Scouting California’s Best: U15 Breakout Stars of MLS Next Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The MLS Next regular season is winding down. The league is currently hosting an event in Maryland for a select number of clubs as they face competition from across the nation at the event. Check back on Prep Soccer for exclusive coverage from that event. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In our recap of the regular season, we take a look at some of the players who have been outperforming their peers during this campaign. Read a scouting report on the five most impactful players in California in the U15 age group this MLS Next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["278558"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6823c685051b7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nickeson is a midfielder on the Albion SC San Diego U15 MLS Next team. He is a right-footed do-everything type of midfielder. He is a dominant presence in the center of the field. He's almost an eraser for his team. He shuts down the opposition with his tackling and positioning. The best aspect of his game is his aggressive pressing in the right moments. He reads the game well and hounds the opposition into costly mistakes. Then he immediately punishes those mistakes with his expert passing and ability to dribble past defenders. Nickeson is a highly motivated player with unlimited potential. He looks to be on the professional pathway. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["274958"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6823c68505218"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Huerta is an attacking midfielder on the [program_tooltip program_id='283754' first='Strikers' last='FC'] U15 MLS Next team. He's been on a hot streak lately with a goal in the last five league games prior to MLS Next Flex. Huerta hasn't been flashy with all of his strikes, but he's put himself in the right spots to score. His game reminds me a lot of former [program_tooltip program_id='283425' first='[program_tooltip program_id='283424' first='Pateadores' last='']' last=''] star Frankie Amaya. There is this intensity in how they both play that is rare from attacking midfielders. Huerta's defensive instincts and his tactical intelligence are the two best parts of his game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["287308"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6823c68505262"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Galvan is a right-footed attacking midfielder on the [program_tooltip program_id='283732' first='Sacramento' last='Republic'] U15 MLS Next team. He has taken part in US Soccer Talent ID events in the past. Galvan is a skillful player who keeps the ball glued to his feet when dribbling. He makes it look easy against the best youth players in the country. He is one of the most electrifying talents in California and has shown that quality recently with a few game-winning goals. Galvan should be on the radar amongst the best of the best from 2010. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Gilberto Perez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283641' first='De' last='Anza Force']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6823c68505301"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Perez is a midfielder on the [program_tooltip program_id='283641' first='De' last='Anza Force'] U15 MLS Next team. He's been identified as one of the top prospects on that team in the past and including in training with MLS academies (Real Salt Lake and Nashville). He recently appeared with Austin FC during the Generation Adidas event in April. He's clearly got the potential to be on the professional pathway and it's a matter of picking the right fit for his development. The game looks easy to him when he is competing against his peers in his age group. He's great at fooling players into thinking the passing lane is open and intercepting the pass to start the counter the other way. He's an engine in the center of the field and covers a ton of ground. Perez will be a top name to watch in the near future as he looks to make the next step in his career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='300583' first='Quincy' last='Lamar']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283632' first='Chula' last='Vista FC'] MLS Next","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6823c6850538b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lamar is one of the top 2011s in Southern California. His play this season has earned him a promotion to the club's 2010 team - and started to draw some attention from scouts. The center forward brings a blistering pace to the pitch. He glides past defenders and gets in on goal in a hurry. Lamar is listed as five-foot-six on his player profile, but he plays with a much bigger stature. His physical presence is apparent even against older players. He uses his strength to bully defenders off the ball. Lamar physical profile and athleticism take up a decent amount of the scouting report, but he is quite skillful as well. He has great footwork and keeps close control of the ball while under pressure. He is an excellent finisher as well. Lamar should be getting looks at the youth national team level considering the lack of prospects at the No. 9 role. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->