The final 10 players in this year's Top 50 MLS prospect roundup is dominated by members of the 2017 U.S. Under-17 MNT World Cup squad. With so many of those players already turned pro, the time is now for both the players and the teams to find a way to accelerate their development.
MORE: Nos. 41-50 | Nos. 31-40 | Nos. 21-30 | Nos. 11-20
There are zero guarantees, of course, that the projection of how a teenager's career may end up working out in the long run, especially in a league that favors young international talent over domestic players.
Below are the final 10 players, rounding out this year's prospect list of young, MLS talent. Remember to check out the guidelines and the master list.
10. Reggie Cannon – Defender – FC Dallas
DOB: 6/11/1998 | HT: 5-11 | WT: 165
Few players embody the “play your kids movement” like Cannon. After signing with FC Dallas after a solid season at UCLA, Cannon saw hardly any action during the 2017 campaign. Now, needing to get minutes, he’s been thrust into a starting role and had some shaky moments in the CONCACAF Champions League opener last week. That’s the conundrum that MLS teams skirt around when it comes to playing young kids: is it worth the mistakes if it produces a better player in the long run? Cannon has plenty of ability that indicates the early blips may be a thing of the past sooner rather than later, but the concern is if the mistakes mount, then he finds himself back on the bench. Regardless, Cannon is a promising right back prospect that should be able to respond quickly and adapt to a starting role.
