Recruiting News: Is UNC going to have another No. 1 class?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The recruiting battles heated up last week with nearly two dozen players from the class of 2024 (high school juniors) making verbal commitments to Division I programs. North Carolina (UNC) was the big winner of the week. The ACC powerhouse added two players from the USA U17 Women's Youth National World Cup team in Taylor Suarez and [player_tooltip player_id='26668' first='Emeri' last='Adames']. Suarez is a local commit while Adames comes from the soccer hotbed of Dallas, Texas. The attacking midfielder plays for Solar SC at the club level. North Carolina now has three verbal commitments from players in<a href="https://prepsoccer.com/national/rankings/girls/2024-rankings/"> the PrepSoccer National Player Rankings Top 25</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tar Heels were not the only team to receive good news in the past week. LSU added a top prospect from Colorado, Santa Clara nabbed an ECNL All-Conference center back, and Penn State landed a shutdown outside back with big time potential. Check out a scouting report on some of the verbal commitments from the past week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63334d148a97c","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["25191"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='25191' first='Grace' last='Jackson']'s commitment to Purdue is perhaps a bit of a surprise. The forward/midfielder from Ohio has been in the Youth National Team pool for years. She has those technical abilities that make an impact at the highest level of the youth game. For Purudue to get a recruit of that level, it is a massive win for the coaches and the future of the program. The better news for Purdue fans is that Jackson is not alone. Zoe Cuneio gave her verbal commitment to Purdue recently as well, which gives the program two players in the Top 50 of the National Rankings. rnrnSo what are the Boilermakers getting with Jackson? She is arguably the most creative and technical player in the ECNL Ohio Valley Conference. She is the type of player that you can run the offense through because she can breakdown defenses with her passing or dribbling. She should be a multi-year contributor and a Big Ten All-Conference type of player for the program that looks to have a bright future. ","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["20348"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='20348' first='Amy' last='Smith'] is the center forward that every coach wants on their team. She showed up big during the ECNL Semifinals last season with three goals in the win over Internationals. The performance was a perfect example of what she can bring at the next level. She is a skillful, determined, and impactful finisher. There are times when she looks unstoppable, especially with the right service - u003ca href=u0022https://sportsrecruits.com/athlete/amy_smith9?video=1994613u0022u003echeck out her header off a corner kick.u003c/au003e Considering the class that LSU is bringing in for 2023 and starting to assemble for 2024, there should be plenty of providers for Smith to star for the team for many years to come.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["26298"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Abigail AJ Mayock is one of the top midfielders from Texas in the 2024 class. She plays for a top club in Lonestar and has shown her quality in the Girls Academy League. She joins the Illini, which currently has two players from Texas on the roster. Mayock looks to be the biggest splash for the Big Ten program. She is a center midfielder who can control the game. She is a smart player who does well in her positioning and passing. She has been in the Youth National Team picture in the past, and the potential is there for a four-year starter at the Division I level. ","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["23461"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Izzy De Buyl is a terrific addition for the Santa Clara program. She is a versatile player who is a defender on paper, but really could fit in a variety of roles on the field. She matches up well against forwards, especially when she can be physical in the point of contact. She has good technique in duels and uses her strength and body positioning to win challenges with ease. She has ELITE pace and offers the possibility of playing her in a wide role because she can flat out fly. She is headed to a program that will develop and take her game to another level. ","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["23493"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='23493' first='Kiley' last='Kukan'] is the latest addition the Alabama recruiting class. She is a center midfielder with wonderful ball control. She is able to operate in tight spaces because she has the unique ability to use body feints and close control to evade defenders. She is a good passer and has shown off her ability to break the lines with her passing at the ECNL level. Kukan is a terrific fit for Alabama, as she is the example of a player who should fit in seamlessly to the current style of play at her future program. ","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-649b3c6804a1a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Verbal commitments from Class of 2024 (Sept. 21-27)</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>Taylor Suarez - North Carolina&nbsp;</li><li>Bella Gaetino - North Carolina&nbsp;</li><li>[player_tooltip player_id='26668' first='Emeri' last='Adames'] - North Carolina </li><li>[player_tooltip player_id='25191' first='Grace' last='Jackson'] - Purdue&nbsp;</li><li>[player_tooltip player_id='27008' first='Mabry' last='Williams'] - Oklahoma State&nbsp;</li><li>Aleksia Christensen - Rice&nbsp;</li><li>[player_tooltip player_id='20348' first='Amy' last='Smith'] - LSU&nbsp;</li><li>Ella Grode - Eastern Kentucky&nbsp;</li><li>[player_tooltip player_id='23493' first='Kiley' last='Kukan'] - Alabama&nbsp;</li><li>Brianna Kappeler - Missouri State&nbsp;</li><li>Blaine Schutte - Tulsa&nbsp;</li><li>[player_tooltip player_id='26298' first='Abigail' last='Mayock'] - Illinois&nbsp;</li><li>Izzy De Buyl - Santa Clara&nbsp;</li><li>Lauren Wood - Kansas&nbsp;</li><li>Reese Snowden - Kansas State&nbsp;</li><li>Kieryn Jeter - Penn State&nbsp;</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Boys</span>&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>Owen Presthus - Maryland&nbsp;</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->