Top prospects from the Colorado 2024 class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Much of the buzz around the MLS Next Winter Showcase was regarding the junior class on the national level as college coaches looked to finalize plans for that group in the coming months. The one state where coaches should spend extra time is Colorado. The Rapids MLS Next U17 squad went 1-0-2 at the event, as they battled to undefeated mark against the best teams in the country. Real Colorado had a strong showing in both the U19 and U17 age groups. Real Colorado and Colorado Rapids also have strong teams in the Boys ECNL as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From that pool of players, there is more then enough reason for coaches to prioritize Colorado recruits on the next scouting trip. Denver, the only Division I program in the state, already landed the verbal commitment of two of the top prospects in CJ Haynes and [player_tooltip player_id='9058' first='Grant' last='Lund'], both from Real Colorado.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is plenty of other top recruits to know from the region as well. We profiled nine names to know prior to the <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2022/12/names-to-know-from-the-colorado-2024-class/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MLS Next event here</a>. Below are some of the players who impressed at the events during Winter. Check out <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/colorado/rankings/boys/2024-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the full rankings for 2024 here</a>. Learn more about the <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2022/10/behind-the-scenes-prepsoccers-national-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PrepSoccer scouting process here.</a> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["70433"],"_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":"At the end of the day, Ineh could be the best player in Colorado in this class. He does things on the field that no one in the country can duplicate. From an attacking standpoint, he is on the list of players most difficult to mark on the wing or with his back to the goal. Ineh's hold-up play is a bit inconsistent as he can try to do too much by himself at times. In space, he is tough to stop as he has an electric burst and unrivaled pace. When he wants, he can put his head down and get to the end line to deliver a service into the box. The traits are there for a professional level prospect. The inconsistency at the youth level will be a question on his scouting report, but there is reason to believe he is improving on staying involved and he showed moments this season where he looked like the best player on the field for all 90 minutes. I like him more on the wing because he is a very good defender for the position, but he has the physical frame to bully center backs. Ineh would be a top national prospect if he went the college route.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["71666"],"_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='71666' first='Tadeo' last='Razo'] Sanchez is an outside back who has been one of the top players for the Rapids for a couple of seasons. He is a shutdown defender who is excellent in slide tackles. He has a great hook slide move that is difficult for attacking players to navigate around - most attackers think they are past him when he goes to ground but Razo regularly comes away with the ball clean. He mostly plays as a right back, but he has also featured as a left back. He is good on the ball and tends to only take one or two touches. He is not the biggest threat going forward, but he can serve a cross - he's more of a weapon in possession during the build-up than in the final third. He has potential to develop into a shutdown defender at the next level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["8909"],"_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":"Herivel is a center forward for the Real Colorado U17 MLS Next team. He was part of the group that went 2-0-1 at the event in Indio. He stood out from those games in how much effort was required to defend against him. He is very good at playing off the shoulders off defenders and playing on the offside line - he got caught a couple of times, but he also broke the line a few times as well. Herivel is an interesting prospect because I'm not sure center forward is his long-term position. He has quality on the ball that suggest he could be an attacking midfielder. He is not asked to create much on Real Colorado because the team has a terrific midfield, but he has shown the potential when given the opportunity. He is willing worker and does well in tracking players defensively.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["70472"],"_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":"u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnElicero is another winger from the Colorado Rapids U17 team. He has been outstanding this season. Coaches love him because he is a two-way player. He defends with as much enthusiasm as he attacks. He is a technical player who can navigate in tight spaces. He has quick feet and does well in poking the ball past tackles because he reacts before the defender. Elicero's strong technical base and work ethic should take him far.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnu0026nbsp;rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["8957"],"_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":"Among the list of best outside backs in Colorado, [player_tooltip player_id='8957' first='Christopher' last='Carroll'] is at the top of the list. He is the prototype of the player that excels at the next level. He is physical, competitive, and driven to get better. This has been a stellar campaign for Carroll and the MLS Next event in Indio was confirmation that he should be a target for college coaches. He scored a great header goal against Barca Residency Academy on the final day of the event, as he showcased his quality in aerial duels.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["70485"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Hertel is a 6-foot-1 goalkeeper from the 2024 class that should be on coaches' radars. His athleticism is especially impressive. He has quick reactions and does well in coming off his line to stop shots. He is fast to get back to his feet for rebounds and seems to have springs in his boots as he bounces off the ground to cover the full scope of the goal. Hertel's shot-stopping in big moments have been key for the Real Colorado success as he seems to come up with one or two crucial saves in every game he plays.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63a0b2a0d68d0"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->