Top performances from the MLS Next U19 Showcase

INDIO, California - The MLS Next Winter event is a chance for most college coaches to get a look at the upcoming talent from the one of the top national club leaguers in the United States with all of the players in one spot.   The overall takeaway from me for these events is that that there is not enough of an opportunity for passionate players to continue with the game past their club playing days. The depth of talent pool of uncommitted players from the class of 2023 is startling. With signing day already open, there will be some late discoveries from this event, but there will also be quite a few players who hang up their boots because lack of opportunity.    The MLS Next event showed that there are plenty of talented players out there in the 2023 class. Check out some of the standouts from the games below.    Giovanni Escarrega, LA Surf - Escarrega had a standout performance in the last two games at the MLS Next event. He scored four goals in the two games. He was efficient with his chances and did well on the counter-attack. Escarrega is a center forward. He is right-footed but scored goals with both feet during the event. He showed excellent game awareness in his ability to drift away from defenders to create space in the final third for his goals. Escarrega would be a great fit for a program that has a high pressing midfield. He showed his quality during the event in Indio and should be getting plenty of attention after that performance. Mark Hyan, Eduardo Aguilera, and Aaron Villa Gamez were also standouts for LA Surf.    <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/12/briansalvino-rotated-crop-2524x1658-1670881069.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-69872" width="400" height="263" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Brian Salvino</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='11132' first='Brian' last='Salvino'], SC Wave - Salvino is another forward who impressed at the event. Salvino is self-described as a versatile player. He played as a center forward against Nomads, but the traits are there for a player who could fit a number of roles. He has quick feet, good ball control, and excellent vision. He showed his ability in tight spaces late in the game as he killed off the clock with the ball in the corner while surrounded by multiple defenders. His production in the final third is had to ignore. He had three goals and three assists during the three games. His play on the final goal of the game against Nomads was a perfect example of what he brings to the team. He pressed and won possession of the ball. He played a perfectly weighted pass for the assist. Salvino could play as a winger or even a wing back at the next level. He has good defensive instincts. He is a big time prospect. Marquette commit [player_tooltip player_id='58365' first='Ryan' last='Amond'] also had a great event for SC Wave.   Carlos Villa, Met Oval - While watching PA Classics, Carlos Villa jumped off the field as a player with different level qualities. He played as the left center back for Met Oval - he looks like a left back in the formation, but he doesn't get wide that much and he tends to stay tucked in as more of left center back. He is calm on the ball and very good in possession. He handled the press with ease and made good decisions with his passing. He did not have to defend much 1v1 in the first half, but he has the frame to withstand a challenge. He made some key interceptions on passes. Villa could be a left back or a left center back at the next level. His calm demeanor on the ball was very impressive, and he was accurate with all of his passes.  He hits a very good cross with his left foot as well.    Kyle Orrson, PA Classics - Orrson is a 2024, but I didn't notice him until watching the U19s so he is getting slipped into this list. The part of Orrson's game that stood out to me while watching PA Classics was how many tackles he won. He is not the biggest player on the field, but it felt like he never lost a duel. Orrson's play on the PA Classics' goal against Met Oval is a great representative of him as a player. He covered a ton of ground while pressing two defenders. He wins a tackle in the corner and scoops the ball to a teammate for the goal because he notices the imbalance of the defense. Orrson is one to watch from the 2024 class in PA. Caleb Collins, Cameron Thayer, and Cole McEvoy, a Loyola commit, were also standouts for PA Classics.    [player_tooltip player_id='45571' first='Darrell' last='Etienne Jr.'], TSF - The 6-1 center back had a stellar showing at the MLS Next event. He was a key part of the TSF defense that only conceded two goals in three games. Playing in the middle of a back three, Etienne was on the ball quite a bit. His distribution was key to TSF's style of play as he switched the point of attack quickly and accurately. He was strong in challenges and did well setting the line for the defense. Lee Mara also had a stellar showing for TSF. He scored a great goal against Bayside as he picked up the ball in the middle of the field and burst past a pair of defenders. He buried his shot into the lower corner of the net. Michigan commit Patrick O'Toole was also a standout for TSF.    [player_tooltip player_id='16811' first='Zayan' last='Ahmed'], Solar - Ahmed is another 2024 to pop up on this list. The attacking midfielder had a productive showing in Indio. He scored a great goal against FC Cincinnati and added another against FC Delco. The high school junior is producing against some top talent in the 2023 class. His goal against FC Delco showed his quality around the box as he got on the end of a long throw-in from Jackson Dutton.

INDIO, California - The MLS Next Winter event is a chance for most college coaches to get a look at the upcoming talent from the one of the top national club leaguers in the United States with all of the players in one spot.