Players to know from the Illinois 2027 Class
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The PrepSoccer State Rankings for Illinois 2027 class came out this week. Check out the full rankings for the Boys Freshman class in Illinois here. Learn more about our ranking process here. This is one of the strongest groups in…
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Continue ReadingThe PrepSoccer State Rankings for Illinois 2027 class came out this week. Check out the full rankings for the Boys Freshman class in Illinois here. Learn more about our ranking process here.
This is one of the strongest groups in Illinois at the top with a handful of players already in the youth national team program at the 09 age group – and a few others who look capable of reaching that level in the near future as well.
There is also a 2010 from the state, Robert Turdean Robert Turdean M IL , who looks like one of the best in the nation in his class and already earned a spot on the Youth National Team while playing up in an age group.
The 2027 group has a good balance across the positions among the top talent with representation in pretty much every role. One of the top talents from the state, Juan Arizmendi, left to join the Crew Academy so he will be part of the Ohio 2027 rankings.
Below is a scouting report on some of the players in our Illinois 2027 rankings.
Field started last club season playing with his own age group, 2009s. That only lasted a few months before Fire bumped him up an age group to play with the 08s. Soon after that, he had a starting role while playing up an age group on one of the best teams in the country. Field is a dominant force on the field. A center midfielder by trade (he can be either a 6 or 8), Field makes his presence felt all over the field. He is one of the taller players on last season’s team while playing up an age group. He is smooth on the ball and uses his body well in shield off defenders. He has an advanced understanding of how to play out of pressure and is confident with the ball on either foot. He has excellent vision and regularly provides key passes to set up chances for his teammates. Field is continuing to play up an age group and only scratching the surface of his potential.
Nagle is a defender/midfielder on the Chicago Fire MLS Next U17 team. He wore the captain’s armband for the U15 MLS Next team last season during the playoffs while playing as a center back. Nagle is the type of player that coaches love. A determined competitor who will play pretty much any role in order to help his team win. He’s been a key player for every team he has been on and not much has changed over the years. He is good on the ball and an excellent passer – a real weapon from the center back role when he does play in that spot. In the midfield, his vision really shows as he combines with his teammates with his quick passing and movement off the ball to create chances.
Pehar is a midfielder on the Chicago Fire MLS Next team. He previously played for FC United in MLS Next. He is part of the US U15 Boys National Team. Pehar can play as a No. 8 or a No. 6. I think he’s probably a No. 6 at the highest level. He impressed scouts with his play off the ball. He’s always scanning and adjusting the field – he’s trying to anticipate the next move of the opposition so he can be in the right spot to cut out the pass. He’s not the biggest in the center of the field, but he won a number of aerial duels over bigger players. On the ball, he has a great first touch. He’s right footed but he can distribute and play out of pressure with either foot. Pehar has shown top level quality at the highest level of club soccer so it’s easy to see why he is getting the opportunity with the youth national team. The potential is endless for the new Fire Academy midfielder.
Callery is a defender on the FC United MLS Next team. I’ve mainly seen him play as a right center back for his club team. He impressed me last season with his defensive instincts. He was always in the right spots for his team. He did an excellent job organizing the defense. I like how vocal he was with his teammates and he recognized when to step up the line to shrink the field when the opposition went backward. Callery is a good passer and can ping a ball with accuracy. He is one of the top center backs from this class.
Highlights
Hyte is another Youth National Team player from Illinois. He is a right winger from the Chicago Fire academy. Hyte immediately impressed scouts from game film last season with his relentless defensive pressure. He is an excellent two-way player – good on on-ball defender who isn’t afraid to get stuck into a challenge and also an excellent off-ball defender with his activity in jumping into passing lanes. He has elite pace and can glide past defenders. He was scored quite a few goals last season in MLS Next – but there still is a bit of room for improvement as a finisher. He had some misses that showed a lack of consistency. Hyte’s potential is obvious. He has international level attributes for a winger.
Lieberman is a midfielder/winger on the FC United MLS Next team. He is a playmaker in the final third. A gifted dribbler, Lieberman creates chances whenever he has the ball at his feet. He is a bit right foot dominant but his close control and great body control still make him a difficult mark for the opposition. Lieberman was a bright spot of the FC United 09 team last season in MLS Next and looks to have a bigger role this campaign with some players moving on from the club.
Szczepura is a defender on the FC United MLS Next team. He plays as a right back for the 09 team. He has the versatility to fit in a number of roles, but he seems best suited for right back. The game tends to flow through his side of the field. He is an active participant in the active and loves to hit in a cross. He is a good finisher too and scored a few goals last season from his right back spot. He is a standout in the quick counter press as he reacts quickly and defends well on the ball. Szczepura is a top outside back from this class.