Spring Preview: Top Iowa boys prospects for 2022 season

<p class="p2">The spring boys high school season is just weeks away in Iowa, so here are nearly 40 top players to watch for the upcoming season:</p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>F [player_tooltip player_id="33005" first="CJ" last="Coppola"], Waukee Northwest, Sr.</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">The Saint Louis-bound forward is the early frontrunner for state player of the year. He averaged nearly two goals per match last season while helping Waukee to a 17-0 regular season and the state’s No. 1 ranking. Waukee was then upset in the postseason, ending at 18-1, and since, the school has been split and Coppola will finish out at Waukee Northwest this spring. Waukee Northwest is looking like the strongest of the schools when it comes to soccer this year.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>M Armin Dedic, Waterloo West, Sr.</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Dedic was a Class 3A first-team all-state honoree. He posted a modest four goals and seven assists but his nearly every-minute play in controlling the midfield was key to the team’s 13-win season. </span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>F Wilmont Manneh, Johnston, Sr.</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Manneh, like Coppola, heads into the season as a strong Player of the Year candidate. Last season he netted 24 goals and had seven assists in 20 matches as Johnston went 17-4 and reached the state semifinals. </span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>M Brandon Orellana-Lemus, West Des Moines Valley, Jr.</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Orellana-Lemus is one of five transfers that West Des Moines Valley picked up in the offseason, and he might emerge as the team’s top player, according to its coach. The junior was an honorable mention all-state pick as a sophomore last year while attending and playing for Des Moines Lincoln. His nine goals last season were second-best on the team.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>F Truman Unruh, Cedar Falls, Sr.</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Unruh was one of the top finishers among all Iowa players last year, scoring 34 goals in 22 matches. Despite Cedar Falls’ lethal attack, it was completely shut down in a state quarterfinal loss to Johnston, which was one of only four matches Unruh did not score during the 2021 season.</span></p> <p class="p2"><strong><span class="s1">Others To Note</span></strong></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">GK Jimmy Berna, Dubuque, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">GK Jeffrey Carson, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Colton Costello, Lewis Central, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">GK Caleb Cross, Sioux City North, So.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Will Devine, Lewis Central, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">F Jahsiah Galvan, West Liberty, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">GK JJ Gonzalez-Hayes, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">F Chase Green, Davenport North, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Blake Halleran, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">D Tyler Hannon, Johnston, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">F Nathan Hummel, Davenport Central, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">F Rashidi Ishibwami, Des Moines Roosevelt, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Zach Kline, Bondurant-Farrar, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">D Evan Larson, Ankeny Centennial, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Matthew Lehl, Cedar Falls, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Gavin Lewis, Cedar Rapids Prairie, So.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">D Kayden McMaster, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Miles Melendez, Muscatine, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">D Kalonji Musengo, Des Moines Hoover, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">GK Aiden Neumann, Cedar Rapids Prairie, So.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">D Dylan Ollendieck, Pleasant Valley, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">GK Kyle Pederson, Ankeny, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">F Jamie Perez, Sioux City West, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Oscar Perez, Sioux City West, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Joe Reed, Dowling Catholic, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">D Evan Reha, Bondurant-Farrar, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Erick Rodriguez, Des Moines East, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Spencer Taylor, Norwalk, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">F Richard Toe, Marshalltown, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">GK Kegan Trebilcock, Norwalk, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">D Trysten Vasquez, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Conor Wahlberg, Ankeny</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">M Rhys Ward, Pleasant Valley, Sr.</span></p>