ECNL RL Las Vegas: U16 Charlotte SA’s Best Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/3183/individual-team/26/60100/9">Charlotte Soccer Academy</a> was the only representative for North Carolina at the U16 level. At this tournament, Charlotte SA didn't register a single win and only scored 2 goals in 3 matches. However, this does not mean that there weren't players who showed interesting signs. Of the 18 players that travelled to Las Vegas, the following were the most eye-catching in the Charlotte U16 team in my opinion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["278246"],"_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-67c25f8135b1e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">John is an exciting prospect who excels playing deep in midfield. His positioning is fantastic both in and out of possession, securing possession for his team in either. When his team has the ball, he either looks for spaces to receive the ball or carries it progressively. His progressive carries are fantastic to watch, leaving opposition players in his path as he guides his team forward. He also has the intelligence to know exactly when to release the ball, using the space he created to play passes. When his team is out of possession, he does all he can to regain it. If the player in possession is near him, he'll stick to them until he's got it. If the ball is not near him, he closes down passing lanes excellently. </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":"Grant Hagins","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Ardrey Kell High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Charlotte SA","_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-67c25f8135bca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Grant is both a very physical player, and the most determined player I've seen so far. Playing out wide, he is a duel winning machine from the midfield on forward. Players do not get past him with dribbles, making him a dead end for the opposition's attacks. When he dribbles, he does so quickly and directly, muscling past defenders in his path. He usually gets into the final third, leaving him in prime position to create chances. However, I believe he's better suited to play as a fullback. He's far more effective in the 1st and 2nd thirds than he is in the third. If he plays as a right-back, he can be a truly exciting prospect.</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":"Ahmed Shibeika","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_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":"Ardrey Kell High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Charlotte SA","_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-67c25f8135c50"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ahmed is a great attacking midfield talent who makes his team play. When the play asks for it, he drops deep to receive the ball regardless of how deep he has to go. When he receives it, he either carries it forward or plays a pass to relieve the opposition's press. He also has great vision, picking out precise moments to play passes before the passing lane disappears. When his team is in attack, he accompanies it perfectly, always positioning himself in a manner that helps the team finalize plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These were Charlotte SA's best U16 players in the Las Vegas RL. You can also find North Carolina's best U15 players in the same event <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/02/ecnl-rl-las-vegas-north-carolinas-best-u15-players/">here</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->