US Soccer identifies top talent in DMV 

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>US Soccer scouting network has been hosting Talent ID Center events in key markets thorough the past few months. The goal of these events is identifying players on the pathway to the US Soccer Youth National Team call-up. The current age group in the spotlight is the 2010 group.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Earlier this month, US Soccer held an event in the DC, Maryland, Virginia region to bring the top talent from the region together for a one-day training session. Check out the roster below and a scouting report on a handful of the participants.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["219729"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670d40f03d92d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><br>Akinmboni is the younger brother of Matai Akinmboni, a member of the DC United first team and US Youth National Teams. [player_tooltip player_id='219729' first='Mikel' last='Akinmboni'] has more versatility to his game and played quite a few positions last year for the DC United youth teams. He seems to be playing center back at the start of the club season for the DC United U15 team, which would be the same spot as his older brother. Mikel certainly has the upside and pedigree to be on the professional pathway, and the talent to show that he is a top player in the region. He is right footed, an excellent passer. He is very good on the ball and does well in anticipating entry passes. Akinmboni is definitely one to watch from this group as a player with high upside and making an impact already.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho0V1ancQFQ","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=Ho0V1ancQFQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jackson Booth","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"VDA 2010 ECNL","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670d40f03d9e7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Booth is one of two players from the VDA 2010 ECNL team to make this roster. He is listed as a midfielder on his player profile. I've seen him play right back. There's something about his game that reminds me of Earthquakes homegrown defender Oscar Verhoeven. He isn't quite as flashy as Oscar, who is one of the best outside backs developed in the US in some time. But they both have this way of reading the game and getting into the right spots to make impactful plays. Booth's impact is subtle at times. He doesn't do a ton of flashy plays or try to do too much, but that level of consistency is valuable. I believe he can raise his level around top competition too, which could make this environment perfect for showcasing his potential. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Wassim Benremouga","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Richmond United 2010 ECNL","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670d6e9780a8c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Benremouga is one of two players from the Richmond United ECNL squad to make this roster. He is an attacking talent - attacking midfielder or winger. He is a quick, skillful player who is good on the ball. He is best when he has a free role and can move uninhibited against the defense to make his own decisions on how to help his team. He can play out of tight spaces with his technical ability. He wasn't the most imposing player from the ECNL level, but he did a number of things really well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["219742"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670d6e9780ae8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cabezas is a standout from Achilles FC. Brilliant on the ball and difficult to contrain, Cabezas has played up an age group at times at the MLS Next level. The quick feet and flashy play offer a ton of highlights from his games. He is one of the most creative players on the ball. He's also an excellent finisher from dead ball set pieces. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Owen Tragert","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Cape Henry Collegiate School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Beach FC (VA) 2010 ECNL","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670d6e9780b7e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tragert is listed as a midfielder/defender on his player profile. I believe he has found a home at left back for his high school varsity team. He is left footed with a good physical profile. He is five-foot-eight. He has good pace and endurance to dominate on the wing. Tragert has shown the strength to battle against older competition. Tragert has the traits every college scout values in an outside back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kwabena Minta","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Springfield/South County Youth Club","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670d6e9780c09"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Minta is one of those players that immediately jumps off the screen from game film. An imposing player, he seems to take on the challenge of matching up against the top attacking talent from the opposition. He is competitive and fearless. Minta is an excellent 1v1 defender - he can rely on his athletic ability at times too much. Perhaps a bit too willing to go to ground for the slide tackle. He continues to improve though and his game will soon be among the best in the region. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>US Soccer Talent ID Center Roster</strong> - Leesburg, Virginia (Oct. 9)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='219729' first='Mikel' last='Akinmboni'] (DC United), Nathan Astudillo-Arranz (Bethesda SC), Oscar Avillez (DC United), [player_tooltip player_id='219731' first='James' last='Baldwin'] (VDA), [player_tooltip player_id='222269' first='Noah' last='Banks'] (DC United), [player_tooltip player_id='219743' first='Owen' last='Bardales'] (DC United), Amarbayar Bayasgalan (Arlington Soccer Association), Wassim Benremouga (Richmond United), Jackson Booth (VDA), [player_tooltip player_id='219742' first='Mateo' last='Cabezas'] (Achilles FC), [player_tooltip player_id='219730' first='Kamil' last='Castillo Reynoso'] (DC United), [player_tooltip player_id='219744' first='Greyson' last='Codjoe'] (Richmond United SC), Bryon Davis (DC United), Alvaro Escobero (Springfield/South County Youth Club), Isaiah Fabunmi* (DC United), [player_tooltip player_id='219736' first='Kevin' last='Ferrufino'] (DC United), Will Gross (Bethesda SC), Alan Gutierrez (Beach FC), Evan Hinton (Beach FC), Joseph Hylands (Bethesda SC), Will Ikhanoff (DC United), Channing Jamison (Alexandria SA), Eli Johnson (Skyline Elite Soccer Club), Josue Juarez (Alexandria SA), Changham Lee (DC United), Elijah Lee (Alexandria SA), Kwabena Minta (Springfield/South County Youth Club), [player_tooltip player_id='219752' first='Sean' last='O'Reilly'] (Beach FC), Carlos [player_tooltip player_id='219745' first='Mateo' last='Pinto'] (DC United), Luke Ricker (Maryland United), Oskar Skrzydel (NVA), Owen Tragert (Beach FC)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*=2011</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->