Seven Prospects to Know from Arizona’s 2024 Class
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The PrepSoccer State Rankings for Arizona for the Class of 2024 have been released. Check out the rankings here. To learn more about the PrepSoccer ranking process, read this article. The current junior class in Arizona features some key contributors at…
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Continue ReadingThe PrepSoccer State Rankings for Arizona for the Class of 2024 have been released. Check out the rankings here. To learn more about the PrepSoccer ranking process, read this article.
The current junior class in Arizona features some key contributors at the U17 and U19 level in the MLS Next plus some All Conference winners from the Boys ECNL. There are a handful of high school standouts from the list, but it seems like the 2023 and 2025 class have more noteworthy prospects at that level of the game.
Barcelona Residency Academy (Casa Grande, Arizona) is a major player in the rankings in every class. Barca recruits players from all over the country – as a reminder the PrepSoccer uses a player’s club team for the state ranking – which why there are players from all over the country considered in the Arizona state rankings.
Below is a breakdown of the players to know from the junior class in Arizona.
Barca Academy landed one of the top prospects from the New England Revolution academy in the offseason. Ayala looks to be on the professional pathway and Barca has done an incredible job in helping players reach their dreams in just the last few years (Diego Luna, Matthew Hoppe, Caden Clark, Julian Araujo, etc.). Ayala is a talented attacking player who is part of the El Salvador Youth National Team program. He has been a bright spot for the Barca U17 team this season.
Aror is a defensive midfielder for the Barca U19 team. He has been a fixture in the starting lineup throughout the opening few months of the season. He is a sturdy player who is dependable. He makes good decisions on the ball. He is tactically advanced for a youth player. He tends to play two-touch soccer and has a good first touch to set him up for success. He is not flashy on film, but he does the job well and would be an excellent fit for a top program.
Felipe Rodriguez Felipe Rodriguez M State AZ has been a revelation this season in MLS Next play. He is in his first campaign in the league, and he is making the most of the chance. Rodriguez previously played for Elite Talent Academy in Virginia. Barcelona Academy is playing him as a center midfielder. He is technically gifted with excellent ball control. I’ve been impressed with his effort on both sides of the ball. He has been willing to put in a tackle when needed. On the ball, he has a bit of magic to his game. As Rodriguez continues to get more comfortable with his team, he will take over a bigger role. He is one to watch this season.
Shawn Culver Shawn Culver D State AZ has missed out on the last couple of games for Phoenix Rising and his absence has been notable. His center back partnership with Chris Grote Chris Grote D State AZ was a strength of the team. Culver plays as the right center back. He has a lot of strengths for the position – speed, skill, and defensive instincts. His distribution has been excellent with picking out accurate passes while under pressure. He will be a target for scouts at the next level.
Alexander Tupay Alexander Tupay D State AZ is the right center back for RSL-AZ U17. He is a major reason for the team’s success so far this season (4-3-2 including a draw against the aforementioned Barca Academy). He is an excellent passer. He has the size to fit in at the college level immediately. He is a dominant presence in the air – both defensively and in the attacking third. Tupay has really done well this season – both individually and as part of the collective. RSL AZ has only let in more than one goal in one game this season. They’ve also recorded three shutouts. The centerback tandem of Tupay and Dylan Connolly Dylan Connolly 6’2″ | D State AZ is a major reason why the team has been successful.
Brandon Fischer Brandon Fischer D Hamilton | 2024 State AZ is the top outside back in Arizona in this class. He is an excellent two-way player. He can deliver a perfect cross from the run of play, but he is not reliant on that aspect of his game. He does well in the combination play too. He links up with his teammates and has a good understanding of where to be in support. Defensively, he showed that he can shut down wingers. He is strong in the tackle and does well to keep his body control in challenges. Fischer is a target for coaches looking for an outside back who can contribute early on.
Wyatt Jarrow Wyatt Jarrow D State AZ is an All-Conference First Team player from Arizona from the 2024 class. He is a defender who has quick feet. He is smooth in his slide tackles and displayed impressive recovery speed in ECNL action. He has the physical tools to be a key contributor at the next level. His instincts on the field are far advanced for a youth player and he tends to read the play early so he is in the right spot to make the play. Jarrow has the potential to be a four-year contributor at the next level.