The Development Academy broke for its winter hiatus on Dec. 14, and its denizens won’t return to action until 2015. So with the first few months of academy action in the books for the 2014-15 season, let’s take a look at some of the academy’s best U16 teams on current form. These five have shown encouraging flashes so far this season.

FC Dallas (8-1-2, 26 points)

One of the biggest windfalls of talent in the DA this year came when Devin Vega left the San Antonio Scorpions to be with FCD’s system at the U16 level this season. The U17 residency invitee’s been all over, including a training stint with Flamengo in Brazil. The move is already paying dividends for both parties. Vega has nine goals in 11 appearances for FCD this year, which leads the team. The defense has been just as vital for a team that’s surrendered an academy-low eight goals to this point. The steadiness of players like Dallas Texans transfer Brandon Terwege and Toshiki Yasuda, who has seven goals, are leading one of the nation’s top academies to their customary place atop the conference standings into 2015.