Players You Should Know – 2024 VA Boys
Congratulations to all of the VA State Champions, All-State, and All-Region selections! With the high school season now over, I have compiled a list of some of the players you should know about that impressed this season, starting with the…
Access all of Prep Soccer
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingCongratulations to all of the VA State Champions, All-State, and All-Region selections! With the high school season now over, I have compiled a list of some of the players you should know about that impressed this season, starting with the class of 2024 boys.
Londeree is one of the best players you can find in all of Virginia. A 1st Team All-State and All-Region selection for 2023. Finding a weak spot in his game is difficult. Has a strong work rate, above-average athleticism, elite ball control, great pace, and great instincts. Ryan is left footed, so likely prefers that side of the field, but his skillset allows him to play, and have a real impact, in almost any position. Offensively, he is very good with the ball, and constantly moving to open areas to give his teammates options when he does not have it. Londeree is also very good on set pieces, playing balls into dangerous areas, or directly into the net, with consistency. Defensively, he sets himself apart with his engine, never taking a play off or shying away from a challenge. Ryan intelligently cuts off dangerous build ups and wins possession very regularly in 1v1 situations.
Evan Gaines
Evan Gaines
Gaines is your prototypical do-it-all midfielder. A 1st Team All-Region selection for 2023. Strong on the ball, makes quick decisions when receiving it, and rarely makes a wrong choice when it comes to a turn or pass. Very good at linking up play with one-two passes with attackers. On defense, Gaines excels at reading the game, predicting where play is going to cut it out. Evan is comfortable playing as a box-to-box or holding mid. His height makes him an aerial threat on set pieces, but he is just as dangerous as the one behind the ball on them. His soccer IQ frequently makes him one of those players that finds himself “in the right spot at the right time,” as the saying goes.
Isaac Torres
Isaac Torres
Torres is a versatile defender that can play as a right back, center back, or holding mid. He is under 6 foot, but plays as if he isn’t. Very strong in the air on attack and defense. Torres rarely gets knocked off the ball. His long strides allow him to cover a lot of ground to cut out passes, and he has the pace to keep up with attackers. When Isaac does move forward with the ball, he is comfortable. He finds passes at different distances and is great at finding players on long diagonal switches. Torres is also a vocal “coach on the field.”
Jesus Hernandez
Jesus Hernandez
Hernandez was a 1st Team All-Region and 2nd Team All-State selection in 2023. Can play as a center forward, winger, or attacking mid. The goal is to get him on the ball anywhere in the attacking third where he is lethal. Jesus has a feathery touch on his left foot that makes him difficult to stay in front of. He has a ton of flicks and touches in his bag to beat opponents or to spring teammates open in space. Hernandez is a very good finisher in and around the box, and can also drop into more of a playmaker role to spray passes around to those ahead of him.
Javier Catedral
Javier Catedral
Javi Catedral struggled with a couple of nagging injuries this season, but when he was on the field, he had a big impact. Catedral is silky smooth on the ball. His pace and quick feet make him a nightmare for defenders in 1v1 situations. Javi is also a crafty passer with a great feel for the game. He can play as an attacking mid or a winger. Catedral is an effective player that is always sure to elicit at least one “ooooh” from the crowd in each game.