Scouts' Favorites: Standout Players in GA's 2027 Class

The Prep Soccer state ranking for the Georgia's 2027 class was released this week. Check out <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/georgia/rankings/girls/2027-rankings/">the rankings here</a>. Learn more about<a href="https://prepsoccer.com/how-we-rank/"> the rankings process here</a>.   The Georgia class has some top-tier talent on the US Youth National Team for this age group. The strength of the class is the depth across all positions. Below is a scouting report on six players scouts should love from this class.    Bendzsuk is an outside back on the United Futbol Academy 08 ECNL team. She plays left back for her club team. She can also play right back or center back. She's an excellent 1v1 defender. Strong on the ball, smart with her positioning, and possesses quick feet. Bendzsuk is a two-way player. She hits an excellent cross from the run of play and has contributed some assists this season. She's left footed and offers the quality to be a playmaker for her side from the outside back position, a rare trait in this class.     Thompson is a midfielder on the United Futbol Academy 09 ECNL team. She's a skillful dribbler, forceful playmaker, and dynamic attacking talent in the center of the field. Thompson offers elite qualities from the attacking midfield role. Her obsession with the ball and her flair on the ball is reminiscent of Claire Hutton. Thompson has been brilliant this season for her club team especially against the top competition.     Tucker is a forward on the [program_tooltip program_id='279764' first='Concorde' last='Fire Platinum'] 09 ECNL team. She can play on the wing or center forward. She's a quick, dynamic attacking talent. She's reliant on her pace and skill to create chances. She's a mesmerizing dribbler with great balance and control. Tucker's elite burst is good enough for the next level already. As she continues to develop and improve her finishing instincts, she might end up being one of the best recruits in this class.     Nickel is a center back on the United Futbol Academy 09 ECNL team. She plays right center back at the club level. Nickel is a tough-tackling defender - fully capable of executing a perfectly timed slide tackle. She's going into every duel with the mentality that she is going to stop the opposition and win possession for her team. She's a well-rounded player too. She's got a good touch on the ball and an excellent passer. Nickel has the tools to be a top defender in this class.     Jean-Baptiste has been one of the top players in our Georgia rankings since the debut of the list. She cracks the top three in this update and was in the conversation for the top spot. The [program_tooltip program_id='279764' first='Concorde' last='Fire Platinum'] center back has been outstanding this season. She's the most athletic center back in this class. She's a ball hunter who might have a future in the defensive midfield. There are some areas for improvement for the Concorde Fire standout. She can be too reliant on her athleticism and let her defensive technique suffer. She also can be too focused on the ball and lose track of her mark. There are some moments when Jean-Baptiste pulls an unbelievable tackle or shuts down a ball over the top with her pace or just leaps over a forward to win an aerial duel. Those highlight reel plays show she has the goods to take on the challenges at the next level.     McDonald is a left-footed outside back on the United Futbol Academy 09 ECNL team. She is an excellent defender - quick, determined, and focused. Her off-the-ball play impressed me from game film. McDonald does not take plays off and puts herself into the spots to make those last-second tackles or blocks. McDonald's tactical expertise has been key in a number of games for UFA this season.

The Prep Soccer state ranking for the Georgia's 2027 class was released this week. Check out the rankings here. Learn more about the rankings process here.