California class of 2025 rankings risers

The boys class of 2025 rankings update was released today and there were a lot of players moving around, and a lot of players added to the list. Here is a short list of players who made quite a rise.    Burton is committed to Notre Dame and goes from unranked and into the top ten because of his ability to score goals and do so in big moments. He has been featured a couple of times recently on this site, but to leave him off of a rankings risers story would be a shame considering he's safely inside the top ten. He's a strong player who can be physical with defenders inside the box, he can time a run well and get on the end of a through ball, or he can play as a target man, hold up play and then make a run off of that. He plays many roles as a forward, but no matter the role he shows a clean, soft touch and the ability to finish.     The Cal commit jumps nearly 40 spots to climb to the top ten-ish range as he was featured in a story <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/09/california-2025s-staying-on-the-west-coast/">here </a>recently, almost foretelling his big rise. He is a cerebral player with an ability to dissect the game, to let it unfold and to take what is available to him. He shows great instincts and understanding. He has great ball skills, but does not seem to force anything. His ability to make decisions that are sound, to display good vision and to play a ball into the right areas and spaces make him a next level midfielder.     Adams goes from unranked to the top 20 as the Mustang SC player was an ECNL All-American and the Northern California ECNL player of the year. This is not a surprise to anyone who has watched him play before, but he has flown well under the radar for some time now. Adams has tremendous ball skills and for someone his size, that is scary. He is big and strong and physical as he has the athleticism and finesse to make runs to get past defenders or he can play the ball and use his size and strength to bully them and create the space to get a shot off. He is a center back's nightmare, a hard-worker and determined player.     A 50-place jump puts Hernandez, and Oregon State commit, into the top 20. Another player who was mentioned just over a month ago, in a story <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/09/california-2025s-staying-on-the-west-coast/">here</a>, but certainly worthy of another mention after a huge jump. He is one of the most dynamic midfielders in the class as he works hard, goes end-to-end and touch line to touch line, showing great ball-winning skills, the ability to disrupt, to transition quickly and distribute. He is tactical and technical and he is so clean that it is a very clinical approach. An almost surgeon-like ability on the pitch.     Joutz, a Princeton commit, moves from unranked all the way into the top 30 because of the way he works hard and dedicates himself to his craft. He has an undeniable work rate and a motor that does not stop. He has great speed and uses smart angles when tracking back. He is very good at dispossessing with his feet, making hard, well-timed challenges or locking up a player 1v1. He can play with the ball at his feet, feels comfortable making passes and can break lines. He plays with ease and grace, as well, as he is very fluid in his movements.     The heart and soul of the SF Elite SC 2006/2007 team moves from unranked to the top 60 and he is committed to Bucknell University. He is a very dynamic and fast wide forward who is a threat to score at all times. Coughlin is great with the ball, showing expert touch and ability to keep the ball. He's great in tight areas, not losing his cool when closed in on by defenders. He is creative when that happens, finding a way to play the ball out of trouble or break the defense himself. He's a deft finisher that has ability with either foot, and he's also a very creative passer with good vision and understanding of space.     Bennett goes from unranked to top 15 as the Stanford commit is a big, strong and physical midfielder. He is imposing and commanding in the midfield. He works hard to be a disruptive force and to break up attacks before they get off the ground. He plays fiercely and aggressively. He likes to ping balls at angles as he sees the way space is opening up as he can turn a defender and then play an accurate ball with velocity to help his team go the other way.     Keeping again with the theme of players featured in a September <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/09/california-2025s-staying-on-the-west-coast/">story</a> I wrote, I must have been on to something because this Portland State commit jumped well over 45 spots. Samayoa is an LAFC and St. John Bosco player with skills out wide. He is a very talented player with tremendous ability on the ball. He has the ability to beat you soundly, technically or he can flash flair and get past defenders with a clever, cheeky move. He's hard to get off the ball as he is strong and physical. He has good burst, good quickness and agility and he shows the knack for making plays and creating goals.

The boys class of 2025 rankings update was released today and there were a lot of players moving around, and a lot of players added to the list. Here is a short list of players who made quite a rise.