Five Texas MLS Next do-it-all midfielders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The MLS Next 2024-2025 season was officially concluded on Monday, when the league's All-Star Game was held in Austin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the last ten months, Prep Soccer Texas got to follow many of the matches played across the U14, U15, U16, U17 and U19 age groups held in Texas, getting to watch first-hand most of the highly talented prospects from the Lone Star State compete and develop with their teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While MLS academies tend to feature the top players in the region and receive more attention and interest from those watching, we were able to shortlist interesting players from all over the state, highlighting the elevated level of play in the Lone Star State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, with no matches scheduled until September, we'll take some time to feature prospects from non-MLS academies who displayed tremendous potential throughout the last season. In today's article, we'll highlight some midfielders who played key roles for their teams:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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='295654' first='Santiago' last='Roa']","_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":"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='283654' first='Global' last='Football Innovation Academy']","_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-688132705edae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Roa spent the past season with GFI's U14 team. Playing as a defensive midfielder, he was one of the pillars of the team and his game made a major impact on their production on the field. Roa is very active defensively and displays great determination to fight for the ball and protect the backline. The midfielder is arguably even more important in possession, helping his team move the ball and take it upfield. He is very comfortable on the ball, has excellent vision and does a great job of relieving his team from pressure with quick, one-touch passes that find teammates in good spots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":286008,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/04/2J4A0158_5e0dfe.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-286008" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["148172"],"_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-688132705ee75"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Balderas is a box-to-box midfielder who stood out with [program_tooltip program_id='283624' first='Capital' last='City SC']'s U16 team in 2024-2025. Previously a member of [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s academy, he has tremendous quality on the ball and does a great job of helping the team create chances. A lefty, Balderas can be very dangerous when he drives the ball through the middle, but he's arguably even more impactful when he drops a little bit deeper and uses the space and time on the ball to find teammates in the final third with long passes. The midfielder is also a threat in set pieces, displaying a great ability to provide excellent service to his teammates and also firing dangerous shots on target.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":285216,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/04/2J4A0124.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-285216" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- 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":"Sebastian Guerra","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_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":"Episcopal","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers']","_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-688132705ef77"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Guerra had an excellent season with the [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] U16 team while also playing for Imperial SC in the USYS League. An attacking midfielder, he has the complete package to make a major offensive impact, combining excellent chance-creation and finishing skills. Guerra is very quick in his mind and that makes of him a constant threat in the final third with his ability to see plays and react quickly. A very technical player, he ended the season playing as a striker for the Rangers and continued to stand out, consistently getting into good spots, being very efficient at finishing chances and working well with his back to the goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":287108,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/2J4A0118_8fe3de.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-287108" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- 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":"Waleed Hadj-Hamou ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_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":"Wakeland","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283639' first='Dallas' last='Hornets']","_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-688132705f075"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hadj-Hamou was a rock in central midfield for the [program_tooltip program_id='283639' first='Dallas' last='Hornets'] U19 team during the season. Playing with tremendous intensity and intelligence, the left-footed defensive midfielder helped his team dominate the center of the field on multiple occasions. Hadj-Hamou does great work off the ball, consistently finding himself around the ball and making quick moves to intercept passes and dispossess opponents. He also operates as an attacking hub for his team, getting on the ball pretty much every time they have possession and dictating the team's tempo with his intelligent distribution. The midfielder also made a difference in set pieces, registering several assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPYd-p_dado","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <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=VPYd-p_dado </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- 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":"Isaiah Gonzalez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_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":"Harlan","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"AC River","_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-688132705f17b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gonzalez operated in midfield for the AC River U19 team during the last season. He had a very high usage rate with the team and was tasked with distributing the ball for them, something he got to do at a very high level. Gonzalez is very effective at breaking opponents' pressure as he moves very well off the ball and intelligently uses one-touch passes to keep the ball moving. He can also play a little more advanced, as an attacking midfielder, and has quality and vision to make an impact in the final third with his excellent vision.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":282125,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/03/2J4A0100_ebb7c6.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-282125" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->