Best Players of the Top Ranked Teams: Garinger High School

<a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/charlotte/garinger-wildcats/soccer/">Garinger High School</a> kicks off this series of articles, finishing the season as the <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/soccer/rankings/1/">20th-best-ranked in the state</a>. They managed to make the top 20 after a great season that saw them make it to the third round of the <a href="https://www.nchsaa.org/bracket/2024-4a-mens-soccer-bracket/">4A playoffs</a>. Garinger plays very organized, with each player understanding their role in benefit for the team. You can see the effectiveness in their tactical awareness too. They end the season scoring 105 goals, conceding 30, and winning 20 out of 26 matches. Individual talent bolsters the threat, but it doesn't make the team reliant on it. However, the following five players are, in my opinion, the best individual talents on the team.    Jairo is an incredibly talented right-winger. His positioning is one of his main attributes, starting out wide to create spaces in the inside. He's eager to receive the ball out wide, being a constant outlet for his full-backs or midfielders. When he receives the ball, he works magic with it. He dribbles the ball and makes it incredibly difficult to get it off him, regardless of how many defenders go to him. Dribblers like him typically do it to get all the glory themselves, but not Jairo. His dribbles allow him to play important passes to whoever is running into the box. Those passes are also perfect, regardless if it's a short pass or a cross. He'll find players in the spaces he creates all the time.     Diego is a forward who makes his presence felt in the final third. Mostly playing as a striker, he proves to constantly be a threat in attack wherever he is. He's incredibly quick and strong, which makes him a complete headache for opposing defenders. The confidence with which he carries himself also causes extra headaches for both defenders and goalkeepers. Being through on goal doesn't phase him at all, constantly making great decisions in the box. His technique to shoot proves how confident he is, not being afraid to finish with skill. His penalties are also great, showcasing how calm he feels when he needs to score.     Zar is a talented attacking midfielder who helps his team out massively in attack. When his team is attacking, he offers himself as an extra option arriving from deep in comparison to his attackers. Whether it be finishing plays himself or playing the pass that helps finish the play, he is very effective in the final third. He's very dynamic, moving wherever he needs to to get the ball. Getting the ball doesn't just include getting into pockets to receive it, which he does very well. It also means that he presses high in order to force a turnover as close to the opposition box as possible.     Prince is a fantastic attacking talent who can play either as a striker or a winger. Either position seems natural to him, making him an unpredictable player when he's on the pitch. He's fast and tall, which gives him an advantage over defenders already. When he's in space, defenders struggle to catch up to him, if they can. On the ball, he's an extremely talented dribbler. He keeps the ball close to his feet, only playing it long when defenders get close to him. Often, he'll leave defenders behind him as he gets through on goal to shoot. His finishing is fantastic, not feeling the pressure of putting the ball in the net. Passing is another great virtue, knowing when to pass and weighing them perfectly.     Daniel is a great center-back who plays as if he's been on the team for years. His anticipation to win balls is impressive to watch. He steps up to regain possession as close to the middle of the pitch as he can. These anticipations sometimes are so clean that they aren't even duels. He reacts quicker than the attacker who is meant to receive the ball. When he regains the ball, he doesn't complicate himself, finding his nearest teammate to play a progressive pass to. If his team is pushed back, he still shines. He is not afraid to use his body to avoid shots going on target. He'll chase every ball as far as he can before straying too far.    Garinger belongs to the 4A level. If you're interested to learn more about this level, you can read about the final four's best players <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/12/4a-playoff-best-teams-best-players/">here</a>.

Garinger High School kicks off this series of articles, finishing the season as the 20th-best-ranked in the state. They managed to make the top 20 after a great season that saw them make it to the third round of the 4A playoffs. Garinger plays very organized, with each player understanding their role in benefit for the team. You can see the effectiveness in their tactical awareness too. They end the season scoring 105 goals, conceding 30, and winning 20 out of 26 matches. Individual talent bolsters the threat, but it doesn't make the team reliant on it. However, the following five players are, in my opinion, the best individual talents on the team.