Players to know from U14 Mini-Camp West
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Quakes’ Edgar Rodriguez Edgar Rodriguez D State CA U.S. Soccer is hosting a regional Talent Identification Mini-Camp in Chula Vista, California over the extended weekend (Feb. 16-20). US Soccer scouts called in 80 players from the 2009 age group to…
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Continue ReadingU.S. Soccer is hosting a regional Talent Identification Mini-Camp in Chula Vista, California over the extended weekend (Feb. 16-20). US Soccer scouts called in 80 players from the 2009 age group to attend this event.
Those 80 players come from various teams in Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, and Washington. This is the introduction to Youth National Team programming for the 2009 age group. There is typically a Mini-Camp in the other regions as well.
Tony Lepore, the Talent ID Director, will oversee the camp alongside Gabe Farfan, Rob Irvine, and Chris Kranjc. US U15 YMNT head coach Tom Heinneman will also be on hand along with a number of YNT network scouts.
While this is very early in the process, there are some players who hace already emerges as plays to know from this age group. Below is a breakdown of a handful of players at this camp.
Hurtado Martinez is a defensive center midfielder for the Sounders U15 MLS Next team. He’s a smart player. He is fun to watch off the ball as he makes subtle movements to create space in the center of the field. He is calm on the ball and does well playing quickly. He is a bit smaller than most of his teammates (because he is playing up age) but he tackles like he is the biggest player on the field. He carries himself with confidence and leaves his imprint on the game. It’s easy to see him taking on a leading role with this group.
Ream is probably the most exciting outside back prospect in some time for the Youth National Team. He is originally from Arizona, but joined the Real Salt Lake Academy. He appears to be on the fast track through the academy as well. He has earned the starting role at left back while playing up an age group (he plays with the 08s) this season. He is comfortable on the ball in possession. He uses both of his feet pretty well. He is not a flyer on the winger as he tends to take a more measured approach to the position. When he does go forward, he tends to do it when he gets possession early – either he dribbles through the opposition or he combines with a teammate on a 1-2 in the channel. Part of that is coaching and tactics, but it does suggest his mentality this season has been more defensive. He has good close control when he’s dribbling into the attack. He’s a strong individual defender and should be one of the top players to watch from this camp.
Ronan Leeming Ronan Leeming M State #34 Nation WA is a big leg midfielder – he can connect on 40 to 50-yard passes. He is a right-footed, box-to-box midfielder for the Sounders U15 MLS Next team. He has good size for the position and his age. He fits in well while playing up an age group. He has a good first touch and he’s an excellent passer for the age group.
Cook made a name for himself with the goal he scored at Dallas Cup championship game in 2022. The forward from Legends iced the victory over San Diego Surf at the event, which included a few MLS academies. He has quick feet and good size for this age group. He is a confident dribbler with either foot and runs at defenders with power. The Legends attacker will be in for a test against the top defenders in the region, but he could be a player to watch as one of the best from outside of MLS Next.
San Jose Earthquakes have six players on this list. Rodriguez is the right center back on the team. He is calm on the ball and a good decision-maker. He is strong in the tackle and one of the leaders of the club team.
Woltjer Rojas is the right back. He is one of my favorite players for this group. He is a young 2009 (October). He is very confident on the ball and loves to get forward. He has a good first touch and offers quite a bit in the attack as a weapon on services from the wing. He hits a good cross. He should be contending for a spot as a starter at that position.
Marcelo Avalos is the goalkeeper for the side. He is excellent in possession. He is right-footed and comfortable playing out of the back under pressure. He does well with his footwork as he gets his body behind the ball when making a save.
U.S. UNDER-14 BOYS’ REGIONAL TID MINI-CAMP WEST ROSTER BY POSITION:
GOALKEEPERS (8): Tyler Adams Tyler Adams F WA (Washington Premier FC), Jacob Aguilar (Los Angeles Galaxy), Marcelo Avalos (San Jose Earthquakes), Anthony Juarez (Los Angeles FC), Oliver Lopez Aceves (Real Salt Lake – Arizona), Benjamin Robertson (Portland Timbers), William Walker (San Diego Surf SC), Matthew White (Breakers FC)
DEFENDERS (24): Lucas Angelbeck Lucas Angelbeck M State WA (Washington Timbers FC), Xavier Argueta (Los Angeles SC), Landon Booth Landon Booth D State WA (Pacific Northwest SC), Max Bramwell (Portland Timbers), Edward Chadwick (Los Angeles Galaxy), Isaiah Claverie (Legends FC), Tyson Espy Tyson Espy null | D State #21 Nation CA (Los Angeles FC), Immanuel Ewing Immanuel Ewing F CA (ALBION SC Merced), Azyk Gomez-Carmona (Los Angeles FC), Duncan Green Duncan Green D State WA (Seattle Sounders FC), Dylan Guerina (Los Angeles Galaxy), Jaxson Hall (Real Salt Lake – Arizona), Jaxson Herbert (Phoenix Rising FC), Nicholas Juarez (San Diego Surf SC), Mateo Mclean (Los Angeles Galaxy), August Nystrom (Portland Timbers), Justin Olmos (Los Angeles FC), Wesley Peters Wesley Peters D State WA (Eastside FC), Linkon Ream (Real Salt Lake), Edgar Rodriguez Edgar Rodriguez D State CA (San Jose Earthquakes), Woltjer Rojas (San Jose Earthquakes), Roi Shalon (Breakers FC), Preston Thao (Sacramento Republic), Anders Theurer (Sparta United SC)
MIDFIELDERS (29): Oscar Araiza Rojas (ALBION SC Merced), Cristiano Briceno (FC Bay Area Surf), Luke Chamberlain (ALBION SC San Diego), Alfredo Chavez (Los Angeles FC), Bryan Cisneros Bryan Cisneros M State WA (Washington Premier FC), Jesus Cota Monzon (Real Salt Lake – Arizona), Joaquin Cunningham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Noah Dasilva (Real Salt Lake – Arizona), Abraham Frick (Portland Timbers), Victor Garcia (ALBION SC San Diego), Jonah Giorgis (Real Salt Lake – Arizona), Gerson Huertero (Las Vegas Sports Academy), Paolo Hurtado Martinez Paolo Hurtado Martinez M State #62 Nation WA (Seattle Sounders FC), Levi Katsell Levi Katsell M CA (ALBION SC San Diego), Tyrone Knight Tyrone Knight M State CA (ALBION SC Merced), Ronan Leeming Ronan Leeming M State #34 Nation WA (Seattle Sounders FC), Rowan Martin (Real Salt Lake City), Chadwell Mima Chadwell Mima M CA (Silicon Valley Soccer Academy), Anthony Munoz (Los Angeles FC), Sebastian Siegler (SC del Sol), Gabriell Sorto Gabriell Sorto M CA (Ventura County Fusion), Kaedren Spivey Kaedren Spivey M State #46 Nation CA (San Jose Earthquakes), Kyota Tani Kyota Tani M CA (Pateadores SC), Renden Thomas Renden Thomas M State #28 Nation CA (LAFC So Cal Youth Club), Christian Trelles (San Francisco Glens), Isaac Ventura Isaac Ventura M CA (Ballistic United), Cesar Villalba (Los Angeles FC), Jordan Villanueva (Portland Timbers), Braeden Vitelli Braeden Vitelli M WA (Atletico Futbol)
FORWARDS (19): Mathis Albert Mathis Albert M State #2 Nation CA (Los Angeles Galaxy), Warren Boyce Warren Boyce F State #47 Nation CA (Sacramento Republic FC), Anthony Capetillo Hernandez (Real Salt Lake – Arizona), Elijah Cook (Legends FC), Elias Douratsos-Walker (Portland Timbers), Hudson Garner Hudson Garner M #100 Nation UT (City SC), Kengo Horike Kengo Horike F CA (Los Angeles FC), Enzo Martino (Park City Red Wolves SC), Aaron Medina Aaron Medina F State CA (Los Angeles Galaxy), Omar Mendez Omar Mendez M CA (ALBION SC San Diego), Julian Nunez-Corona Julian Nunez-Corona F CA (Sacramento Republic), Jaime Ontiveros Jaime Ontiveros F CA Jr (Breakers FC), William Ostrander (San Jose Earthquakes), Ashton Riggs Ashton Riggs 5'6" | F Auburn Riverside | 2027 WA (Mt. Rainier Football Club), Darian Rus (Los Angeles FC), Oscar Santana Oscar Santana M State #32 Nation WA (Crossfire Premier SC), Boston St. Claire (Los Angeles FC), Leiston Stoddard Leiston Stoddard M State WA (Washington Premier FC), Jorge Perez Torres Jorge Perez Torres F State #44 Nation CA Perez (San Jose Earthquakes)