Top 150 Analysis: The rise of professionals

The boys class of 2019 got a major shakeup, and a brand new first-time No. 1 overall player to boot.

The recently released IMG Academy Top 150 boys 2019 class, released just this Monday, featured a horde of movement all across the board. Why is that of particular interest? Because the face of club soccer in the U.S. is shifting before us, and these class rankings are the best indication of that anywhere in the country. The professional dominos are falling earlier and earlier, and more young players than ever are in pro pipelines at earlier ages.

Our recently updated 2019 class is as clear an indication of that grandiose philosophy shift as anything. Here’s a look under the hood at four things we learned from one of the most loaded U.S. classes we’ve ever seen.