Step Up, Gainesville Prep: G-2028s To Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the upcoming 2026-27 season, there are top girls prospects in the Gainesville metro area across club and school. With institutions such as Sporting Gainesville Soccer Academy and Inter Gainesville KNF Academy, and prep schools such as Oak Hall School and P.K. Yonge, there is a clear setup for local talent. Below are Rising Juniors and under to watch out for:</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":374570,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Vanesa Schwartz","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2030","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_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":"Oak Hall","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Sporting Gainesville","_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-6a0157ce04ff1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Quick to play directly to goal, whether on the turn, or dribbling in spaces found ahead. Can find space in different areas, take on defenders before finding a position to shoot from. Has a shot package of long range curlers, low driven, cross body, you name it. With 34 goals in 16 games, including a record breaking 8 hat tricks, the sky is the limit for this rising freshman. The 8th highest goalscorer in the state is only getting started.</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":374573,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Cayden Roth","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2030","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'3u0022","_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":"Oak Hall","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Sporting Gainesville","_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-6a0157ce050cd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A versatile defender who is also getting a lot of minutes for Oak Hall, there is a comfortability at hand playing with older opposition, shining in the moment. The confidence to get in the right position when necessary, whether that is covering for an individual duel, pressing on the other side as an outside back, or coming inside to anticipate future play, this talent is a great base to build from as high level wide forwards continue to get faced.</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":"Hailey Lathem","_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":"5'6u0022","_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":"Buchholz","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Sporting Gainesville","_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-6a0157ce0516c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Comfortable on the left side and at center back, the composure to do the job this Buchholz student athlete does is commendable. The idea of dictating the play, not waiting for things to happen to you, is communicated on film. Proactivity in clearing danger, finding space to receive, finding space to open up play ahead, closing down markers to prevent a run, covering on the behalf of a teammate to improve overall coverage, are examples of this selflessness at play.</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":"Hayden D'Alonzo","_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":"5'5u0022","_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":"Trenton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Trenton FC 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-6a0157ce05203"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Able to play centrally in the midfield or attack, there is an aggressive approach in the final phase that is the style of play brings. The ruthlessness in drawing out defenders to open up play is a positive trait that supports teammates around. Intuition is present when opening up the field through long balls, finding ways to get the team involved. With the responsibility in dictating play in the upper half, the physical fortitude to continue starting the attacks shows.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition, here are other Gainesville area names to look out for, making an impact at both club and school level. Throughout both seasons, we continue this <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2026/01/top-playoff-bound-ocala-area-hs-girls/" id="https://prepsoccer.com/2026/01/top-playoff-bound-ocala-area-hs-girls/">area based coverage</a>, so stay tuned. Here are some additional names:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Layla Greene - Newberry - Newberry Youth Sports</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Casey Taylor - Branford - Fort White Soccer Club</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Khloe Sanchez - P.K. Yonge - Inter Gainesville KF</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mackenzie Woodend - Gainesville - [program_tooltip program_id='283667' first='Jacksonville' last='FC']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madelyn Marino - Williston - Williston Youth Athletics</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->