Who are the top players for Charlotte FC U-17s?

Charlotte's U-17 team lacks depth, but has some very promising high-end talent with three youth national team players, two of which have already earned first team contracts, one of which I consider a tier 1 prospect. North Carolina is a very strong region for soccer talent, so I expect Charlotte to continue to be a strong development club.   My grading system   I use a numerical scoring framework to grade players. I look at what I consider to be the most important traits and skills for each position and apply a numerical value to each of those categories. I take into account the age of the player when grading for each category.. The categories include physical traits, technical ability, intellectual understanding of the game and their mentality in how they approach the game. I average those individual scores in order to generate a holistic grade of the player. The score helps me identify what tier of prospect a player is.   Tier 1: A high impact player with all the tools to be a first choice youth national team selection and an obvious homegrown contract candidate.   Tier 2: A very good youth prospect that should likely get youth national team consideration and a potential homegrown contract candidate.   Tier 3: A solid youth prospect that should get a look in MLS Next Pro or is likely getting recruited to play high level college soccer.   WING, Brian Romero Carmona (2006)   What makes him special: Romero is a skilled winger with good ball control, clever feints, very good crossing ability and he can strike the ball well with both feet. Romero plays with great confidence, effort and bravery — he continues to attack even if he isn't having the most success.   How he can take it to the next level: I am concerned about Romero's physical profile and how it projects to higher levels as a winger. I am not sure he will have the strength and explosiveness to compete at a high level out wide, so he may need to move inside in a number ten type role where those challenges are masked a little bit more. If he can add a little bit more explosiveness to his profile, I can see him sticking at wing or potentially right-back.   Level: Tier 2   Romero has been a fixture for the U.S. U-17 team and is Charlotte's first homegrown player. I expect him to get a lot of time with Charlotte's new MLS Next Pro team this summer as he continues to move through the development pathway.   CF, [player_tooltip player_id='48030' first='Brando' last='Bedolla'] (2006)   What makes him special: Bedolla isn't the most naturally gifted striker, but he is very effective because he has great composure, instincts and finishing ability in front of goal.   How he can take it to the next level: For a player of his profile, I'd like to see him do more dropping back and connecting play, bringing others into the attack more.   Level: Tier 3   RCB, [player_tooltip player_id='59851' first='James' last='Nyandjo'] (2007)   What makes him special: Nyandjo has very good size and mobility combined with ball control, passing range and the ambition to break lines with his passes. These are all characteristics that clubs covet from center-backs.   How he can take it to the next level: I need to see Nyandjo win more of his defensive battles. He is beaten too often for a player of his talents. I am not sure if he is misreading the attacker, mistiming his tackles or not being patient enough, but that is an area that needs to be cleaned up so he can be relied upon at higher levels.   Level: Tier 2   Nyandjo has been one of most consistent center-back call-ups for the U.S. U-16 youth national team and he is likely on Charlotte's radar for a first team deal. Charlotte will likely see how he develops next year at the U-17 level. If he looks dominant, Charlotte has shown a willingness to invest in their youth.   WING, [player_tooltip player_id='14338' first='Nimfasha' last='Berchimas'] (2008)   What makes him special: Berchimas is a highly dynamic winger with burst, strength and playmaking ability. While he is usually more physically advanced than his opponents, even playing up an age level, he does not completely rely on that. He has above average ball control and passing ability and he is more mature as a decision maker than you would expect. He has the intelligence and technical ability to maneuver out of tight spaces. Right now he is better as a chance creator than a finisher. He does not play timid even when playing up age levels — he still has the confidence and mentality to attack.   How he can take it to the next level: Plain and simple, Berchimas can become a truly special player if/when he becomes more clinical in the final third. He has moments, but he is inconsistent and his finishing can be erratic at times. He has no issue getting to dangerous spots and once he starts capitalizing more regularly he can become truly special.   Level: Tier 1   Berchimas is a blue-chip prospect and one of the youngest players to every sign a first team deal. Berchimas is technically a U-15 player but plays up a level. He also plays up a level for the U.S. youth national team, playing for the U-16 team. I would not be surprised to see Berchimas get minutes for Charlotte's reserve team in MLS Next Pro, so they can start to see how far away he is from the first team.

Charlotte's U-17 team lacks depth, but has some very promising high-end talent with three youth national team players, two of which have already earned first team contracts, one of which I consider a tier 1 prospect. North Carolina is a very strong region for soccer talent, so I expect Charlotte to continue to be a strong development club.