Boys ECNL announces National Training Camp Best XI
The Boys ECNL hosted the 2022 National Training Camp last week in Louisville, which brought together some of the best players from the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 age groups from the national league. The event was a showcase for…
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Continue ReadingThe Boys ECNL hosted the 2022 National Training Camp last week in Louisville, which brought together some of the best players from the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 age groups from the national league. The event was a showcase for the players as they trained and competed against top talent while playing in front of college scouts. The experience was unforgettable for a handful of them as they earned spots on the Best XI (The Team of the Event), as named by the scouts of the ECNL.
The scouts named a Best XI for the 2004/2005 age group, and another Best XI for the 2006/2007 age group. For the older group Best XI, there were a number of players already with verbal commitments from the class of 2023 to top programs. John McDowell John McDowell M State NC is bound for North Carolina. Travis Smith Travis Smith null | M DuPont Manual | 2023 KY is headed to Wake Forest. Santiago Castaneda Santiago Castaneda 6'2" | M Tampa Prep | 2023 State #8 Nation FL is a verbal commit to Michigan. The rest of the group will likely follow suit in the coming weeks. Here is a look at a few of the players who also made the Best XI for the 04/05 age group but are uncommitted at this point.
Lorenzo Amaral comes from a very talented family. He is a triplet, his sister Valentina is another star on the soccer field. She is part of the U.S. Youth National Team and been called into the U17 Women’s National Team. She is a Wake Forest commit for the class of 2023. Lorenzo has plenty of accolades of his own. He was the ECNL Conference Player of the Year for Florida last season. Now, he adds ECNL National Training Camp Best XI to that resume. Amaral is a talented attacking player who likes to go to his left, but is good with both feet. He is an exciting prospect to watch.
Danks is a six-foot-two (and still growing) goalkeeper from Southern California. He plays his club ball for West Coast FC, and is a member of the storied high school program Servite. His older brother JT Danks is a 2022 recruit to CSUN. The younger Danks looks to be a rising star among the goalkeeper ranks from the class of 2024 after earning a spot on the 2022 Boys ECNL National Training Camp Best XI. He is an excellent shot-stopper and does well as a commanding presence in the box. His distribution with his feet are also excellent. He has a bright future in the position.
Hansen might have been the biggest surprise of the week. The defender from Utah impressed from the opening training sessions and only got better as he his teammates played to his strengths. He is a right-footed defender who could probably play as a center back or an outside back at the next level. He has the physical attributes that should translate well to the Division I game, he also has the intelligence on the field to continue to play the sport for a long time.
Pastone is a name to know for the future. The 2024 recruit from Maryland is having an incredible run and making a name for himself as one of the top prospects among the midfielders in that class. He is an attack-minded midfielder. He has the engine to play as the No. 8, but he is probably best suited for an attacking midfield role considering his skill on the ball and his vision. He likes to dribble at defenders through the center channel. He is good at taking space when the defense backs off of him, and also smart at recognizing when the defense steps toward him so he can slip a pass behind for one of his teammates. Pastore is going to be a top target for some of best programs in the country after his performance in Louisville at the Boys ECNL National Training Camp.
Scott is another defender from the class of 2023 who made a strong showing at the ECNL National Training Camp. He is a right back who should be on the radar of college coaches. He has the size to compete at the college level – 6-foot-2, 170 – and the skill to match. He is strong in the tackle and determined in duels. He is good on the ball and offers an accurate service. He is not a wing back who will always be flying down the channel, but he is a smart player who will help shut down a side of the field and join the attack when the numbers are in his side’s favor. Scott should be getting quite a bit of attention after the performance in Louisville especially from college programs looking for an outside back with great defensive instincts.
The Full Best XI from the Boys ECNL National Training Camp
The Best XI was selected by the technical staff at the ECNL Boys National Training Camp.
04/05 Best XI
Mason Hansen (Utah Avalanche)
John McDowell John McDowell M State NC (NCFC Youth Academy)
Rocco Pastore Rocco Pastore M #102 Nation MD (Pipeline SC)
Santiago Castaneda Santiago Castaneda 6'2" | M Tampa Prep | 2023 State #8 Nation FL (Florida Premier FC)
Lorenzo Amaral (Florida Kraze Krush)
Shane Wright (Florida Kraze Krush)
Travis Smith Travis Smith null | M DuPont Manual | 2023 KY (Louisville City)
Charles Scott Charles Scott D CO (Colorado Rapids)
Kenny Delson Kwizera (South Carolina United)
Jacob Dinzeo (St. Croix SC)
Hakim Karamoko (Manhattan SC)
06/07 Best XI
Norvin Martinez (East Meadow SC)
Cameron Tolson (Pipeline SC)
Chris Aguilar (MVLA)
Michael Dessalegn Michael Dessalegn M VA (Arlington Soccer)
Alberto Perez Alberto Perez F NV (Heat FC)
Dillon Danks (West Coast FC)
Edwin Herrara (Tulsa SC)
David Blanton (UFA)
Shikhar Motupally (FSA)
Eli Berry (Oklahoma Energy)