Best of Boys’ Class of 2026: Eastern NC

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eastern North Carolina, though with an important presence, isn't mainly represented by [program_tooltip program_id='283526' first='Wilmington' last='Hammerheads'] for the class of 2026 for the boys. Thanks to a combination of a more diverse team in terms of graduation year for the Hammerheads, as well as a fruitful high school season, this region gives us a decent pool to choose from. However, because the population of the region is much less to the Piedmont region, the list is made up of 16 players instead of 23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Goalkeepers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>School</strong></td><td><strong>Club</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Londyn Lee</td><td>Freedom Christian Academy</td><td>Villarreal Force Academy</td></tr><tr><td><em>Dallas Story</em></td><td><em>Hoggard High School</em></td><td><em>[program_tooltip program_id='283526' first='Wilmington' last='Hammerheads']</em></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- 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":"Dallas Story","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hoggard High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283526' first='Wilmington' last='Hammerheads']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6952050e22230"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dallas is a solid goalkeeper who offers security in the back. His height allows him to physically come out on top when the ball is crossed in. This applies both to lobbed crosses and ground crosses. He also likes to make his body big in one-on-one situations, complicating the attacker's finish as much as he can. His ability to calm down play and allow his team to regroup in order to start an organized attack from deep is also good.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>School</strong></td><td><strong>Club</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Nash Gould</td><td>Hoggard High School</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>Josh Sinclair</td><td>Myrtle Beach High School (S. Carolina)</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='283526' first='Wilmington' last='Hammerheads']</td></tr><tr><td>Oliver Cook</td><td>New Hanover High School</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='283526' first='Wilmington' last='Hammerheads']</td></tr><tr><td>Carson Swain</td><td>Laney High School</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='283526' first='Wilmington' last='Hammerheads']</td></tr><tr><td><em>[player_tooltip player_id='14018' first='Curren' last='Gaskill']</em></td><td><em>Cape Fear Academy</em></td><td><em>[program_tooltip program_id='283526' first='Wilmington' last='Hammerheads']</em></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["14018"],"_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-6952050e222c4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Curren is a promising left-footed center back characterized by his strong and calculated tackles. Whenever he goes in to win the ball back, he refuses to go in recklessly. He sizes up the opposing player to then attack the ball with remarkable strength. In the air, he also looks to impose himself as much as possible. When faced with a cross, especially in crucial areas inside the box, he'll rise to get rid of the ball. His height puts him at an advantage over the opposing attackers, as well as his build when tackling. In build-up, he proves to be a great asset. Not only is he not uncomfortable on the ball, he also actively looks to receive the ball. His passing allows his team to circulate the ball from deep, or to pierce through the opposition from deep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Midfielders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>School</strong></td><td><strong>Club</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Noah Guzman</td><td>Jack Britt High School</td><td>Villarreal Force Academy</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='14353' first='Oscar' last='Garcia Buelto Jr.']</td><td>Ashley High School</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='283526' first='Wilmington' last='Hammerheads']</td></tr><tr><td>Jacob Salisbury</td><td>Fayetteville High School</td><td>Villarreal Force Academy</td></tr><tr><td>Isaac Warren</td><td>Homeschooled</td><td>Villarreal Force Academy</td></tr><tr><td><em>Henry Tidey</em></td><td><em>Laney High School</em></td><td><em>[program_tooltip program_id='283526' first='Wilmington' last='Hammerheads']</em></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- 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":"Henry Tidey","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_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":"Laney High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283526' first='Wilmington' last='Hammerheads']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6952050e2235e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Henry proves to be the most talented midfielder of the region in his class with good reason. Blessed with strength both physically and in his shots, he makes himself difficult to defend. He'll do anything to keep the ball in his possession because he knows he can cause danger with it. His shots, especially from far, are hit with spectacular force. The goals he scores from outside the box are always wonderful to see. When he needs to create chances for his team, he switches from the rocket-footed player to a maestro. His passes are quick and placed perfectly for his attackers to take advantage of.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Attackers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>School</strong></td><td><strong>Club</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Nicholas Acevedo</td><td>Pine Forest High School</td><td>Villarreal Force Academy</td></tr><tr><td>Blake Oxendine</td><td>Jack Britt High School</td><td>Villarreal Force Academy</td></tr><tr><td>Felix Funez</td><td>Wallace-Rose Hill High School</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td><em>Holden Spell</em></td><td><em>Clinton High School</em></td><td><em>Clinton United</em></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- 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":"Holden Spell","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_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":"Clinton High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Clinton United","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6952050e223f2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Holden is not just one of the best wingers of the region, but one of the best in the whole state. His unbelievable stats (155 G/A in 111 matches across 4 years) tell only part of the story. The left-footed player can be played on either wing and will shine regardless. He loves to take the ball to defenders, knowing that he'll come out on top before he even receives it. The confidence with which he plays is top-level. He loves to humiliate any defender who comes up to him with his dazzling agility. Either through skills or body feints, he leaves the defenders in his path before getting into prime positions. From here, any decision he takes is golden. His passes always find a player in great positions. They're also always played wonderfully. His finishing is superb, making goalkeepers look silly when he takes them on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->