MLS Next Playoffs: U17 and U19 Standouts

<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="brkna-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="brkna-0-0"><span class="hardreadability"><strong>FRISCO</strong><span data-offset-key="brkna-0-1">, Texas - Day two of the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs in Frisco, Texas, the games kept up their competition with the actual heat, as it was another hot day with great games again</span></span><span data-offset-key="brkna-1-0">. </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="ddp1r-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="ddp1r-0-0"><span data-offset-key="ddp1r-0-0"> Today’s focus is on the older groups of U17 and U19 and as you can imagine the level of play was again of top quality.</span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="6roo7-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6roo7-0-0"><span data-offset-key="6roo7-0-0"> </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="9ht9g-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9ht9g-0-0"><span class="hardreadability"><span data-offset-key="9ht9g-0-0">The following is a small sample of the talent I saw today and those who stood out, there will be plenty more notes on this age group added during the rest of the week</span></span><span data-offset-key="9ht9g-1-0">. </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="fq0lo-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fq0lo-0-0"><span data-offset-key="fq0lo-0-0"> </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="2nail-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2nail-0-0"><span data-offset-key="2nail-0-0">Brody Duff, Phoenix Rising Pro Academy U17 </span></div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2nail-0-0"><span data-offset-key="2nail-0-0">Position: Defender Central #12 </span></div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2nail-0-0"><span data-offset-key="2nail-0-0">Brody stood out today in a </span><span class="adverb"><span data-offset-key="2nail-1-0">really</span></span><span data-offset-key="2nail-2-0"> good game. He has good height and body size. He is a very good talker, organized his defensive team mates quite well throughout the game. He has very good reading of game also. He is quick in mind and has athleticism to match too. Brody is also very comfortable on ball also and not afraid to step up and play further up the park. It will be worth keeping an eye on this defender going forward. He is a class of 2023 prospect. </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="7mmle-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7mmle-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7mmle-0-0"> </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="5imcr-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5imcr-0-0"><span data-offset-key="5imcr-0-0">Kaden Standish, De Anza Force U17 </span></div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5imcr-0-0"><span data-offset-key="5imcr-0-0">Position: Midfield Right Side #10 </span></div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5imcr-0-0"><span data-offset-key="5imcr-0-0">Kaden is what I call an old-school wide player. He played very well and was very attacking every time he got the ball. </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="8cf0-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8cf0-0-0"><span data-offset-key="8cf0-0-0">Kaden is very assured on the ball, strong on his right but not afraid to use left. Kaden has great positioning and was an outlet every time wide. He is quick in mind as well as body and a very strong dribbler. </span><span class="hardreadability"><span data-offset-key="8cf0-1-0">Has great physical size to add to his speed also.Kaden was very dangerous every time he got ball and started attacking opposition</span></span><span data-offset-key="8cf0-2-0">. He also does not shirk his defensive responsibilities, a real team player. Another to keep an eye on going forward from the class of 2023.</span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="5bj8e-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5bj8e-0-0"><span data-offset-key="5bj8e-0-0"> </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="e135v-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e135v-0-0"><span data-offset-key="e135v-0-0">Kellan Grace, Beachside of Connecticut U17 </span></div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e135v-0-0"><span data-offset-key="e135v-0-0">Position: Center Mid #10 </span></div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e135v-0-0"><span data-offset-key="e135v-0-0">Kellan played way above his years against a very good team today. He is very confident on the ball and able to play with both feet. He has very clever movement and good talking to his teammates. He is well-sized and strong on-ball, not knocked off the ball </span><span class="adverb"><span data-offset-key="e135v-1-0">easily</span></span><span data-offset-key="e135v-2-0">. He possesses a great pass and good eye for passes too. Very nice link player also and not afraid to tackle or defend either. Very likable player from the class of 2023. </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="e8pb5-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e8pb5-0-0"><span data-offset-key="e8pb5-0-0"> </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="77g8g-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="77g8g-0-0"><span data-offset-key="77g8g-0-0">[player_tooltip player_id="33344" first="Bryce" last="Jamison"], Barca Residency Academy U19 </span></div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="77g8g-0-0"><span data-offset-key="77g8g-0-0">Position: Midfield/FWD Wide #37 </span></div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="77g8g-0-0"><span data-offset-key="77g8g-0-0">Bryce quite an accomplished player and is tidy on the ball and off the ball also. Very disciplined in his positioning </span><span class="adverb"><span data-offset-key="77g8g-1-0">defensively</span></span><span data-offset-key="77g8g-2-0"> as well as on offense too. Bryce is very comfortable on the ball. He is always looking for the ball and holds his position quite well too. He links play very well from defense to offense. </span><span class="hardreadability"><span data-offset-key="77g8g-3-0">Has great size and is quick of mind and speed as well as having a great eye for goal and took his goal well too as well as been very good with his passing</span></span><span data-offset-key="77g8g-4-0">. Seems he could play as a center forward player also. He is a prospect for the class of 2024. </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="2m2s9-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2m2s9-0-0"><span data-offset-key="2m2s9-0-0"> </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="bm07q-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bm07q-0-0"><span data-offset-key="bm07q-0-0">Bennett Yeboah, Oakwood SC U17 </span></div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bm07q-0-0"><span data-offset-key="bm07q-0-0">Position: Forward #9</span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="c4cro-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="c4cro-0-0"><span data-offset-key="c4cro-0-0">Bennett Yeboah is another kid I saw today that reminded me of old school players. He is big, strong and quick. </span><span class="hardreadability"><span data-offset-key="c4cro-1-0"> From the moment game started to end, he kept running and closing down the opposition defenders and did not give them an inch</span></span><span data-offset-key="c4cro-2-0">. He possesses a very good shot. He has very good hold-up abilities and is quick with the ball and also without the ball too. He has clever movement also and had defense on the move at all times. He is quite adept at using both feet as well as having very good dribbling abilities too. </span><span class="hardreadability"><span data-offset-key="c4cro-3-0">You can tell he is also a great team player and good listener also, as his coach seemed quite happy with his efforts at all times</span></span><span data-offset-key="c4cro-4-0">. He is a prospect for the class of 2023. </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="22rqi-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="22rqi-0-0"><span data-offset-key="22rqi-0-0"> </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="7thf8-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7thf8-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7thf8-0-0">[player_tooltip player_id="15728" first="Aaron" last="Salinas"] , FC Dallas U19</span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="7t63n-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7t63n-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7t63n-0-0">Position: Goalkeeper #1</span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="1t7mh-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1t7mh-0-0"><span data-offset-key="1t7mh-0-0">Aaron had a very memorable game. His </span><span class="complexword"><span data-offset-key="1t7mh-1-0">overall</span></span><span data-offset-key="1t7mh-2-0"> game is very good. Has a very calm presence throughout game, very confident. He is a good talker and went about organizing his defense very well. He is good with distribution also. You can see him as good leader of his team. He has good agility, good positioning and good at coming for crosses too. His starting position also was good also at all times. He also covers his goal quite well too with his size. Great penalty kick save to send his team into next round too. He is a recent Furman verbal commit for the class of 2023. </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="5vi1d-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5vi1d-0-0"><span data-offset-key="5vi1d-0-0"> </span></div> </div> <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="180i9" data-offset-key="cjn4e-0-0"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="cjn4e-0-0"><span class="veryhardreadability"><span data-offset-key="cjn4e-0-0">Honorable mentions today for [player_tooltip player_id="16573" first="Nighte" last="Pickering"] (FC Dallas u19 FWD), Fernando Espinoza (Solar u17), Michael Vick (De Anza Force u17 CB), Connor Geraghty (Phoenix Rising Pro Academy u17 CM), Joesph Buckley (Barca Residency Academy u19 CB), [player_tooltip player_id="18157" first="Michael" last="Luande"] (Seattle Sounders u17 FWD)</span></span></div> </div>