Next Wave in SoCal: Scouting the Elite Talent of the 2028 Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school sophomore group in Southern California is a talented one with plenty of players on the professional pathway. The depth of the class is also a strong point. There are All-Americans, standouts at the club level, and players who have been recruited from all over the country to compete in Southern California. Check out a scouting report on some of the emerging talents in Southern California's 2028 class below. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["270249"],"_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-69dd2a11083dd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wilkins has firmly established himself as one of the top talents in California. The [program_tooltip program_id='283425' first='[program_tooltip program_id='283424' first='Pateadores' last='']' last=''] forward was a First Team All-Conference selection in the ECNL Southwest last season. He's continued to be a prolific scorer at the cub level for his side during this campaign. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilkins added to his list of achievements this high school season with a spot on the All-CIF Open Division team. He was just as good for JSerra as he has been on the ECNL fields. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is a six-foot tall forward with a nose for the goal. He's right footed, but finishes easily with either foot. Wilkins shows great instincts around the goal and his positioning and use of his body set him apart from the other forwards in this class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14750879/6914bd2d757dcf649929eb4c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69dd2a110879e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["283555"],"_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-69dd2a1108824"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Enriquez is a six-foot-two goalkeeper who recently led Mater Dei to the CIF State Championship. He was the Trinity League Defensive MVP. He was also named to the All-CIF Open Division team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He plays for the [program_tooltip program_id='283425' first='[program_tooltip program_id='283424' first='Pateadores' last='']' last=''] U19 team, which is playing nearly three age groups up for the goalkeeper. He has strong hands, quick reactions, and excellent feel for being the right position to make the stop. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Enriquez is a dedicated player and trains relentless to improve on his craft. He's got the physical frame and mentality to be a goalkeeper at the highest levels of the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdbFy7nF2KU","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdbFy7nF2KU </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["340069"],"_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-69dd2a11088a1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The ECNL All-American continues to impress during the 2025/2026 season. Ceballos wears the captain's armband for his club team. He lines up either as the left center back or the right center back. He's got a bright future in either role. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's a dominant presence on the film. A quick scan of any game film from [program_tooltip program_id='283395' first='Legends' last='FC'] will quickly reveal his impact on the game. He's the one who makes the tackle and then gets up barking. He's the one pinging the pass 40 yards with accuracy consistently. He's the one shutting down the center forward on the opposition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ceballos has all of the physical tools to be a top level center back. He's continued to show the consistency from game-to-game to suggest that reaching that level will be in his future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["351416"],"_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-69dd2a110892e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Crosetto is a center forward who joined the Galaxy Academy this season. He previously played in MLS Next for Louisiana TDP. He has quickly emerged as one of the top talents in Southern California in MLS Next. He's got an imposing physical frame and has shown the tools to use it against elite competition - see most recently at the Generation adidas event. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crosetto has a good first touch and can play with his back to the goal. He is a powerful runner and shows impressive strength in the duel. He's earned the starting role with Galaxy and looks to be highly rated within the club. </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":"Kane Santiago","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_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_program":"LA Bulls","_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-69dd2a1108a76"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Santiago is a recent addition to LA Bulls, but the defender has settled in well with his new club this season. He's been a standout at center back and has shown the quality on the ball to suggest a future in a few spots across the backline. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His footwork on the ball in recent games has been impressive. He looks like he could play as a right back. He might have the brightest future as right center back in a back three. Santiago can handle pressure on the ball and makes good decisions with his passing. Santiago is a strong defender who shows great recovery speed and good strength in the duel. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->