Hidden Gems: Which California 2027s Are Thriving Off the Radar?

The player pool in California is deeper than anyone else in the country. There is talent all over the state. While the big, noteworthy leagues take up the headlines with the top ranked prospects, there are talented players from outside of the ECNL, ECNL Regional League, and Girls Academy.   Check out the scouting report on some of those talented players from outside of those leagues below.    The Central Coast of California lacks a team in the Grils Academy on the ECNL. The players from that region either head North to join some of the top clubs from the Bay Area or head south to play with some of the best from Southern California. And there are some who thrive in their local training environment. Blythe is one of those, a standout from the [program_tooltip program_id='287708' first='Central' last='Coast Surf'] 09 Elite, Surf Select National Team, and Cal South ODP. She is also listed on the LAFC SoCal ECNL 09 team roster, but hasn't appeared on the game roster at recent events.    Game film shows a player with college level talent. She's a right-footed midfielder with good size and athleticism. She can do a bit of everything. She is an excellent passer with vision and superb technique. She can bury a shot from distance.    Blythe could be one of the top players at getting the invite to an ID Camp and stealing the show. She has jaw-dropping qualities.     <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=YE3NcAjy7uo </div></figure>    Forward who can play the No. 9 or No. 11 role - also good as a No. 7 or No. 10. Played with U20 Guatemala National Team in the past. Been part of the 07 and 08 Cal South ODP teams. Also trained with Pumas (Mexico) youth club. Di Gerlando has the resume to be considered on the professional pathway, and surprisingly comes from outside of the two major nation-wide leagues. She's a dedicated student so college seems to be in the cards. She plays her club soccer with [program_tooltip program_id='287732' first='Elite' last='Development Academy']. She is left footed and likes to play out wide. She is good in 1v1 situations. She keeps close control of the ball. She has a good first touch and shows off quite a bit of skill. Di Gerlando's creativity, left foot strength, and international experience makes her one of the more intriguing options from outside of the major leagues in the California 2027 class.    <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=XpjtAt6QrxU </div></figure>    Lobato had a breakout campaign for her high school, Granite Hill, and continued that stellar play with her club team, [program_tooltip program_id='287737' first='AVSC' last=''] Storm Premier 09. Her club team recently won National Cup in Southern California and will be playing in some marquee events this summer, which should provide a good scouting platform for her talents.    She is listed as a forward, but she has great defensive instincts. One aspect of her game that certainly stands out compared to others in this class is her aerial dominance. She is a weapon as a target for her team in her ability to leap above the competition and create chances or score. She is not the most towering power at 5-foot-six on her player profile, but she gets above taller players often.    Lobato jumps out from game film as a standout from her team, but there are other talented prospects on the group as well. Scouts would be wise to watch the [program_tooltip program_id='287737' first='AVSC' last=''] team this summer.      Rebels dominated the Development Player League this season. They finished the campaign with a 15-0 record, 80 goals score, only five conceded. There were a number of players who contributed to that perfect season.   Casillas has been a standout for Rebels for some time. She also had a great season for her high school and earned First Team honors in the Mojave River League. She is an attacking player who is versatile. She is excellent off the ball. She makes good runs to get into the spots to finish chances.    It's easy to see why she's been so effective as a scorer at the club level with her movement off the ball and her teammates providing excellent service.      Hageman is a forward on the [program_tooltip program_id='287708' first='Central' last='Coast Surf'] 07 Elite team. She also plays for Cal South ODP and Surf Select National Team. She is on the St. Joseph Varsity team. She was an All-League selection last season as a sophomore.    Hagemen is a go player. She is going to give 100 percent at all times and get after the opposition at any chance. She thrives in the competitive individual duel against the center back. She has a cut move that sends defenders to the ground and a booming kick. She doesn't take unnecessary dribbles. When she is in on goal, she is going to bury the shot on goal.    One aspect of Hageman's game that scouts should be aware of is her defensive intensity. She will hound the opposing defenders into mistakes. She also has perfect technique on the slide tackle.    A good finisher with either her left or right foot, Hageman has a bright future and should be on the radar for scouts.    <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=7AuUNNMHmjk </div></figure>

The player pool in California is deeper than anyone else in the country. There is talent all over the state. While the big, noteworthy leagues take up the headlines with the top ranked prospects, there are talented players from outside of the ECNL, ECNL Regional League, and Girls Academy.