Who is the best forward in NJ’s 2026 class?
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The PrepSoccer Player Rankings for New Jersey for the Class of 2026 were updated on Monday. Check out the full rankings here. The New Jersey class of 2026 includes some of the top prospects in the country in their positions.…
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Continue ReadingThe PrepSoccer Player Rankings for New Jersey for the Class of 2026 were updated on Monday. Check out the full rankings here.
The New Jersey class of 2026 includes some of the top prospects in the country in their positions. Below is a breakdown of some of the top forwards from this class.
Forward/wide midfielder – Robinson is listed as a forward, but she does start games in a wide midfield role. She has a future in either role. She is part of the US Youth National Team. She is a difference-maker at the ECNL level. When she is on the ball, she is looking to score. She has a tendency to turn into pressure, but she has nimble footwork and can usually work out of tight spaces. She will force her way through weak tackles and when she has space she will bang the ball into the net. Robinson could end up as the top player in this class in the nation as she continues to develop a well-rounded game.
rnForward/Winger – Nuwayhid is another promising prospect from PDA. She is a winger who I’ve seen predominantly play on the left. When she’s on the touch line, she’s dynamic with a quick first step and a burst to get past the initial defender. The reason to believe Nuwayhid could end up as the top forward in this class is that she showed during the high school season that she can star alongside and against the best in the state while playing against older players. She is a great finisher with either foot.
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Draham is great at running at defenders and putting them on their heels. Her goal against NYSC was a great example of what she brings to her side. She can break open a game with a moment of brilliance while taking on the opposition and then burying a shot into the goal. She might be the best dribbler in this group.
Ortiz is another player from PDA. She is a standout on the PDA 08 team. She has been an excellent form recently. She is a good finisher with either foot, which makes her a tough player to mark. PDA tends to fall into a 4-4-2, but Ortiz could also shine in a 4-3-3 as a center forward.
Highlights
rnForward/Midfield – Chrenlich is a versatile player who could be a midfielder or a forward. She is listed as a forward on our rankings, but she has the potential to be a wide midfielder or even an attacking midfielder at the next level. She has the engine to cover the whole field. She also has the defensive instincts to be a great option as a pressing forward in a high press setup. She has a quick first step and a poachers instincts around the goal. She does not need much space to get off a shot.
Shapiro is a top prospect in her movement around the box. She is great at drifting off defenders and poaching goals from opportunities in the box. She is an elite finisher around the box – not necessarily flashy goals, but efficiency around the box goes a long way for forwards. Shapiro is a name to watch this Spring as she continues to get opportunities against top teams.
Highlights
Center forward. Johnson is easily the most interesting prospect on this list regardless of position. She might be way too low at this point, but there’s plenty of time for her to impress scouts in the future. She is a center forward who is over 6-feet tall. She had a starring role with the New Jersey ODP team during the past year – as well as a breakout freshman season for her high school. She is usually too much of a handful for the defenders at that level so she’s scored goals by the bucket. With an unrivaled combination of excellent ball-striking technique and strength in possession, Johnson is a big time prospect from the center forward spot.