Who are the top players for FC Cincinnati U-15s?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Interested in reading PrepSoccer's MLS academy prospects breakdown? For a limited time, use code Club30 for 30% off your first payment. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">FC Cincinnati has some work to do to inject talent into their academy system, but with Fouad Kawtari now leading the way and a rebuilt scouting department I believe that FCC will be a force in the next few years. Their U-15 team has some intriguing top-end talent, but lacks depth. They are one of the weaker MLS teams at this age level. They have one center-back that was recently promoted to the U-17s and another player I am very bullish on. They have also recently signed center-back that will make an immediate impact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">My grading system</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I use a numerical scoring framework to grade players. I look at what I consider to be the most important traits and skills for each position and apply a numerical value to each of those categories. I take into account the age of the player when grading for each category. The categories include physical traits, technical ability, intellectual understanding of the game and their mentality in how they approach the game. I average those individual scores in order to generate a holistic grade of the player. The score helps me identify what tier of prospect a player is.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tier 1:</strong> A high impact player with all the tools to be a first choice youth national team selection and an obvious homegrown contract candidate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tier 2:</strong> A very good youth prospect that should likely get youth national team consideration and a potential homegrown contract candidate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tier 3:</strong> A solid youth prospect that should get a look in MLS Next Pro or is likely getting recruited to play high level college soccer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">CM, Nico Burns (2008)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What makes him special:</strong> I am a big fan of Burns' game. He is an all action, ball-winning, box-to-box midfielder that has a ton of tools in his kit of parts. Burns has a strong and compact frame with great burst and speed. He has a soft and smart first touch and controls the ball well at top speed. His passing ability might be his best asset with an ability to make finesse and driven passes at a high degree of difficulty. Defensively he reads the game well and is highly disruptive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How he can take it to the next level:</strong> Burns does not benefit from having a weaker team around him. The team is often chasing the game and the ball and that leads to stretches of inactivity for Burns. For a player of his quality, I would like to see him get on the ball more and dictate more of the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Level:</strong> Tier 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burns has not been invited to a youth national team camp but I think he is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the 2008 class and should be given an opportunity. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">LCB, William Kuisel (2008)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What makes him special:</strong> Kuisel played the majority of the fall season with the U-15s and has recently been playing up with the U-17s — showing that FCC thinks very highly of him. Kuisel is a left-footed center-back with good mobility and a great feel and technique on the ball. He is very composed and confidently progresses the ball with his passing. He has good vision to find teammates in pockets of space. Defensively he is sharp, resolute and responsible. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How he can take it to the next level:</strong> Kuisel isn't the biggest guy right now, so hopefully he grows a bit so that his ceiling as a center-back stays high. If he doesn't, he will have to focus on adding strength, explosiveness and continue to be a step ahead so he can make up for a lack of length. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Level:</strong> Tier 3, Tier 2 Upside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kuisel, like Burns, has youth national team potential as a left-footed center-back, but has yet to be invited to a camp. The 2008 center-back group is a very tough group to crack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size">RCB, Conner Cockayne (2008)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What makes him special:</strong> Cockayne plays with a lot of poise on the ball and off the ball. Off the ball he is patient in duels and has very good timing with his tackles. On the ball he has good passing range with both feet and he can progress the ball by dribbling as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How he can take it to the next level:</strong> It's easy to mistake composure for a lack of fire and I hope I am not doing that with Cockayne, but I do want to see a little more bite and nastiness from him. I like a little edge to my center-backs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Level:</strong> Tier 3, Tier 2 Upside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cockayne just signed for FCC from Shattuck St. Mary's and will likely debut for the U-15s at the Generation Adidas Cup this weekend. Cockayne will provide a huge boost to a struggling FCC backline. If Kuisel plays with the U-15s, this would be one of the better center-back pairings at the U-15 level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->