Recruiting News: Duke lands No. 1 Recruit in the country
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The biggest news of the last week in college soccer was Duke securing the verbal commitment from Riley Jackson Riley Jackson M Blessed Trinity (GA) | 2024 State GA . The U.S. U17 Women’s Youth National Team midfield and Gatorade…
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Continue ReadingThe biggest news of the last week in college soccer was Duke securing the verbal commitment from Riley Jackson Riley Jackson M Blessed Trinity (GA) | 2024 State GA . The U.S. U17 Women’s Youth National Team midfield and Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year (2021/2022) picked Duke for the next step in her career. Club teammate Solai Washington Solai Washington F Chamblee (GA) | 2024 State #36 Nation GA is also a verbal commit to Duke for the class of 2024. The duo make this Duke class already one to considered among the best for 2024 recruiting rankings.
The ACC program was not the only team that landed verbal commitments in the last week. Penn State picked up a verbal commitment from one of the top ranked forwards in the junior class, Washington secured the verbal commitment from one of the smartest midfielders, and Vanderbilt snagged one of the top center backs from Michigan.
Andrea Leyva Andrea Leyva F Faith Lutheran (NV) | 2024 #57 Nation NV , one of the top center midfielders in the country, announced her verbal commitment to Washington last week. Leyva’s older brother Danny plays for the Seattle Sounders, so the two siblings will be in the same city again soon. The younger Leyva was one of the best talents in the ECNL as she picked apart teams with her passing and finishing from the midfield role. She suffered a knee injury last year, and missed most of the previous season. Leyva’s best attribute was her brilliance on the field, so there is little doubt she will return to that high level in the future thanks to her soccer brain. Washington is making a fairly safe bet that she will reach those high levels again, as she is a key piece for this 2024 class, which is shaping up to be one of best in Huskies’ history.
Vanderbilt had a busy week with two verbal commitments to the SEC program. Fife is a center back who has the tools to be a four-year starter. She is calm on the ball, excellent in the build-up, and does well in decision-making while in possession. She can be a shutdown defender when needed, but also has the tactical intelligence to be a great support defender if the style of play depends on that from the center back. Mary Beth McLaughlin Mary Beth McLaughlin M Denmark (GA) | 2024 State #142 Nation GA , another center back, was the other verbal commitment last week for Vanderbilt. McLaughlin is a tough, shutdown defender from Tophat. Fife and McLaughlin could be the tandem to lead Vanderbilt to top of the conference in the near future.
Highlights
Addison (Addy) Hess is the top ranked player in Virginia, and one of the best players in the country. She had her pick of schools for the next level. Penn State was the selection. The Nittany Lions are getting a forward who should step into the starting lineup. She has all of the characteristics that coaches want from a forward at the next level – elite finisher, hungry defender, unique skills to evade pressure, and a desire to always improve her game. Penn State’s 2024 class is shaping up to be in contention for best in the nation. They landed one of the best goalkeepers in Kealey Titmuss Kealey Titmuss GK Grand Blanc (MI) | 2024 State #22 Nation MI , another top ranked forward Aubrey Kulpa, and NC Courage midfielder/defender Bella Ayscue.
Rutgers landed another out-of-state verbal commitment with Shaela Bradley Shaela Bradley M La Center (OR) | 2024 #125 Nation OR , according to TheSoccerWire. Last week, Rutgers tapped into Michigan and now Rutgers is going across the country for a player. The Big Ten powerhouse is getting an attacking midfielder who can do it all and is built for the physical rigors of the college game. Mikayla Mandleur Mikayla Mandleur M East Brunswick (NJ) | 2024 NJ , a defensive midfielder, also committed to Rutgers last week. The duo would make a stellar combination for the 2024 class. They compliment each other really well.
Tonka Fusion Elite had three players make verbal commitments in the last month. Gilliand is the most recent one. The striker picked Wisconsin for the next step in her career. The Badgers are getting a center forward who likes to run off the shoulders of the defenders. She is excellent at timing her runs and beating the offside trap. Gilliand is a good finisher in breakaway situations. She is the first verbal commitment to Wisconsin for the 2024 class.
Verbal commitments Class of 2024: Sept. 14-20
- Ellie Fife Ellie Fife D Community (MI) | 2024 State #34 Nation MI – Vanderbilt
- Casey Malone – College of Charleston
- Andrea Leyva Andrea Leyva F Faith Lutheran (NV) | 2024 #57 Nation NV – Washington
- Reese Potts Reese Potts GK Duchesne (MO) | 2024 MO – Kansas State
- Avery Petty Avery Petty M MN – Minnesota
- Riley Jackson Riley Jackson M Blessed Trinity (GA) | 2024 State GA – Duke
- Solai Washington Solai Washington F Chamblee (GA) | 2024 State #36 Nation GA – Duke
- Addison Hess Addison Hess null | F Freedom (VA) | 2024 State #16 Nation VA – Penn State
- Mary Beth McLaughlin Mary Beth McLaughlin M Denmark (GA) | 2024 State #142 Nation GA – Vanderbilt
- Stephanie Lathrop Stephanie Lathrop M Glenelg (MD) | 2024 #138 Nation MD – Purdue
- Shaela Bradley Shaela Bradley M La Center (OR) | 2024 #125 Nation OR – Rutgers
- Kiya Gilliand Kiya Gilliand null | F Benilde-St. Margaret's (MN) | 2024 MN – Wisconsin
- Mikayla Mandleur Mikayla Mandleur M East Brunswick (NJ) | 2024 NJ – Rutgers