MLS NEXT Cup – The Professionals of Tomorrow

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was an exciting and impactful week of soccer here at the MLS NEXT Playoffs in Frisco, TX. Players from all over the country came together to challenge one another for the title of MLS NEXT Cup winner but trophies and accolades aside, there was a collection of players spread across the tournament that set themselves apart as the players that have all the intangibles to become the best collegiate and professional athletes of tomorrow. These athletes battled during their time on the pitch and portrayed the necessary physical and mental traits needed to compete at a higher level of play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the tournament was full of amazing players and great moments, here are my four overall standout athletes for this years MLS NEXT Cup:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Charlie Norkett","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'5\u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Naperville Central High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"FC United Soccer Club ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"In all my years of being involved with this beautiful game I have only on extremely sporadic occasions seen a player like the currently uncommitted Charlie Norkett. The 6'5, 185lbs defender was one of the spectacles during the tournament for myself and the many college coaches that lined the sideline during day 2's Austin FC v FC United game.\r\n\r\nWhile typically a coach could expect to see a young player at 6'5 to be a little uncomfortable in their frame, Norkett is simply different. The mobile central defender glided up and down the pitch, almost like a natural born central midfielder, never once contemplating if he would get beat off the ball by a smaller, quicker player. His long legs were not frail or fragile but rather trunk-like, and understandably so, during the times Norkett cut through Austin's defense we were able to witness a hammer of a shot that was quickly released off his boot.\r\n\r\nNorkett may play centre-half due to the fact that he is taller than everyone else around him but honestly, I feel his talent may truly lie in the attack. There was never a moment in which I felt that the ball was in danger at his feet, his touch was consistent and his decision making was spot on. I believe that his size, speed, IQ and ability would make for a magical target man. Even in today's world where the likes of Erling Haaland are sought after and it is no longer a spectacle to see players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Peter Crouch up top, I still believe many of the U.S. Soccer faithful can't see past the height of a player and into the possibilities.\r\n\r\nUltimately, no matter if Norkett played centre-half, defensive midfield or striker; he would consistently produce good results for any coach willing to guide him into the next chapter.\r\n\r\nRiver's 3 traits to consider:\r\n\r\nInvolved: Norkett wanted the ball at his feet, he wanted to be with teammates in front of goal and to find a way to make a difference in the match.\r\n\r\nFearless: Norkett was never scared to take the ball out of the back or find himself positioned on the outer parts of the field. He was confident on set pieces and knew that there wasn't a opposing attacker that he could not handle. He was very comfortable and didn't question himself.\r\n\r\nQuickness: Most guys his height are typically not very fast, at least not when they're still in their teens. You typically see younger central defensemen tall and a little awkward as they position themselves against the opposition but Norkett broke the mold, he was strong and light on his feet.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Cristian Gregoire","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'9\u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"FC Barcelona Residency Academy ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The Barca Residency Academy had quite the challenge awaiting them in a fiery San Diego City SC team during day 2 of the MLS NEXT Cup. Before the match even started there was a considerable amount of loudly vocalized competitiveness between the two sides and as the match kicked off it was quite apparent that the match was destined for altercation and aggression.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, behind the smoke screen that was over the top tackles and yelling, Cristian Gregoire stood out as one of the Barca's most composed and talented individuals. The uncommitted outside back navigated the game perfectly, beginning with the understanding to know that with emotion comes immediate aggression from the opposition. City SC put up a blistering attack during the early portion of the match but Gregoire did his job and kept his composure. Positioning himself in the passing lanes City had created while using his excellent vision and footballing intelligence to understand how to navigate himself out of the back and onto the attack.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGregoire isn't physically imposing by any means but he brings a great deal to the table when it comes to intelligence, speed and skill. He was noticeably one of the quickest people on the pitch throughout the match and his ability to maintain his stamina throughout transition of play was truly captivating. He consistently tracked back with City's attack and immediately sprung himself down the sideline as one of Barca's most dangerous weapons whenever the ball was overturned. His ability to push back up the field truly kept Barca in the game early on into the match. As the game continued, we were able to witness the skill which Gregoire possessed and the way the ball looked glued to his feet as he dribbled out of danger or moved into an advantageous position.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is my belief that Gregoire is truly one of the most gifted talents of the entire tournament. The composure he maintained under pressure showed his maturity within the game, there was never any thought of him finding himself involved with the yellow and red cards being distributed throughout the match. However, don't let this fool you into thinking that Gregoire isn't a team player or lacks any sort of passion in the game because that is simply false. Gregoire threw his body in front of shots, his legs into other players and laid it all on the line for his team in their 2-0 victory. With his team suffering from two red cards and doing their best to maintain control of the game, Gregoire was influential in his teams ability to continue to press even with men down.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI'd take Cristian Gregoire any day of the week as an outside back, winger or central midfielder.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRiver's 3 traits to consider:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGifted: Gregoire was truly a spectacle to watch. His ability with the ball on his feet was some of the best I've seen out of a prospective player in a long time. He was able to defend a step ahead of his opponent, dispossess them and then transition into a devastating attack in the matter of seconds. It's like he didn't have to consider options, he just simply knew.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSkillful: The ability Gregoire possessed on both of his feet was phenomenal and the confidence he had to attempt skill moves against his opposition was both intelligent and spontaneous. He didn't put his team in danger by making questionable decisions with the ball, it was all calculated.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHigh-Engine: He ran more than nearly every player on the pitch during the matches Barca played yet I never saw him bent over or gasping for air. He was able to maintain an extremely high work rate while at the same time recovering and not letting his exertion leave his team exposed. The kid has an engine and coaches understand that doesn't come from just showing up to training during the week.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Joah-Mikel Reyna","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'9\u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"Austin FC","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"It's nearly a guarantee that a player like Joah-Mikel Reyna would end up on a list of the most talented and highly prospective athletes that played in the MLS NEXT Cup, however this is not because of the legacy that comes along with the Reyna name. Joah-Mikel Reyna is a player that is slowly becoming a household name due to the fact that his dad is USMNT legend Claudio Reyna and his older brother is current USMNT superstar Giovanni Reyna. Although the Reyna name may bring a large amount of headlines and attention along with it, the younger Reyna is absolutely doing his part in creating his own legacy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOver the course of the week, Reyna showed his prowess along the edge of the field with quick movements and highly-intelligent passing. His quick combination play with his teammates opened the field and allowed AFC to exploit the defenses of their opposition. While it should be noted that AFC had a bit of a shocker offensively during the MLS NEXT Cup before losing out in the second round, I don't believe any of the blame sits on the shoulders of young Joah-Mikel Reyna.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDuring their first match against FC United, Reyna had a series of successful no look passes off his head and feet that opened the field for Austin and  gave them the ability to move the ball around their opponents. I believe that it's Reyna's ability to understand where he is on the field and position his body accordingly that is the most impressive thing about him. He never had to turn around and never was out positioned because he was constantly moving and reading the game. His footballing IQ is next level but his size and physicality is a little concerning.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReyna was never scared of attacking the ball but I did feel that he needs these next few years to truly develop his frame and prepare himself for the physicality of the next level. The fact that he was somewhat smaller is a reason for him to consider possibly taking on sometime at the collegiate level before attempting the next stage of his career.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRiver's 3 traits to consider:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHigh IQ: From backwards headers to no look passes, Reyna had the ability to stay a step ahead of his opponent. He not only knew where he wanted the ball to end up but understood where he wanted his teammates to end up around the ball before releasing it from his foot. It wasn't slow or drawn out either; he was able to make confident, split-second decisions on the ball.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eQuick: While Reyna was able to mentally out pace his opponents, he was also able to out run them on the pitch as well. He flew up and down the pitch, never letting the majority of his opponents get close to him. His feet were quick enough that they could poke into the opposition's path and bring the ball back to Reyna's feet before they knew about it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetermined: Although Reyna isn't the most physically imposing, he had the grit and determination to battle larger guys and fight for every 50/50 ball that came within his reach. Whether it was collisions for headers, hard tackles or the occasional shoulder to shoulder battle- Reyna was more than prepared to do whatever it took to win the ball.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["8582"],"_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":"This years U17 MLS NEXT Cup winners, LA Galaxy, was a team truly inspired and at the focal point of this inspiration seemed to be with standout player: Ruben Ramos Jr.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRamos Jr was a player on mission over the course of the tournament and it seemed that he truly could do whatever he wanted whenever he was on the pitch. Whether he was holding up play and making the key pass to one of his teammates or turning his shoulder and sending rockets at the opposing goalkeeper, the young forward gave some of the most inspirational performances I've seen for someone his age. The way Ramos Jr was able to manipulate the play of the game to his pace and find success no matter where he was on the pitch shows how truly talented he is.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA characteristic I truly admire of Ramos Jr's is the fact that he is a massively talented individual that doesn't seem to present any ego into the world around him. He simply knows he's talented, know the players he plays and competes with are talented and plays his part in order to find success for his team. He didn't have to become the leading goalscorer or even the tournament MVP in order to show that he is undoubtedly the most promising talent on the pitch. It is his professionalism and comfortability on the pitch during all aspects of the match that makes him, in my opinion, the most professional ready player of the entire tournament.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhile I'm not sure where Ruben Ramos Jr's career will take him, I can absolutely say that it was a pleasure to watch him compete during this years MLS NEXT Cup.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRiver's 3 traits to consider:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHumble: Ramos Jr has an attitude to cheer for. He's one of the hottest prospects in the LA Galaxy system but still messes around and jokes with his friends and coaches before and after games. He was respectful to everyone around him and you could tell there wasn't an ego issue when it came to him. That's something that is critical to his ability to learn and adapt at the next level.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDecisive: Ramos Jr knows what he wants to do with the ball, he's able to see steps ahead and preposition himself to receive and distribute the ball wherever he desires. He can find himself at the tip of the attack, the outside edges of the pitch or even back in the middle of the field and somehow he still is able to impact the play. He's adaptable and makes rapid decisions on and off the ball.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCommitted: He loves this game. You can see the joy in his eyes when he's on the pitch, there is no burn out or lack of desire to be there. He hasn't let the weight of being a top prospect ruin the joy he has when he's out on the pitch and with that joy comes a commitment to his teammates and coaches. You can tell this game means the world to him because he loves it.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6498f2ffd9154"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->