Stanford early lead for top 2024 recruiting class
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The recruiting for the class of 2024 has already hit hyperdrive as the Stanford Cardinal was busy in the last two weeks with the verbal commitments from a trio of top ranked in-state stars, which already has the Pac-12 program…
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Continue ReadingThe recruiting for the class of 2024 has already hit hyperdrive as the Stanford Cardinal was busy in the last two weeks with the verbal commitments from a trio of top ranked in-state stars, which already has the Pac-12 program looking set to lock down the top ranked recruiting class from 2024.
Onyeka Gamero Onyeka Gamero F Whitney (CA) | 2024 State CA (Beach FC) and Gisele Thompson Gisele Thompson D Harvard-Westlake (CA) | 2024 State #2 Nation CA (Total Futbol Academy MLS Next) were the first two to announce verbal commitments to the Palo Alto program. Over the last two weeks, a trio of others have joined up with two youth national team stars to make this Stanford class one that is shaping up for greatness.
Kohler is a member of the U.S. Youth National Team program and one of the top players from Northern California for this class. She was a high-priority target for Stanford as the Cardinal continues to land the best in-state recruits from 2024. One has to wonder if Kohler’s USA U17 Women’s National Team roommate Shae Harvey Shae Harvey M State #22 Nation CA , a Stanford commit for the class of 2023, helped secure this for the powerhouse of the Pac-12.
At the college level, Kohler offers versatility that should get her on the field immediately. She plays as an 8 or 10 (Center Midfielder or Attacking Midfielder) for the national team, but she can operate in the channel out wide as well. She plays as a right midfielder for her club team.
Kohler’s soccer intelligence and high work-rate make her an excellent fit for Stanford’s style of play. She is quick on the ball and makes great decisions in possession. She is dynamic in the attacking third and has shown good finishing instincts. She has excellent vision and can break down the opposition with her passing. She struggled some when she was crowded on the ball in tight spaces with multiple physical defenders. Given her preference to operate in space, being comfortable to keep possession under pressure is a part of her game that could improve for the next level.
Kohler’s favorite current player is Rose Lavelle and there are some similarities between the two as they both like to find those pockets of space between the defense and midfielder. They’re both creative on the ball. Kohler prefers to make more of an impact on the dribble, while Lavelle was a better passer at this age.
Kohler is a top ranked player from this class and another key piece for the Stanford 2024 group, which is shaping up to be a historic group with three Youth National Team starters.
Emri is a right-footed center back who has the potential to be a multi-year contributor as a starter for Stanford. She has all of the tools that translate well to the top college programs for this position: intelligence, size, strength, competitiveness, and drive.
Emri’s club team spends much of the game with possession of the ball so many of the attributes that scouts will use to describe her game focus on that side of the game. She is a great passer. She is calm under pressure. She values possession of the ball and makes good decisions on when to step back and bring a ball down from the air or when to step forward and clear the ball as she possesses great game awareness. She drives into space with possession and can strike a pass with either foot with good accuracy.
Defensively, she is not afraid to pick in a tackle and is very physical at the point of contact. She has good body control in duels and shows excellent technique to come out of tackles with the ball under control.
The center back benefits from playing for a club that has a very similar style to Stanford. She is another player with Youth National Team pedigree as she has been in the picture with the USA program as well as attended a couple of youth camps for Canada.
Murdock is fresh off a really good club season for MLVA ECNL 05. She played as the left center back for MVLA, and given the commitment of Ella Emri Ella Emri 5’9″ | D Torrey Pines (CA) | 2024 #20 Nation CA , that is likely going to be her potential position for Stanford as well.
She is a club teammate of Charlotte Kohler Charlotte Kohler M St. Francis-Mountain View (CA) | 2024 State #17 Nation CA , which says that Stanford landed two of the top local talents from this class. Murdock is a two-footed player – completely. She is comfortable with either foot in possession – both in receiving and passing. She has good vision on the ball and can pick out teammates to break the line. She rushed some decisions on the ball in the past, but it’s a strength of her game as she continues to improve and grow.
She is a strong defender in man-marking situations. Her hips can get square at times when she is defending in space and that area of her game will need to improve considering the skill and speed of the competition she will face at Stanford. She’s been eager to take on challenges and compete for spots in the past, which makes her one to watch among this Stanford class.