Rankings Analysis: Georgia Sophomores Time To Shine
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The PrepSoccer Boys Player Rankings for the Class of 2025 for Georgia was released on Friday. The rankings for Georgia’s sophomore class is the first ranking for this group. The rankings will be updated throughout the club and high school…
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Continue ReadingThe PrepSoccer Boys Player Rankings for the Class of 2025 for Georgia was released on Friday. The rankings for Georgia’s sophomore class is the first ranking for this group. The rankings will be updated throughout the club and high school season.
With the initial ranking, there is a high emphasis on club players as not many sophomores had an influence at the high school level yet. There will be more players from that level of the game added in the future.
The PrepSoccer Rankings use the players club as the state designation – for instance, if a player is from Georgia, but plays club soccer for a Florida club they would be listed in Florida rankings.
In Georgia, one of the top talents from the 2025 class left the state last club season. Bryce Jamison, previously with Atlanta United, moved to Barca Residency Academy in Arizona during the 2021/2022 club season. He would have been in consideration for the top spot in this age group for this class. It appears George Okigbo has also moved to Barca, he was also a highly rated prospect from the state in this class.
The other aspect of this class is that the freshman class is already more hyped than the sophomores in Georgia. Aydin Torres, Nathan Gray Nathan Gray M State #55 Nation GA , Jonathan Ransom, Slade Hall, and Cooper Sanchez are big time prospects from the 2026 class in the national landscape.
Even with the attention almost diverted already, there is still plenty of prospects from the sophomore class in Georgia that have put some highlight reels together to catch the eyes of scouts. Atlanta United dominates much of the rankings, as the MLS academy has been active in recruiting much of the best local talent including snatching up one of the best players from the Boys ECNL last season.
Dunahm is the top player in the class for Georgia. He is a bit of an under-the-radar player from a national perspective. He does not have the resume of some of the other players that we’ve deemed as the top prospect in their states, but there is plenty of reason to believe he is on the same level as those who have had a larger share of the spotlight. Dunham was the captain of the Atlanta United U15 (07) team last season. He plays as the right center back in a traditional back four for Atlanta. There is a big emphasis on his passing quality with his club team. He is a key part for how they want to play – and there is an expectation that he will get promoted up the club ladder quickly. Dunham is a very good passer with either foot. He has excellent technique. He can be caught in possession though as he needs to clean up his touch when under pressure. Defensively, he is excellent at staying focused throughout the game. He is always tuned into the moment and does well in anticipating the entry pass. He is strong in the tackle. His speed does not jump off the screen in game film, but he has the pace to stay step-for-step with the top forwards. Dunham fits the player profile of a center back with a bright future in the game.
Julian Bretous Julian Bretous M State #97 Nation GA is one of the most exciting players in the state of Georgia. He is the aforementioned prospect who jumped from NTH-Nasa to Atlanta United in the off-season. Atlanta United is picking up a center midfielder with a very high ceiling. He is a do-everything type of prospect. He is silky smooth on the ball (comfortable dribbling with either foot in traffic), and offers some creativity in the final third. He is competitive with a high-engine. He has the body and framework to be a professional-level prospect. There is still a long road ahead for the 2025 recruit, but the showing he had last season during the ECNL National Playoffs suggest the potential is there.
Landon Darko Landon Darko F State GA is a bruising type of forward who jumped off the screen from MLS Next game film. He is a good finisher. He is right-footed and can be one-foot dominant at times, but he is nimble with his footwork for a player of his size. He is good in aerial duels, and does well in using his body to shield off players. Darko is a player to watch from the Southern Soccer Academy in MLS Next this season.
Tolu Adeyemi Tolu Adeyemi D State GA is another center back from Georgia that is worth watching this season. He is a dominant force on the field. He bossed players around in the Boys ECNL. He was strong in the tackle and went into each challenge without hesitation. He was a brick wall at times, and impossible for the opposition to get past. On the ball, he has a tendency to look for the outlets on the wings and hits a good pass with accuracy over distance. He is a top player to watch in the Boys ECNL this season.
Jean-Marcel Sylvain Jean-Marcel Sylvain F Sprayberry | 2025 GA is another player who impressed during the Boys ECNL Playoffs. He starts on the watch list for this class, but he is definitely a player with a high ceiling who could quickly jump up the rankings in the next update. The athletic forward has all of the tools to be an impact player at the highest levels.