Spring Preview: Top Tennessee boys prospects for 2022 season

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The spring boys high school season is just weeks away in Tennessee, which is one of the stronger spring-play states, so here are some top players to watch for the coming season:</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">F Simeon Betapudi, Memphis University, Sr.</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Betapudi scored 12 goals and added seven assists to spark MUS to a Division II-AA state quarterfinal appearance in 2021. Betapudi is a Memphis FC club player who was signed by USL Championship squad Memphis 901 FC during the summer of 2021 and re-signed this spring. The club indicates that Betapudi retains his eligibility to play high school, so at this point, we are anticipating that he will play for MUS this spring.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">F Matt Brucker, Collierville, Sr.</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Brucker is part of a talented trio of Memphis-area high school seniors who recently were all signed to contracts by Memphis 901 FC in the USL Championship. Last high school season, Brucker netted 10 goals as Collierville advanced to the state quarterfinals.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">D [player_tooltip player_id="15692" first="Riley" last="Clothier"], Oakland, Sr.</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Clothier was the District 7-AAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. The Belmont commit adds an attacking element to his defending, and last season managed 10 goals and five assists while playing center back.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">M David Danquah, Baylor School, Sr.</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The North Carolina commit will be the frontrunner for state player of the year. He was a first-team Division II-AA all-state selection last year as a junior.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">M Levi Jones, Grace Christian Academy, Sr.</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Levi Jones, along with his brother Malachi, early committed to Lipscomb University. Levi had 14 goals and 13 assists last season for GCA. Levi is technical and versatile, and his college outlook indicates that he could play several roles at Lipscomb.<span class="Apple-converted-space">   </span></span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">F Malachi Jones, Grace Christian Academy, Sr.</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Malachi Jones is a game-changer. In fact, he’s expected to contribute right away this fall at NCAA Division I Lipscomb. During the 2021 high school season, he was named the Main Street Preps Player of the Year following a 45-goal, 16-assist showing. </span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">M Patrick Lee, Christ Presbyterian, Sr.</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Lee netted 34 goals and added 21 assists while helping CPA to a state semifinal appearance. </span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">M Aaron O’Malley, Houston, Sr.</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">O’Malley, like Betapudi and Brucker, has signed with Memphis 901 FC for the spring of 2022. Last season he played a key role in Houston’s state final victory, including scoring the opening goal in the match. </span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">F Ben Pensky, Knoxville Webb, Sr.</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The son of Tennessee women’s soccer coach Brian Pensky, the younger Pensky was a first-team all-state selection last year after leading Webb to a state title. He has committed to NCAA Division III power Tufts. Pensky had 27 goals and 18 assists last season.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">M Julian Strickland, Bearden, Sr.</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Strickland was the District 2-AAA MVP in 2021. He was a first-tam all-state selection and scored seven goals with 13 assists.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">M Max Talley, Houston, Sr.</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Talley is the fourth high school-aged player who has signed a contract with Memphis 901 FC. He was an all-state performer last year as Houston won the Class AAA state title.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">Others Worth Watching</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">M Noah Cooper, Houston, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">M Rudy Dardon, Hardin Valley, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">F Nathan DiMauro, Bartlett, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">M Johnny Drouillard, Christian Brothers, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">D William Gallaher, Farragut, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">F Sergio Garcia, East Memphis, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">M Nicholas Gianaroli, Bartlett, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">F Max Gilbert, Lausanne, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">M Lucas Giolo, St. George’s, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">GK Jack Gorman, Page, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">M Gui Gragnano, Baylor School, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">M Diego Guerra, St. George’s, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">F Chase Haskins, Arlington, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">D [player_tooltip player_id="15686" first="Preston" last="Holmes"], Knoxville Webb, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">M Austin Ignatz, Father Ryan, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">D [player_tooltip player_id="15618" first="Jerome" last="Jarjoura"], Dobyns-Bennett, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">D Jake Kellerhals, Baylor School, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">F Jak Kemp, Station Camp, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">D [player_tooltip player_id="15714" first="Trevor" last="Keele"], Merrol Hyde, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">D Hunter Lomasney, Christian Brothers, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">F Carlos Martinez, Powell, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">F [player_tooltip player_id="15526" first="Brady" last="Margo"], Hardin Valley, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">M Dade Micheel, St. George’s, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">F Lucas Norin, Bearden, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">M Victor Ramirez, Columbia, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">M Luke Ricketts, Evangelical Christian, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">M Cheiknh Sadibou-Seck, Austin-East, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">GK Jake Spirko, Knoxville West, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">F [player_tooltip player_id="15529" first="Brewer" last="Wall"], Columbia, Sr., Alabama-Huntsville commit</span></p>