Rankings Preview: Missouri’s Top Talent from 2027

<!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>USE PROMO CODE JR30 for a discount on your first subscription at PrepSoccer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PrepSoccer state rankings for Missouri's 2027 class come out next week. The Missouri rankings include two MLS academies (St. Louis City SC and Sporting KC) as well as one of the best clubs for developing players for the college game (St. Louis Scott Gallagher). The two MLS academies have done a terrific job in scouting the region and pulled in many of the top players from other clubs in the state/region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a player with Youth National Team pedigree in this group as well as a number of others who should be considered for that team. Check out the scouting report on the top five players in the class below.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["149990"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Barbarena is a goalkeeper for the Sporting KC MLS Academy. He has been called into the U.S. Youth National Team at the 09 age group. He earned playing time with the club's U15 team last season. Barbarena has a good physical frame for developing into a professional level keeper. His wide shoulders lends to a player with athleticism and the qualities to cover the whole frame of the goal easily with his leaping ability. He impressed scouts during the summer playoffs with his quickness off the line and staying big when shutting down chances when attackers broke free on goal. He offers the quality on the ball with his feet that is trademark for youth national team keepers now. Barbarena has all the traits that top scouts value from the most important position on the field.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["149958"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Gonzalez is an attacking midfielder for St. Louis City MLS Next U15. He previously played for St. Louis Scott Gallagher MLS Next. He has been part of the US Soccer Talent ID Center events in the region and was recently called into one last month. Gonzalez is an obvious talent that was easy to spot in the scouting efforts for this class. He was terrific last season at the U14 level. He is silky smooth on the ball with a great first touch. Gonzalez has national team-level qualities. His creativity on the ball in the attacking third is among the best in the country we've seen from this class so far. He's already been an impactful player for St. Louis City SC MLS Next this season and will be one to watch later on in the campaign as opportunities against older competition begin to emerge.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["150003"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Kalinka is a right back for Sporting KC MLS Next. He played for the club's U15 MLS Next team last season and it looks like he's made the jump up to the U17 team for this season. He is a late 08 birthday so he is one of the youngest players on that team. He is a scrappy player. Not afraid of any winger, Kalinka is a fun player to scout as he is always willing to put in a battle in the duel. He is calm on the ball and often puts his foot on the ball to control the pace of the game. I don't think Kalinka has been called into the Youth National Team, but he should be rated at that level. He is an excellent, tough outside back who could also play as a center back in a back-three defense.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["12630"],"_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":"Whyte is a center midfielder for St. Louis City MLS Next U15. He previously played for St. Louis Scott Gallagher MLS Next. He has been part of the US Soccer Talent ID Center events and was recently called into one. Whyte was a standout last season in MLS Next and appears to found a similar role with his new club. He immediately stands out from his peers with his physical profile - tall, long stride, lean. Whyte plays as a box-to-box midfielder. He plays with his head up. He reads the game well and cuts out passes. He is excellent in transition when he can get up to full-speed running at the defense. There is a lot of potential to Whyte's game. He is already a high-impact midfielder at the youth level, refining the rest of his game should put him on the professional pathway.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["150002"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Delgado is another player from the Sporting KC MLS Next program. He is a late 2008 birthday, but he made the U17 team for this season. He was a standout for the club during the MLS Next Showcase at the end of the 2022/2023 campaign. He is strong on the ball and a two-way player. He can play as a winger or an outside midfielder. He has quick feet and good skill. He hits an excellent cross and showed that he has good vision with the key passes he provided for his team. Delgado might be an unheralded player from Sporting KC, but he's got the quality to really shine this season for his club.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651dc4124b2c8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->