California defenders stand out in class of 2027

Six defenders who just wrapped up their freshman year in high school were key contributors to their school this winter and are also important parts of their club. They are players who are quite a ways out from being officially recruited, but when that window opens, they will garner a lot of attention.   Tatum Colpitts, Marin FC   Colpitts is a Marin FC club player and plays high school at Marin Academy. She is a tall and athletic defender, one with great versatility in that she can play anywhere in the back four. She is good technically, and getting better, showing more ability on the ball to go with her all-around solid defensive work.   [player_tooltip player_id='111155' first='Remi' last='David'], Marin FC   David is a Redwood player for high school and plays club with Marin FC. She is a tall defender, one with great strength, confidence and physicality. She is excellent about winning the ball in the air, knows when to challenge a ball on the floor and covers a wide area. She transitions well and she is starting to distribute well, also.   [player_tooltip player_id='144757' first='Liberty' last='Drago'], Slammers FC   Drago came in to the Temecula Valley program as a freshman and started earning playing time right away, playing a spot where experience and leadership are key. But Drago is advanced beyond her years, from a soccer IQ, soccer maturity and physical standpoint. She already has good size, and acts as a very physical and commanding presence in the back. She is confident and does not get pushed around. She reads the game well, and shows the ability to create an attack and get involved on corners and free kicks. She recently moved clubs and is now at Slammers FC.   [player_tooltip player_id='20047' first='Payton' last='Gambs'], Mustang SC   Gambs is a versatile defender as she can feature in the midfield as well. She has a very dangerous leg as she takes free kicks and can deliver them with accuracy. She can also pick a pass and deliver it with perfect precision, or go route one and deliver a ball over the top to a teammate. A defender with the ability to possess, she's also very good at reading attackers and cutting them off before they can make their move. The San Ramon Valley defender plays her club with Mustang SC.   [player_tooltip player_id='147324' first='Ariel' last='Hester'], Mustang SC   Hester has developed well as a defender with Carondelet and with Mustang SC, and is a confident, strong and physical presence. She is not pushed around or bullied by older players and has matured immensely as a player in the last six months. Showing great improvement in 1v1 defending as well as winning balls on the floor and in the air, Hester shows the ability to contribute both ways, as she has good speed and technical skills that allow her to help build from the back.   [player_tooltip player_id='111098' first='Emerson' last='Salita'], MVLA   Salita plays high school at St. Francis-Mountain View and club for MVLA so she is getting some exposure to top flight soccer. She is a talent that is in the U15 national pool and you can see the talent when you notice how technically gifted she is. She makes incredible runs, both overlapping and underlapping. She is fast and powerful and is one of the best outside backs in the state for the class of 2027.

Six defenders who just wrapped up their freshman year in high school were key contributors to their school this winter and are also important parts of their club. They are players who are quite a ways out from being officially recruited, but when that window opens, they will garner a lot of attention.