Postseason 2029 Standouts Emerge Ahead of Rankings Launch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Soccer's state rankings for California are set to be updated in August — and with them comes the debut of the 2029 class. This will mark the first official ranking for the rising group, and already, players are making noise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout June and July, postseason events across the state showcased young talent under pressure, and several 2029 prospects stood out with big performances and key moments. These games served as a proving ground for who's ready to rise in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a scouting report highlighting a few of the players who impressed during the summer surge and earned a spot on the radar ahead of August's rankings release.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Emilio Steinberg","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_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":"Albion SC San Diego MLS Next","_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-68794149ddac9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Steinberg is a crafty attacking midfielder who can play in the center or out wide. He was excellent in the MLS Next postseason event. He showed good vision with his passing as he created chances in key moments of the game. He's an gifted dribbler and keeps close control of the ball in traffic. He plays with his head up. He can continue to improve on his impact defensively and find more meaningful moments to execute the press for his side. Steinberg has the tools to be a top attacking midfielder in this class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["280342"],"_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-68794149ddb6d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Real is one of the rapid riser names from the LAFC Academy. He is a box-to-box midfielder who earned a starting role with the LAFC U15 team during the MLS Next playoffs. There are a lot of strengths to his game. Perhaps overlooked is his work defensively. Real is an excellent defender as a midfielder. He will poke touches away, he will intercept passes, and he will track runners. He's got a commitment to the role that should make him a star in the 2029 class for a long time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["280136"],"_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-68794149ddbed"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Steele was one of the top goalkeepers at the event in the U15 age group. He has all the tools to be a future professional in that role. He's an excellent shot-stopper and has elite athleticism. He had a tip away on a cross that was a fully sprawled effort on a floated ball to the far post. Steele is a player who loves the game and looks for any opportunity to get better. He's continued to improve over the last season and should be a main name to know from the goalkeeper position in the future. </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":"Chino Zavaleta","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_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":"[program_tooltip program_id='283425' first='[program_tooltip program_id='283424' first='Pateadores' last='']' last=''] 2011 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-68794149ddcdb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Zavaleta was one of the key performers for [program_tooltip program_id='283425' first='[program_tooltip program_id='283424' first='Pateadores' last='']' last=''] in Seattle, especially in the Round of 16 game. He find little pockets of space against the backline and wrecked havoc against the strategy to slow down one of the best attacks in the ECNL. He made quick decisions on the ball and showed off excellent control of the ball. He was brilliant in the final third and scored a great header for the opening goal. Zion Greene, the winger, is another name to watch from this [program_tooltip program_id='283425' first='[program_tooltip program_id='283424' first='Pateadores' last='']' last=''] squad. </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":"Milo Ceda","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_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":"[program_tooltip program_id='283425' first='[program_tooltip program_id='283424' first='Pateadores' last='']' last=''] 2011 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-68794149dddce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The right center back and captain of the [program_tooltip program_id='283425' first='[program_tooltip program_id='283424' first='Pateadores' last='']' last=''] side was one of the best players in the Boys ECNL playoffs in Seattle. He looks ready for the next challenge. He has the physical tools to be playing up a couple of age groups. It's Ceda's soccer smarts that shine the brightest. He's in the right spots all the time and rarely has to rely on his towering height or pace to cover up any mistakes. He's very competitive and thrives in the duel. Ceda has been a breakout performer of the postseason. </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":"Eduardo Lopez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_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":"[program_tooltip program_id='283443' first='Rebels' last='SC'] 2011 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-68794149ddeb8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lopez is another center back who impressed from the Boys ECNL playoffs. He wore the captain's armband for his club team. He played as the left center back and was the vocal leader for his group. He's got skill on the ball and can break pressure off the dribble. He does a good job recognizing when the space opens up for him to progress the ball up the field. Lopez looks comfortabel on the ball and has the poise to play with his head up. He's physical in the challenge and doesn't shy away from conflict. He's got the tools to be a top defender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->