Rankings Preview: Top Contenders for California’s 2030 No. 1 Spot

The Prep Soccer 2030 Watch List for California will be released this week. The Watch List is our start to ranking the class. The early Watch List reveals which players are on the radar of Prep Soccer scouts as we head into the club soccer national events for the 2025/2026 season.    As part of the process of assembling the Watch List, there were obvious candidates who stood out as possible top player in this class - players with Youth National Team appearances, players who have won Sportskid of the Year, and players who have dominated in the ECNL and Girls Academy. The California class is stacked in the 2030 group. Check out a scouting report on 11 players who looked worthy of being the top ranked player.     The center back from So Cal Blues 2011 ECNL team is a member of the US U15 Girls National Team. She was one of the best players during the ECNL Playoffs and Finals week last season - regardless of age group. She plays left center back for her club team. Her best attributes are her athleticism, speed, and competitiveness. Crockett is a dominant player in the defense. She can shutdown the top attacking talent in the country and has been a star playing against 2029s.     Cintron is another member of the So Cal Blues 2011 ECNL team. She is one of the most impactful two-way players in this class. She can play as a wide midfielder, center midfielder, winger, or outside back. The versatility is endless for Blues star. She is also part of the U.S. U15 Girls National Team. Cintron is a smart player who reads the game well. She has an excellent first touch and good skill. She can play in tight combinations and also has the quality ball striking to switch the point of attack immediately. Given her ability to two-way play, skill, and versatility, it's easy to see why Cintron is considered among the best of the best in the country.     Vanstone is the goalkeeper on the San Diego Surf 2011 ECNL team. She is also part of the US Youth National Team. She was called in the U14 Girls National Team ID Camp last year. Vanstone has a lot of strengths to her game, but the first that should be mentioned is her distribution and decision-making. She is a key player for Surf because she is the start of the attack. She gets the ball out of her hands quickly when the opportunity is available to start the counter. She is also excellent on breakaways. Given the possession-dominant style of Surf, there aren't many times she is called into action during a regular game, but she is capable of making the save when needed. Vanstone has been excellent for her club side over the past year and some.     Taylor is a midfielder on the San Diego Surf 2011 ECNL team. She is part of the US U15 Girls National Team. She is a five-foot-seven right-footed box-to-box or attacking midfielder. She is prolific in the attacking third. Taylor has scored in a variety of ways through the first couple of months of the season. Her movement off the ball has been key for her success and opportunities. She excels at scanning the field and finding areas to move to before the ball gets there so she is in the right spot to finish chances or provide key passes. Taylor is a player with unlimited potential - she's skillful, smart, and driven. It's easy to envision her as the top player in the country in this class.     McGrath is a forward on the San Diego Surf 2012 ECNL team. She's one of the most prolific scorers in ECNL. She always finds a way to score. She has pace, skill, and strength. McGrath was one of the top performers for her team during the ECNL playoffs last season. She has been just as good to start this season. She can play on the wing or through the center. She's decisive with her actions and gets in on goal with conviction. She's an efficient finisher. McGrath was the star player on a National Championship team last season and continues to prove she's among the best forwards in this class.     Dominguez is a midfielder/forward on the San Diego Surf 2012 ECNL team. She also plays for [program_tooltip program_id='283757' first='Total' last='Futbol Academy'] in MLS Next. She's one of a few players in this class who also plays for a boys team. Dominguez is a silky smooth dribbler who is elusive with the ball. There are glimpses of her game that look eerily similar to San Diego Wave forward Melanie Barcenas. The way she drags the ball on the dribble to skip past defenders combined with the manipulation of the defense with stop-start moves has the same trademarks as Barcenas as a youth player. Dominguez has been brilliant to start the season and she is a joy to watch with her skill and clever play.     Fifi Garcia is a forward/midfielder on the So Cal Blues 2012 team. She has the highest ceiling of any player in this class. She has elite traits as an attacking talent. Her speed of play is remarkable for a 2012. She can take over games in the flash of an eye. She's had brilliant spells in a number of positions, but it seems like he best moments of the past yea rcame when she lined up as a center forward. Garcia is a player who impressed at the ECNL and ODP level and should continue to be among the best in the country in her position.     Scarborough is a forward from [program_tooltip program_id='283312' first='Davis' last='Legacy'] 2011 ECNL team. She is also part of the US Soccer U15 Girls National Team. She is a multi-sport athlete too (basketball). Scarborough is an obvious candidate to be considered the top player in California's 2030 class. She is one of the best 2011's in the country, which puts her among the best 2029s. She has been part of Talent ID events with NWSL clubs. The game film backs up the hype. She's a complete prospect. Her effort in the press is what sets her apart from other forwards in this class. When she is close to the ball, she is giving full commitment to win the back and create chances. She is a good finisher with either foot, which makes her a nightmare for the defense. Even better is her recognition of when to step up a teammate and when to take the chance herself. Scarborough has shown the traits to be considered a complete package prospect as a forward and in the rare five-star territory.     Davis is a midfielder from Northern California. She's one of the most interesting prospects to come out of California in recent years. She's currently listed as unattached so she doesn't carry the banner of one of the elite clubs of the state. She got on the radar for national scouts with her dominant display with the [program_tooltip program_id='287623' first='Cal' last='North ODP'] team earlier this year. From the ODP events, her talent was obvious. Calm midfielder who has excellent ball control and an advanced tactical understanding of the game. Davis is clearly a player who has been around the game a lot. She might be a bit off the radar at this point, but she is going to be a player who leads the way with this class for a long time.     Hansen is a defender on the [program_tooltip program_id='283425' first='[program_tooltip program_id='283424' first='Pateadores' last='']' last=''] 2011 ECNL team. She is listed as a defender on the US U15 Girls National Team roster. She wears the captain's armband for her club team this season. She brings the energy immediately from the opening whistle and it's clear her playing style sets the tone for her club team - aggressive, competitive, and always looking to attack. The qualities that serve her well can lend to a great outside back. She has the ability to be an elite 1v1 defender. Hansen has top-level potential and hails from a soccer family.     Sonthalia is a midfielder on the Slammers Koge 2012 ECNL team. She played for San Diego Surf and [program_tooltip program_id='283634' first='City' last='SC San Diego'] MLS Next last season. She is continuing to play in MLS Next this season for [program_tooltip program_id='283295' first='City' last='SC']. She recently scored a goal in the team's win over [program_tooltip program_id='283737' first='Santa' last='Barbara Soccer Club']. She is up to four goals on the season in MLS Next, including multiple game-winners. Last season, she was the first girl to score in an MLS Next Cup game. She's going to set some more records this season. Sonthalia is one of the most skillful players in this class. She's a box-to-box or attacking midfielder. She has improved every facet of her game this season. She's playing at a faster pace, but she's also a faster player. She's flying past the opposition. She seemingly has an endless supply of energy as well. Sonthalia is one of the best in the country and a worthy candidate to be the top player in California's 2030 class.

The Prep Soccer 2030 Watch List for California will be released this week. The Watch List is our start to ranking the class. The early Watch List reveals which players are on the radar of Prep Soccer scouts as we head into the club soccer national events for the 2025/2026 season.