Rankings Analysis: Forwards with big potential in New Jersey

<!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>USE PROMO CODE JR30 for a discount on your first subscription </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PrepSoccer State Player Rankings from the New Jersey class of 2027 were released this week. Check out the full list here. Learn more about <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/how-we-rank/">the PrepSoccer rankings process here</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just as a reminder: the PrepSoccer state rankings use a player's club for the state ranking. For instance, players in the New Jersey rankings play their high school soccer in Pennsylvania, but their club is located in New Jersey so they are considered for the New Jersey ranking. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a scouting report on a few of the forwards who appear in the state rankings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["24171"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='24171' first='Makena' last='Lee'] is the best center forward in the state in this class. She plays her club soccer for PDA 09 Blue. She is on the Baldwin School varsity as a freshman. Lee is an exceptional finisher - and good with either foot. She offers a dangerous combination of pace and finishing that is hard to match for most defenders. She is left footed, but she is just as capable scoring with her right so defenders must be honest in their approach and can't favor one side. As much pace as she has, she is not only a speedster. She can beat players with her skill and her smarts. She does well in recognizing when she has space and takes advantage of defenders when they give her too much respect. She's a tough match-up, which is probably why the PDA defense is so good because they have to face her every day in training.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6e50eaf0f7"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFNXm9HCFVc","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=LFNXm9HCFVc </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["110945"],"_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":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eHanf is a forward on the Match Fit Academy ECNL team. She has played for both the 09 and 07 team recently. She played up with the 07 team during the ECNL National Event in Florida earlier this month. Hanf was still an impactful player while playing up a couple of age groups. Dynamic on the ball, Hanf is a creative dribbler and a dangerous player in open space. She can operate as a support striker or as an attacking midfielder. Parts of Hanf's game that stood out to me was her movement off the ball. She's great at creating space prior to the pass with subtle movement - and she does well in checking her shoulders before receiving the ball. Her experience at the 07 level is telling for her quality. She did well against 2025s who have made verbal commitments to top programs including scoring a goal against Riverhounds. Hanf might be slightly overshadowed in this state as PDA is the best team in the country and includes a few national team level players. Hanf should be in that conversation. Her upside is that high.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6e50eaf169"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15140439/659c45b0bed6e70434174087' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6e50eaf219"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["158849"],"_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":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eFitch is a forward on the Real Jersey FC 09 GA team. She plays as the center forward for that team. She is a more technical player who likes the ball on her feet. She is strong on the ball and difficult to knock off the ball when she is shielding a defender on her back. Fitch has qualities that could develop into a key contributor at the next level. She's been a bright spot for her club side this season. She needs to improve on her speed of play as the ball can get stuck on her foot for a touch or two too long - part of that is her just trying to do too much to help her team. Fitch's competitive drive will take her a long way in this game though - as long as she continues to improve on her quality on the ball and her finishing.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["110894"],"_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":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eManning is a forward on the PDA Blue 09 ECNL team. She is one of two players currently part of the Youth National Team at the 09 age group who plays for PDA. I've mainly seen her play on the left wing for PDA, but I think there is some wingback qualities to her game. She's an excellent 1v1 defender. Those defensive qualities are overshadowed by her elite attributes in the attacking third. She is so smooth on the ball while running at speed that it reminds me of Trinity Rodman around this age. Rodman was a better finisher and a bit more aggressive and psychical. Manning is a better crosser (by a significant margin). I don't make that comparison lightly, but it's most obvious when Manning drops her shoulder and glides past (elite) defenders with her change of pace. That extra gear in the open field is what has made her one of the best players in the world in this age group - and will continue to make her a top player in this class.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6e50eaf2ee"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOaLOEa08wE","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=TOaLOEa08wE </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["25527"],"_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":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eShowler-Little is a winger on the PDA Blue 08 ECNL team. She previously played for Portland Thorns Academy. Showler-Little is a skillful winger. She is more likely to beat her mark on the dribble than with pace. She offers a creativity that is challenging for the opposing outside back. She has a good first touch and keeps close control of the ball while shielding off defenders. Showler-Little's vision is also one of her key attributes. She is excellent passer because of the way she sees the field. Showler-Little is a new addition to PDA this season, but is already making an impact at the 08 level.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a6e50eaf355"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x2LO0HXs18","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=9x2LO0HXs18 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->