Rankings Analysis: Virginia’s Best Freshman 

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PrepSoccer State Rankings for the Class of 2027 were released last week. <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2023/12/updated-2027-virginia-boy-rankings/">Check out the full list here</a>. Learn more <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/how-we-rank/">about our ranking process here</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2027 class for Virginia is an exciting group with good balance across the positions. DC United's 2027 group highlights the rankings, but other top MLS Next and ECNL clubs also have a number of players in the rankings.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PrepSoccer rankings only include players who play club soccer in that state. A number of players who would be considered as top freshman in Virginia have left for MLS clubs elsewhere and thus are not in these rankings with Charlotte FC and Philadelphia Union recruiting some of the key names.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a scouting report on a few of the players who appear in the rankings.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["157610"],"_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":"Luke is a forward on the DC United U15 MLS Next team. He has been part of the US Youth National Team Talent ID events in the past. Luke is a tall figure and stands out on the field. He has proven to be a handful for MLS Next defenses this season as he he is the leading scorer for his team, which sits at the top of the standings for the division heading into the break.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["157590"],"_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":"Bloom is a goalkeeper for DC United U15 MLS Next. He has been part of the US Soccer Talent ID events in the past. Bloom is an excellent prospect for the position and his play this season has shown why he is highly rated by US Soccer scouts. Confident off his line, Bloom is an asset for his team with his distribution and foot skills. He's an excellent shot stopper too. Bloom has high level potential for the position.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65833a2649d2f"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR6MVfmABIw","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR6MVfmABIw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["157626"],"_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":"Stevens is a defender on the DC United U15 MLS Next team. He plays as a center back for his club team. He is versatile though and could really fit in at any role in the defense. Center back is likely his future spot because he is a natural leader and very good at seeing the game in front of him. Stevens is good on either foot but tends to use his right foot more and drifts that way in the build-up. He has a lot of strength in his lower body and uses it well defensively. He has a knack for bumping players to dispossess them while standing his ground in the challenge. Stevens could improve on his passing and open field defending. He's in a good environment to help develop his game. Hopefully he gets more opportunities against older competition later this season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["157652"],"_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":"Schroeder is a defender on the Springfield 09 MLS Next team. He plays as the left center back for SYC. He impressed me with the way he uses his body to shield players off the ball and also dictate where the forward can move when he is a defending a player with their back to the goal. Schroeder has the defensive qualities to be a top prospect in his position for this class. He is solid on the ball and his team often plays out through his feet. Schroeder and his center back partner [player_tooltip player_id='157653' first='Dante' last='Galdames'] have been standouts this season in MLS Next.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["157597"],"_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":"Castro is a midfielder on the Springfield YC 09 MLS Next team. He plays as a box-to-box midfielder. He has been part of multiple US Soccer Talent ID events in the past. He has a good first touch. I've rarely seen him lose control of the ball even under physical challenges. He shows great field awareness as he is always scanning and looking for options and assessing where the opponent is. His passing is accurate and hits his passes with pace. Castro is a smaller midfielder so he tends to rely on his quickness and agility to dance around tackles. The Springfield YC standout has shown he can compete and standout at the highest levels of the club game.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["157660"],"_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":"Monzon is a goalkeeper on the Springfield YC 09 MLS Next. I believe he previously played for Alexandria SA. There is not much online about Monzon's player history. I've only seen him play this season and he really impressed me with his play at the club level in MLS Next. He has all the qualities that you look for in a goalkeeper. Great hands, high points the ball in traffic, and good footwork. There are some areas for improvement, but the potential is really what stands out from Monzon as he could be a top player in this class in the future.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["17342"],"_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":"Watt is a defender on the VA Union 08 ECNL team. He plays as a center back for his club team. He has been part of the ODP team at the state level. Watt impressed me with his play this season. The freshman defender is excellent on the ball - calm, good decision-maker, and excellent passer. He's a strong defender as well. VA Union has stacked up shutouts in a row during this club season and Watt is a key reason why.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["157674"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Kashindi is a midfielder on the Skyline Elite 08 ECNL team. He was a First Team selection in the ECNL Mid-Atlantic All-Conference team last season. Kashindi is a skillful player. He has quick feet and can evade challenges with his ball skills with either foot. He has pace and is a willing runner. He covers ground with ease and in a wink of the eye. Kashindi is a clever passer and sees different angles from his peers. There is some positional versatility in his game as well and he could be a standout in a different role in the future.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["157673"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Orellana is a midfielder/forward on the Springfield YC 08 MLS Next team. He has been part of the US Soccer Talent ID events in the 08 age group in the past. He can play as an attacking midfielder or as a forward. I think he is better as an attacking midfielder or a support striker. He is at his best when he can face goal and be utilized as a playmaker. He still has been a standout during this campaign with his play as a No. 9. His ability to create chances with his dribbling and passing has been a difference-maker in games for SYC.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["157678"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Waller is a midfielder on the Alexandria SA 08 MLS Next team. He can also play as a forward. There is some position versatility to his game. He is probably a No. 8 at the next level because he does a lot of things well. Waller impressed me with his field awareness. He is very good at checking his shoulders before receiving the ball. He has a great right foot and can bury a shot from over 35 yards out. Waller seems to be under-the-radar as a 2027 on an 08 team, but he has a lot of quality to his game.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65833a2649eec"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->