SoCal MLS NEXT — TFA Dominate Week 3

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past weekend, KS Sports Network hit the road to get an up-close look at four non-MLS academies: <strong>TFA, Albion LA, Albion San Diego and FCGS</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After watching all four programs in person, one stood out to us in terms of its overall player pool, individual talent and competitiveness: <strong>TFA</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were several quality players on display throughout the weekend, but three TFA prospects in particular caught our attention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Danny Diaz | TFA U17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Remember the name <strong>Danny Diaz</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Around the sidelines, TFA parents and spectators were already making comparisons to another Danny who recently came through the club: <strong>Danny Carmona</strong>, the former TFA standout who went on to join Real Salt Lake and became a 2025 MLS NEXT Cup champion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those are big shoes to fill, but Diaz showed us exactly why people around the program are excited about him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The young attacker simply has a knack for finding the goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Against Albion LA U17, Diaz delivered a <strong>brace</strong>, consistently putting himself in dangerous positions and showing the finishing ability that can separate an attacking prospect from the pack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is still plenty of development ahead, but Diaz is definitely a player we'll be keeping an eye on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dde1B4YBPpT/?stkn=cTZ6MHg2bXliYW1y","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dde1B4YBPpT/?stkn=cTZ6MHg2bXliYW1y </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Noah Guillén | TFA U19</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the biggest moments we saw all weekend belonged to <strong>Noah Guillén</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guillén produced an unbelievable goal to give TFA U19 a <strong>1-0 lead over Albion LA</strong>, but his profile goes well beyond one spectacular finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guillén attends <strong>Bishop Amat</strong>, one of Southern California's established high school soccer programs, where he was named <strong>All-CIF Player of the Year</strong>. He also carries an impressive <strong>4.2 GPA</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For college coaches, that combination immediately gets your attention: high-level soccer ability, proven high school production and outstanding academics.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From what we saw, Guillén has the type of profile that should make him an intriguing prospect for collegiate programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdenNiUhYxn/?stkn=MWFmOW9lcnZ3cGUxOQ==","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdenNiUhYxn/?stkn=MWFmOW9lcnZ3cGUxOQ== </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='223691' first='Angel' last='Ramos'] | TFA U17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another name college coaches should have on their radar is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='223691' first='Angel' last='Ramos']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The TFA U17 winger brings a different dimension.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ramos is a physical player who combines strength with very good game IQ. He understands how to use his body, recognizes space and has the technical ability to create dangerous situations from the flank.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What stood out to us was that the physicality wasn't simply about overpowering defenders. Ramos showed an understanding of <strong>when and how to use it</strong>, while still having the skill to create opportunities in attacking areas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is plenty of upside here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Check out the reel below to see some of the physicality, awareness and ability that caught our attention.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdsGsqPOdSP/?stkn=aG9za3JuZnQ5d3Zm","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdsGsqPOdSP/?stkn=aG9za3JuZnQ5d3Zm </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Our Weekend Takeaway</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall, it was a very good weekend of soccer and another reminder of how much talent exists outside the MLS academy system in Southern California.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For college coaches and recruiters evaluating this region, all four programs we visited had players worth watching.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Based specifically on <strong>what we observed this weekend</strong>, our order in terms of overall player pool and competitiveness was:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TFA → Albion San Diego → Albion LA → FCGS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>TFA separated itself during our visit. The combination of depth, competitiveness and individual prospects made it the most impressive of the four programs we watched.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And with players like <strong>Danny Diaz, Noah Guillén and [player_tooltip player_id='223691' first='Angel' last='Ramos']</strong>, there are several names college recruiters may want to start tracking now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->