CONCORD, MA - It all begins here as far as the Boys Youth National Team program goes.
They've come once again, 120 strong to New England to take part in Manny Schellscheidt's U14 Boys National Team ID camp. These players, mostly identified through the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development program, arrived Sunday and will compete over five days in training and matches to begin the evaluation and identification process.
Schellscheidt, longtime U.S. and national staff coach, emphasizes there is no "making it" here and especially no "not making it," although a Pool match is conducted on the final three days of the event, and the players are always most conscious of this. He said that the advent of the USSF Development Academy points to a day when this event won't even be the beginning anymore, but not yet.
"That hasn't kicked at this level because they haven't paid much attention to this age group. Maybe in a time to come they will. Right now we're still getting it done pretty much with ODP. Eventually (the Academy) will become the complete pyramid, with even the entry level guys smaller than what we have here, being taken care of. So by the time they are 12, 13 they have a lot better idea of who the more gifted players are," he said. "'Better' is not the right word, but more gifted. They are still all developing, that's why here right up front we make it clear: Nobody fails. They're too young. That takes the pressure off and the most enjoyable thing is to see how these kids respond when they know they just have to play."
Kids who could play have been evident in these first two days. While a real superstar has yet to emerge, the overall level and speed of play appears to be better among this year's 95s than it was for last year's 94s. The players on average seem to be physicall smaller but perhaps a bit more creative.
Schellscheidt concurred.
"We are only in to the 2nd day and I think we are off to a good start. The early going is usually a little sloppy but you're right," he said. "The number of guys who really have some soccer, big or small, is pretty high. We hope it sorts itself out as we go on. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we'll have some of the better players on the field and that makes for a big jump as well. We're pretty happy with the start."
The veteran coach emphasized there is no reverse discrimination for the big players who are on hand.
"Players get things done in different ways. We can still see why and how, so that's not a problem. We measure soccer," he said. "Whether he's big or small or whatever we want to see how much soccer is there. Can he make decisions? Can he improve as we have him around. Is he learning from the game. These are the questions we are asking."
The coaching staff here are pretty adamant about not singling out top players while the camp is still going on. From our own informal observations we have identified a handful who seem to be making a good case for themselves, including (in no particular order):
Diego Fagundez of FC Greater Boston Bolts – Excellent first touch and the quickness and skill to turn his mark and strike a ball with power and accuracy;
Dalton Amez of Michigan Elite – Effective at running with the ball;
Michael Chang of Sockers FC (Chicago) – Good feet for holding the ball well. Scored maybe the goal of the event so far with a 25-yard laser strike;
Jacob Smith of Concorde Fire Elite (Atlanta) – Very quick acceleration, good on the ball and can strike a ball with authority.
Scott Levene of Beachside SC (Connecticut) – Quick reflexes in goal.
Brandon Tetro of NJSA Gunners (New Jersey) – Very good feet and creativity on the ball.
Ever De La Torre of Los Angeles FC – One of the few who seems to enjoy playing defense. Can close space in a hurry but also makes smart reads and can put in a crunching tackle.
Erick Chapa of Dallas Texans – Good speed and attitude about going forward. Knows where the goal is.
Trevor Haberkorn of Solar SC – Wins a lot of balls and is good in the air. Uses size well but also makes intelligent decisions in the back.
Alex Ramos of NJSA Celtic – Good vision and passing.
James Doll of Montgomery SA – Quick and resourceful with the ball.
Emerson Hyndman of Dallas Texans – Good 1v1 player with great close control and smart positional work off the ball.
Connor Adkisson of FC Portland – Good handling and reflexes in goal.
Joseph Ghitis of West Pines United (Florida) – Good reflexes, handling and distribution in goal, plus a good communicator.
Thomas Thompson of Placer United (Northern California) – Runs with the ball and shows good vision. Tenacious.
Wesley Gussman of RSL Florida – Good skill and 1v1 ability.
Lineups for Days 1 and 2 (players will be reassigned to some degree for days three, four and five).
Team 1
Brent Arnold (GK), Landisville, PA – PA Classics
Zackary Steffen (GK), Downingtown, PA – FC DELCO
Jordan Allen, Rochester, NY – Rochester Jr. Rhinos
Russell Canouse, Lancaster, PA – PA Classics
Marshall Ellick, Chesterfield, VA – Chesterfield United
Diego Fagundez, Leominster, MA – FC Greater Boston Bolts
Paulus Gipli, Bristol, PA – Montgomery SA
Dylan Greenberg, Dix Hills, NY – Dix Hills SC
Nicholas Hutchinson, Allentown, PA – Lehigh United
Jonathan Interiano, Brentwood, NY – Dix Hills SC
Ko Kunita, Port Washington, NY – BW Gottschee
Matthew Mahoney, Poughkeepsie NY – Middlepath SC
Santiago Moore, East Elmhurst, NY – Bayside SC
Alec Neumann, New Hope, PA – Yardley Makefield Soccer
Peter Pearson, Virginia Beach, VA – Beach FC
Zachary Pfeffer, Dresher, PA – Yardley Makefield Soccer
Christian Rodriguez, Alexandria, VA – LMVS Hawks
Joel Teston, Alexandria, VA – Prince William SI
Ryan Vilella, Cranberry Twp, PA – Beadling SA
Abdirahman Yusuf, Herndon, VA – Ashburn Knights
Team 2
Robert Beckwell (GK), Shelby Twp, MI – Michigan Elite
Kyle Dal Santo (GK), Bolingbrook, IL – Lemont Raiders
Dalton Amez, Macomb Twp, MI – Michigan Elite
Louis Bennett, Shorewood, WI – Bavarian SC
Jalen Brown, Indianapolis, IN – Hoosier FC
Michael Chang, Highland Park, IL – Sockers FC
Elias El Metennani, Oak Park, IL – Eclipse Select
John Griffith, Danville, IN – Westside United
Ali Jawad, Dearborn Heights – Michigan Wolves
Seo Kim, Overland Park, KS – KCFC United Academy
Emilio Lopez, Verona, WI – Madison 56ers
Michael McKune, Cary, IL – Ela SC
Dexter Offer, Lake Forest, IL – Eclipse Select
Miguel Polley, West Bloomfield, MI – Michigan Wolves
Luke Ryan Stauffer, Owensboro, KY – NA
Jake Taylor, Whitefish Bay, WI – Bavarian Juniors
George Voulgaris, Champaign, IL – Little Illini SC
Travis Wannemuehler, Evansville, IN – FC Evansville
Brent Winkler, Farmington Hills, MI – Waza FC
Driton Zyteja, Sun Prairie, WI – Madison 56ers
Team 3
Jonathan Davis (GK), Gastonia, NC – Charlotte United
Arthur Eggers (GK), Moore SC – CESA
Kellyn Acosta, Allen, TX – ASG
Erick Chapa, Mesquite, TX – Dallas Texans
Feliciano Charles, Grand Prairie, TX – Dallas Texans
Erik Clark, Mount Pleasant, SC – Bridge FA
Forrest Denio, Houston, TX – Albion Hurricanes
Marcus Epps, Madison MS – Central Jackson SO
Reyes Espino, Edinburg, TX – Chivas USA
Trevor Haberkorn, Roanoke, TX – Solar SC
Anthony Jeffries, Chapel Hill, NC – Fire Juniors
Julio Jimenez, Rome, GA – Concorde Fire Elite
Daniel Johnson, Duluth, GA – Norcross Fury
Christopher Lea, Fayetteville, GA – AFC Lightning
Ismael Longo, Weston, FL – Weston Fury
Francisco Miranda, Rome, GA – Concorde Fire Elite
Cameron Mosely, Duluth, GA – Concorde Fire Elite
Jonathan Scherzer, Winterville, GA – Athens United
Jacob Smith, Atlanta, GA – Concorde Fire Elite
Marco Sunol, Charlotte, NC – South Charlotte SA
Team 4
Connor Adkisson (GK), Federal Way, WA – FC Portland
Ethan Horvath (GK), Highland Ranch, CO – Real Colorado
Paul Arriola, Chula Vista, CA – Rangers
Cristian Cruz, San Pablo, CA – Alliance
Emilio Huerta, San Jose, CA – De Anza Force
Isaias Juarez, Las Cauces, NM – Striker FC
Kevin Labastida, Fullerton, CA – Fullerton Rangers
Joe Mancini, Redmond, WA – Crossfire Premier
Cesar Mendoza, El Sobrante, CA – Alliance
Oscar Montes, Lakewood, CO – Colorado Rush
Antonio Murillo, Las Vegas, NV – Brasil FC
James Nosack, Ridgefield, WA – FC Salmon Creek
Andrew Perez, Los Altos, CA – Portugese FC
Ricardo Perez, Fort Collins, CO – Colorado Rapids
William Raygoza, El Monte, CA – FC Barcelona
Vincent Reyes, West Covina, CA – FC Barcelona
Devonte Small, Lacey, WA – Crossfire Premier
Thomas Thompson, Loomis, CA – Placer United
Antonio Velasquez, Las Vegas, NV – NE Sports
Henry Wingo, Lake Forest Park, WA – NA
Team 5
Scott Levene (GK), Stamford, CT – Beachside SC
Samuel Boylen, Whitfield, VT – Capital Soccer
Arun Basuljevic, Mahopac, NY – BW Gottschee
Justin Burrell, Ashburn, VA – Ashburn Knights
Mitchell Cancilla, Grand Island, NY – Buffalo United
Justin Cohen, Ann Arbor, MI – Waza FC
James Doll, Bethesda, MD – Montgomery SA
David Galdo, Mclean, VA – Arlington SC
Matthew Habrowski, Berkley, MI – Force FC
Ilias Lasley, Marshalltown, IA – Ames SC
Dan Lev, Evanston, IL – Eclipse Select
Adam Nejem, Clifton, NJ – NY Red Bulls
Matthw Nyeayea, Worcester, MA –FC United
Christopher Osei-wusu, Bowie, MA – Bethesda SC
Alex Ramos, Holmdel, NJ – NJSA Celtic
Mark Romanowski, Rockville Centre, NY – Rockville Centre Lightning
Christian Sady, North Andover, MA – Aztecs
Brandon Tetro, Marlboro, NJ – NJSA Celtic
Andrew Tinari, Holbrook, NY, Lake Grove SC
Brian Winterfield, Grand Blanc, MI – Vardar SC
Team 6
Joseph Ghitis, Weston, FL, - West Pines United
Brian Paredes, Los Angeles, CA – FC Barcelona
Romario Bernard, Miramar, FL – West Pines United
Ever De La Torre, Pasadena, CA – Los Angeles FC
Christian De Luna, Novato, CA – Novato United
Raul Diaz, Tampa Fl – RSL Florida
Lynden Gooch, Santa Cruz, CA – Santa Cruz County Breakers
Michael Gray, Las Vegas, NV – Downtown Las Vegas SC
Ismael Gurrusqueta, Grand Prairie, TX – Dallas Texans
Wesley Gussman, Riverview, FL – RSL Florida
Bryan Guzman, San Bernardino, CA – Pumas
Micahel Hinkson, Raleigh, NC – CASL
Alan Huerta, Pasadena, CA
Emerson Hyndman, Plano, TX – Dallas Texans
Jose Laboy, Chicago, IL – Chicago Wind
Austin Marques, Chino, CA – FC Barcelona
Kouri Nago, Honolulu, HI – Abunai SC
Misael Osorio, Moreno Valley, CA – IE Strikers
Nigel Robinson, Camp Lejeune, NC – FC Greater Boston Bolts
Michael Steele, Fresno, CA NW Nationals
