New Names to Know from So Cal in 2026 Rankings

USE PROMO CODE JR30 for a discount on your first subscription   The Prep Soccer National Rankings for the class of 2026 was released this week. Southern California has always been a hotbed for soccer, and that is especially true with this class. There is talent at the top and there is talent on the rise. Below is a scouting report on some of the names on the rise and some of the new names to know from Southern California in the Prep Soccer 2026 National Ranking.    Miller is a goalkeeper on the DMCV 08 ECNL team. She was a ECNL All-Conference First Team selection last season. Miller is 5'7 with great hands. She has shown impressive athleticism as well. Her diving technique is superb. She is clearly very well coached with a good position specific trainer. The aspect about her game that impressed me the most was her sure hands in securing hard shots. If she gets her hands on the ball, she is going to fully gain possession of it. I do think she is a little too reliant on punching the ball away when she is dealing with traffic in her box. If she takes on a more aggressive approach in creating space for herself, I think she'd secure more crosses with a catch than a punch - however, that is a tactical decision at times for coaches and she might be instructed to that more often than not. Miller has the tools to be an elite goalkeeper. Her consistency at the ECNL level this season should get her on the radar for top programs in the region.    <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=wJbyu5gktW0 </div></figure>    May is one of the big risers from the Surf 08 ECNL team in the National Rankings. She is a tall midfielder who is right footed. She can play as either a No. 8 or as a No. 10. The two traits of her game that jump off the screen from game film is her close control of the ball and her vision. She is exceptional at keeping the ball glued to her foot. She also sees passing angles that not many of her peers can envision at game speed. May continues to develop and get better at Surf. There is a likely path in the future where she is among the very best midfielders in this class.    <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=Qk5fviB5BWE </div></figure>    Wright is a center forward on Eagles SC 08 ECNL. She had a breakout campaign at the high school level for Ventura with 26 goals in 19 appearances according to maxpreps. Wright has been good at the club level this season as well. She is a smart player to plays on the offside line. She is good at timing her run and making the most of every chance she gets. She has been an efficient finisher around goal. There isn't much flash to her game, but a quiet diligent approach to scoring. Defensively, Wright can be a bit passive and I think she needs to improve on cutting off passing options in the press. But she is a top recruit because of her quality in the attack. And she brings more than enough of that consistently to show that she should be considered among the best forwards in the country in this class.     Greenvance is one of the easiest players to project for the next level. She is a stellar outside back on the Slammers FC HB Koge 08 ECNL team. She is a shutdown type of player. She is good in the duel especially at jumping in front of the pass to be first to the ball. She is a no nonsense defender and tends to get the ball off her foot quickly. She plays right back for Slammers, and she has shown this season to be one of the best outside backs in the ECNL. She also offers a long throw-in as an added bonus. Greenvance is a consistent performer who should be highly regarded in Southern California's 2026 class.     Nunez is one of the most gifted left footed attacking players in this class. She is a midfielder who stars for Rebels SC 08 ECNL. She has been outstanding this season. Nunez's recent highlights are something to behold, but her goal in April against Arizona Arsenal is worthy a lengthy breakdown. There are very few players at the youth level who could get that shot on target. With her full momentum carrying her backward and to her left, she rifled off a shot across her body to the opposition corner of the goal. It takes an incredible amount of balance and body control to keep your feet on that type of effort. Nunez was impressive in the recent game against San Diego Surf as well. She is a fierce competitor and enjoys the challenges of going against the best.     Ramos is an interesting prospect from this class. I think she can be overlooked at times because her teammates is on the US Youth National Team and goalkeepers are such a peculiar position with regards to who gets the playing time in the crucial games at the youth level. Ramos, to her credit, shows up (AND shows out) every single time her name is in the XI. She doesn't overwhelm with physical attributes, but the game film shows that she covers the whole goal with ease. She has good hand placement when catching the ball which gives her a secure base and eliminates unnecessary rebounds or second chances. Ramos is exceptional on the cross. She reads the flight of the ball and intercepts it at the right point. Surf's success this season has a lot to do with her improvement and consistency in goal, which makes her one of the best goalkeepers in the country.     Fry is one of the standouts on the Slammers FC HB Koge 08 ECNL team. She is a winger/forward who had a great high school season and hot start to the postseason run at the club level. The one critique I would levy on Fry's game is that her self-made highlights are not a great representation of her impact on the field. She is an extremely talented playmaker and finisher. She can line up on the wing or as a center forward. She has a good first touch and excellent control of the ball. She is a better passer than her peers who play a similar role. She is physical and keeps her balance under tackles really well. She is good finisher and efficient with her chances. Fry was an ECNL All-Conference Second Team selection last season, but she would've been a First Team selection in pretty much any other conference in the ECNL.     Castro is a late riser in this group. She is a player that is going to take some dedicated scouting to get a good grasp on her game. I don't think she has the same accolades as some of the other players from California on the national list have, but every time I watched the Rebels team play I couldn't deny the impact she had on the success of her team. She is a midfielder - probably could play as a winger too. Her best attribute is her close control and dribbling. She can turn a defender on her hip and face goal in a second. She is quick and uses that elusiveness to her advantage. She is right footed and shows excellent technique when striking the ball from the run of play. Castro has all of the tools and the soccer intelligence to be a standout at the next level.     If college coaches are looking for a ball-dominant left back from the 2026 class, Avila should be among the first players they reach out. She is ball-dominant in the sense she always wants to be involved in the play. She wants to get touches on the ball. And she should get them. There are few left backs at the Division I level who have the type of skill and flair that she brings to the game. Her highlights are a glimpse of it, but she brings that type of dazzle to every game. Defensively, she is a hardworking outside back who does not quit on the play. She is tough in the tackle and shows a ton of tenacity in getting stuck in. Avila clearly has a passion for the game and the mentality to be playing for a long time.     Ha is a defender on the Slammers HB Koge 08 ECNL team. She also plays for the Yorba Linda Varsity squad. Ha can play either side of the formation. I've mainly seen her play left back, but she is right footed. Ha impressed me with her consistency. From game to game, she rarely made a mistake and did her job well - in terms of contain the opposition and making the correct pass. She has really quick feet and she uses that her to advantage in tackles as she often comes away cleanly with the ball and dribbles away from pressure to quickly start the transition. She offers a high-level of skill for an outside back.     Gwin is one of the players who made the biggest jump up the rankings in this update. For those who have been following our coverage, this is probably no surprise. The So Cal Blues standout impressed in the fall, and then put together a stellar high school campaign which earned her player of the year honors. Gwin is going to be a top target for all of the big name programs in the country. Prolific scorers with her intangibles are rare, and highly valuable.

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