ECNL RL Florida: North Carolina's Best U17 Players

In the <a href="https://theecnl.com/sports/2024/7/7/B%20RL%20Florida.aspx">Boys Regional League</a> played earlier this year, North Carolina was represented by nine U17 teams. Though the high school season gave us lots of talent, a lot still went under the radar. The list of teams that represented North Carolina is as follows: -<a href="https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/3253/individual-team/1010/47523/9">Charlotte Independence</a> -<a href="https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/3253/individual-team/1010/47529/9">CI South</a> -<a href="https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/3245/individual-team/26/47541/9">Charlotte SA Blue</a> -<a href="https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/3245/individual-team/26/47551/9">CSA White</a> -<a href="https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/2557/individual-team/4012/69690/9">Highland FC</a> -<a href="https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/2557/individual-team/71/47557/9">NC Fusion</a> -<a href="https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/3253/individual-team/22/47575/9">NCFC Youth Elite</a> -<a href="https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/3253/individual-team/22/47581/9">NCFC Youth Premier</a> -<a href="https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/3245/individual-team/2181/47593/9">Wilmington Hammerhead</a> With so much talent on display, withering it down to only a few feels unfair. The season is long and more talent will be covered. However, these were the highlights for the state in the Florida Regional League.    Jon is an interesting talent in attack who excels where most players struggle. Not exactly a winger, nor a striker, he takes up the half spaces wonderfully. Though he can perform out wide comfortably, his performance in between the center and the wing makes him very effective. His passes cause constant danger in the box, always finding legs to finish a play. The crosses he plays in are great, but his low-driven passes into the box are deadly. These types of passes are difficult to master, and at such a young age he's already got the knack for it. Off the ball, he's very active in pressing high. This press allows for his team to win the ball back in the final third, leading to him creating more danger.     Henry is one of the greatest talents at this level in the state. Unlike Jon before, Henry loves to play out wide. Though he cuts in often, he doesn't do so if he isn't fully open. The way he creates space is the show, constantly beating players with his marvelous dribbles. Players who play like he does at his age are typically selfish, but he's the opposite. He always looks to play a pass to a teammate after dribbling players for fun, even if he has the chance to finish the play himself. Agile and active makes his skillful play style a huge asset in the final third. His potential is sky-high, and with the right guidance, he'll be a special player.     Nicholas is a great goalkeeper who exudes confidence. The way he moves is impressive for a keeper with both his size and his age. He uses his height to cover as much of the goal as possible, whether it be on 1-on-1s or in diving saves. His reactions are also impressive, moving quickly to stop the ball from producing any danger. The way he commands his box is another important quality. Both vocally and with his playstyle, he makes the box his. He directs his defenders on how to position themselves, making his job easier. When the ball floats uncomfortably and dangerously close in the box, he comes out to cut it out.     Joaquin is a winger by trade but looks very comfortable playing as a left-back. On the ball, he plays wonderfully. He has no problem driving the ball forward, whether it be down the wing or cutting in. The agility he demonstrates when dribbling helps create space for the rest of his team. Unlike other full-backs, he doesn't overlap but rather stays back. This position helps him play more accurate passes. He constantly looks to play the ball, not just into the final third, but into the box. His crosses are wonderfully accurate. Regardless of how tough a pass may seem, he always takes the risk to pull it off.     James is a clear diamond in the rough waiting to be polished to show how bright he can shine. He can play as either an attacking midfielder or a right-winger. One of the toughest things about him is figuring out where he's most comfortable since he exhilarates in both positions. His low center of gravity allows him to turn and beat players with extreme ease. Agile, quick, and intelligent, he not only makes the game seem easy for him but for his teammates too. His linkup play is wonderful and it allows for him to create spaces to exploit before the opposing defense can react. I feel like his current ability is just the floor of what he can be.     Dame is yet another right-winger and yet another exciting prospect. He loves to cut in from wide to finish plays in the middle. Though this makes many wingers predictable, his skill and dribbling ability make him a headache to defend. The way he plays is both intelligent and amusing, putting on a show whenever he receives the ball. He's also very selfless, looking to play a ball into the box over finishing the play himself. The passes he plays into the box are yet another show, being played so precisely and delicately.    North Carolina also was represented by these nine teams in the U18/19 tournament, of which there'll be an article on soon.

In the Boys Regional League played earlier this year, North Carolina was represented by nine U17 teams. Though the high school season gave us lots of talent, a lot still went under the radar. The list of teams that represented North Carolina is as follows:
-Charlotte Independence
-CI South
-Charlotte SA Blue
-CSA White
-Highland FC
-NC Fusion
-NCFC Youth Elite
-NCFC Youth Premier
-Wilmington Hammerhead
With so much talent on display, withering it down to only a few feels unfair. The season is long and more talent will be covered. However, these were the highlights for the state in the Florida Regional League.