Rankings Analysis: Top prospects from North Carolina’s 2026 class
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The PrepSoccer State rankings continued this week for the 2026 class with a look at the North Carolina’s top prospects. The North Carolina sophomores-to-be feature a handful of players with Youth National Team call-ups. And a couple of players who…
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Continue ReadingThe PrepSoccer State rankings continued this week for the 2026 class with a look at the North Carolina’s top prospects. The North Carolina sophomores-to-be feature a handful of players with Youth National Team call-ups. And a couple of players who recently impressed at the ECNL National Playoffs in San Diego. The 2026 class features some of the top club players in the 07 and 08 age group.
Below is a scouting report on a handful of players who appear in the PrepSoccer rankings.
One of the best goalkeepers in the country in this class. She has a lot of elite qualities across the attributes that matter for goalkeepers. Dunlap is a competitive player and she is driven to improve her game every season. She is one of the modern goalkeepers who is excellent with her feet and her club team utilizes that during the run of play with plenty of back passes to Dunlap. She made a number of outstanding saves during the ECNL Champions League playoffs for NC Courage.
Box to box midfielder. Good on the ball. Excellent passer. A weapon in aerial duels. Quality to be a difference-maker at the next level. Standout from the ECNL game. Identified by US Soccer Scouts for Regional Talent ID events.
Defensive midfielder. Had a stellar showing during the ECNL Champions League playoffs. She was calm on the ball and smart with her passing. Disrupted the movement of the opposition with her tackles and interceptions. Did well in using both feet to evade challenges.
Center Forward. Target forward for NC Courage. Can play with her back to goal. Weapon on set pieces as a threat to score with her head. Does well in the runs off the ball as she is good at drifting off the shoulder of defender to create space. Solid in hold-up play, links well with teammates.
Forward. Can play as a support striker or as a center forward. Physically imposing type. Uses her strength well. Competitive and wants to score goals. One of the top scorers in the state at the high school level over the past two seasons. Did well at the ECNL North America Cup playoffs. Good finisher around the goal. Not flashy, super effective. Quick, good runs off the ball, and driven to score more goals – exactly the type of players that can develop into elite double digit scorers at the Division I level.
Midfielder. Great footwork. She is elusive with the ball. Unique skills to evade pressure. Uses fakes well to create space. Very comfortable on the ball and would be an excellent fit for a program that likes to build from the back. She can play as a wide midfielder or in the center. Enough pace to play as a winger too. Versatile game, smart player.
Attacking midfielder. Previously played for NC Fusion 06, joined NC Courage this season. Dynamic playmaker. Good at finding pockets of space. Not starting for NC Courage right now, but she definitely has the potential to earn the starting role at the No. 10 in the future. Really high ceiling. Like the way she plays, smart about when she plays simple but also recognizes when she take players on with the ball at her feet.