Spotlight on Illinois' 2008 MLS Next Stars

<p>The MLS Next Playoffs are quickly approaching and the 08 age group figures to be one of the most competitive. Two of the top teams in the country come from Illinois in this age group. Below is a scouting report on some of the standout players from this teams. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Left center back for the Sockers 08 MLS Next Team. Both parents are former college players and current coaches. He has been terrific for Sockers this season. Dominant in aerial duels, shape in the tackle, does well reading the game, Walz brings a high level to the position, which makes him a top recruit from the 2027 group. He is calm on the ball and can play out of pressure. The ball does stick on his feet though. He could improve on eliminate a touch in every one of his actions, as the speed of the game is only going to amplify as he climbs the level of the sport. I love the way Walz defends. He is tenacious and active. He uses his body as well as his hands to control the forward. He is refined in that aspect. I thought he had some moments this season when he drifted off the ball and followed the runner for a second or two too long. That is a communication aspect of his game that could improve as he trusts his teammates to pick up his mark in this situations. There are few center backs in the 2027 class who are playing regularly on the top 2008 MLS Next teams, which already puts Walz in rare company and his game film backs up the claims.  </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Ianev is a midfielder on the Sockers 08 MLS Next Team. He is right footed midfielder - box-to-box or defensive. Smooth on the ball, great first touch, always plays with his head up, Ianev is a big asset in possession for his side. He rarely loses possession of the ball and does well in keeping it moving from side to side for his team. Ianev's skill on the ball and the way he sees the game is advanced for the youth level. He could improve defensively. He is good in the transition, but could add more activity and aggressiveness during other parts of the game. Ianev hits a wonderful free kick that makes every foul in the attacking third a goal scoring chance. I think he has the foundation of a player who could shine against pros, but he needs to find a way to be more impactful in all facets of the game to make that jump. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Hauser is a winger on the Sockers 08 MLS Next Team. He is left footed with good skill and pace. He can play on either side of the formation, but his left foot dominance makes him a tough mark on the left wing. He is strong on the ball and shows good balance in duels. Hauser's sneaky weapon of a long throw-in is something that Sockers utilize as he can launch the ball with ease and is quick to identify when the opportunity is on. He is a purposeful crosser as he often picks up his head before he gets off the cross as he is trying to find an intended target with his service. There is a lot to like about Hauser's game and the consistency he has brought this season has been one of the best parts. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Latek is one of the safest bets for scouts looking for an early recruit from the 2026 class. He has such a high floor as a prospect. He is an elite outside back, left back. He is very consistent from game-to-game. Standing at six-feet tall, he offers a physical presence for the position that provides the tools to compete in every matchup. He possesses elite recovery speed. He is self-described as right footed, but he is so good on his left that you might question which one is his dominant foot. Latek offers a two-way game that shows all the traits to suggest he will contribute early on at a top program at the college level. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Creel is a center back on the FC United 08 MLS Next team. I've seen him play as a left and a right center back. He is a 2027 graduate and ranked as one of the top players in that class in the state of Illinois. Creel has been a standout in recent games for FC United. A strong defender with a good read on the game, he is often in the spotlight as the last line of defense. He plays with a lot of poise and composure in his game. He is excellent at using his body to knock the attacker off balance so he can win possession of the ball. He is also a target on set pieces for his side. Creel has unlimited potential and should be on the radar for scouts as a top prospect in the 08 age group. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Popov has been one of the most prolific scorers in MLS Next this season. The center forward for FC United has been on the scoresheet in almost every game I've seen this season. He is strong on the ball and extremely difficult to move for defenders. His link-up/hold-up play has been one of the best parts of his development. He allows his teammates the time to make the runs off the ball to open up the field. Popov's play defensively has also been a big positive this season. He has created his own chances with his pressure. The efficiency in the final third is the point that scouts will note, and he has been lethal when given those chances. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Yedlin is a goalkeeper on the FC United MLS Next 08 team. He is a major reason for the team's success this season. An excellent shot-stopper, Yedlin has provided countless game-deciding actions for his team. His quickness off the line and ability to shut down chances in 1v1 situations really stands out from game film. He is confident in his distribution and regularly plays pretty far off the line. FC United, as a club, has one of the best goalkeeper coaching staffs in the country and Yedlin is another example of of the excellent technical foundation that players who are developed at that club possess. </p>    <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=eWbe0em5wFU </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Bochenski is a midfielder on the FC United 08 MLS Next team. He is one of the captains of the club team. I believe he was part of the MLS Next Best Of game earlier this season. It was a deserved honor for the 2026 grad as he has been one of the best players in the region this season. When Bochenski is on the field, FC United is a much better team. His play as a defensive midfielder elevates everyone else around him. In possession, he is quick to make decisions and gets the ball moving to his teammates with accurate passes. Defensively, he has a nonstop engine and covers a ton of ground. He allows the press to be aggressive as he covers the holes and puts in the tireless work. He can play a variety of positions thanks to his high-level tactical acumen. Bochenski should be a top target in the 2026 class as he's been dominant this season for one of the best teams in the country in the 08 age group. </p>    <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=3ZBqAisdRMk </div></figure>

The MLS Next Playoffs are quickly approaching and the 08 age group figures to be one of the most competitive. Two of the top teams in the country come from Illinois in this age group. Below is a scouting report on some of the standout players from this teams.