North Piedmont NC Conference Best Performers: Part 1

This is the first article covering this season's conference play specifically. The articles will be separated into four regions across the state, with this one focusing on what I'll call the North Piedmont region. Included in this region, we'll find players from big cities such as Raleigh, Durham, and Greensboro, among other large and important towns. Each article will highlight 4 players, trying to avoid repeating players as much as possible between articles covering conference play. The following players are the first four to be highlighted for this season.    Grant is one of the most promising forwards of his class, with his potential looking brighter in each passing season. A wonderfully technical player, he knows how to treat the ball in difficult situations. He knows how to move and where to do so to give both his team and himself clarity. His passing is also great, finding players in great positions all the time. He drops deep to receive the ball and make plays happen just as much as he plays the ball out wide when he receives it higher up. His reactions are another virtue, often anticipating his opponents in both offensive and defensive actions. Off the ball, he drags defenders with his runs and positioning, opening up more space for his teammates. Inside the box, his finishing is fantastic, bagging plenty of goals without too much trouble.     Saliou plays as a forward for his school, with his stats proving how effective he can be. However, his attributes are better suited for a "10" role. A remarkable player with the ball at his feet, he loves to keep it close. Regardless of the amount of pressure he's under, he always looks to stay as close to the ball as he can. This, combined with his unique dribbling, makes him a nightmare to defend against. His agility to get out of tight spaces is superb, knocking the ball effortlessly past his markers. When he needs to make use of it, his pace makes him uncatchable. His acceleration allows him to beat his markers while his sprinting keeps them away. During more passive passages of play, he demonstrates unreal vision. The intelligence with which he passes the ball is exciting to watch.     Jean is a full-back who plays higher up the pitch for his school. The left-footed player shines in every aspect of the game. Offensively, he shows remarkable agility and flair. His dribbling allows him to clear paths for both him and his team to generate plays from. He plays with the confidence a player of his caliber should have, too, taking players on with no fear. His chance creation is unlike many of his peers. Whether he's out wide or in the middle, he's finding crucial passes all the time. Defensively, he's a phenomenal physical presence. He constantly goes into duels, coming out on top most of the time. His stamina allows him not only to play on either side but also to travel up and down the pitch without any hassle.     Jason is an attacking midfielder who is both exciting to watch and very effective. He operates in open spaces behind the attack, making him extremely difficult to track down. Wherever there is a pocket where he can pick up or receive the ball, he'll be there. On the ball, he makes the game look easy. His ball progression is effortless and devastating. He exploits the spaces he's in as much as he can to then play in a fantastic ball. Though this is his main attribute and would be predictable in other players, he manages to do it all match long. The amount of chances he creates per match is evident in the number of assists he has. If he isn't directly involved with goals, including scoring them himself, then he's the one creating the play.

This is the first article covering this season's conference play specifically. The articles will be separated into four regions across the state, with this one focusing on what I'll call the North Piedmont region. Included in this region, we'll find players from big cities such as Raleigh, Durham, and Greensboro, among other large and important towns. Each article will highlight 4 players, trying to avoid repeating players as much as possible between articles covering conference play. The following players are the first four to be highlighted for this season.