Pro Prospects: Finding a Hidden Gem

Pro Prospects: Finding a Hidden Gem
by J.R. Eskilson
August 5, 2015

There is an another American national team prospect at Bayern Munich. 

The Bayern Munich U15 squad (players born in 2001) were in Los Angeles last week as part of the Generation adidas ESP Event. Among a squad of promising youngster was a forward by the name of Jalen Hawkins. 

The talented winger has U.S. Citizenship, a source told TopDrawerSoccer. Hawkins played right wing against the Central MLS all-star youth team in the first half of Tuesday’s game. He came back on in the closing minutes as a center forward. 

This is Hawkins’ first season with Bayern. He is one of four new recruits on the team for this season. Previously, he played for SSV Jahn and FC Inglostadt. Last year, he was a top performer from Inglostadt and earned an invite to a regional training event run by the German Federation for players born in 2001

If Hawkins does join the U.S. at the international level, he’d be the latest pick-up in the 2001 age group, which includes some talented youngsters in Europe like Konrad de la Fuente (FC Barcelona), Ian Hoffmann (FC Koln), and John Hilton. 

Dortmund’s Wizards

U.S. U17 Men’s National Team standout Christian Pulisic helped Borussia Dortmund U19s to a second-place finish at the RUHR Cup last week. Pulisic had the game-winning goal against FC Barcelona in the final group play game. He was also a key player in the 2-0 win over Monaco in the semifinal. 

Dortmund came up short in the final in a 0-1 loss to FC Koln, but Pulisic impressed throughout the week at the international tournament

U.S. U20 MNT midfielder Junior Flores played 61 minutes in Borussia Dortmund II’s opening game of the season on Monday, a 3-0 loss to Fortuna Dusseldorf II. Dortmund is back in action on Saturday against SC Verl. 

Betting on Yourself

Georgia teenager Joe Efford is headed back to Spain to play for RCD Mallorca. The 18-year-old passed up a college scholarship to try his luck in Europe.

The Gwinnett Daily Post did a profile piece on the teenager who is the only American at RCD Mallorca, which finished 16th in the Segunda Division in Spain last season. The new season kicks off on Sept. 9. 

Related Topics: Youth National Teams
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