khan"], St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.), Jr.</strong> Khan came to St. Benedict’s with lofty expectations, and he delivered -- but in a way that surprised many. Khan came to the U.S. after playing in a professional league as a teenager in Trinidad. In fact, he debuted in Trinidad’s top league as a 15-year-old and soon after became the youngest goalscorer in the league. He ended up at St. Benedict’s following a trial with New York Red Bulls. His impact in high school was more as a defensive midfielder. He’s not the type of player who will post gaudy stats, but he’s the one breaking up opponents’ attacks and getting things moving for the Gray Bees. <strong>M [player_tooltip player_id="33767" first="Hakim" last="Karamoko"], Martin Luther King (N.Y.), Jr.</strong> Karamoko is a man among boys. He was an ECNL All-Region Player last year, which foreshadowed the type of season he was about to deliver in the fall. He netted 24 goals while leading Martin Luther King to a 19-0-1 season, a PSAL title, and No. 4 final Fall FAB 50 ranking. He is physically gifted and is never afraid to take on defenders. <strong>F [player_tooltip player_id="14738" first="Zsombor" last="Onodi"], St. Ignatius (Ohio), Jr.</strong> Onodi is the ultimate No. 9. The junior is athletic, strong, fast, and has great touch on the ball. He led St. Ignatius in scoring as the team rolled to a 23-0 season and a FAB 50 No. 1 ranking. He puts away the goals he’s supposed to and he’s capable of netting the spectacular goal, as well. He’s dangerous running at defenders and can play with his back to goal. He had an opportunity to train in Europe before the start of the school year, but COVID prevented that from happening. With two of his other underclass teammates already committed to NCAA Division I programs, expect the same from Onodi. [caption id="attachment_33987" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-33987" src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/10/51396672792_4900eef14e_b-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> <strong>Nolan Spicer.</strong> <em>Photo: St. Ignatius</em>[/caption] <strong>M [player_tooltip player_id="14666" first="Nolan" last="Spicer"], St. Ignatius (Ohio), Jr.</strong> The Notre Dame commit was the leading scorer on St. Ignatius’ team in 2020. With the emergence of Onodi in 2021, Spicer wasn’t needed as much to finish, although he did net the state title-winning goal in 2021. One coach said that Spicer "moves around the field like he’s on ice skates and everyone else is wearing boots." His passing possession rate is amazing and he’s able to retain possession while under pressure. He’s never in a hurry, but he’s moving faster than anyone else on the field. His first touch puts him in an advantageous position, and the bigger the game, the more he seems to stand out.