“This camp is a chance to bring in a bunch of guys together to see where they are for the next cycle,” Peay said. “The main goal of the camp is to use it as another evaluation to see where they are after a year. We’ll get the chance to see how they’ve progressed and it gives Coach Shaun Tsakiris, who will take them at the U-16 level, an opportunity to come in and see a big pool of guys all in one place.”
During the camp, the U-14s (birth year 2003) will play five games -- an intra-squad match, games against U.S. Soccer Development Academy clubs San Diego Surf (a mix of birth year 2001-2003) and Albion SC U-17 (birth year 2001), and two games against Club Tijuana, which will field a combination of U-16s (2002s) and U-15s (2003s).
The camp marks the fifth and final U-14 boys’ national team gathering of 2017 and the last of the 2016-2017 cycle. Beginning in 2018, the 2003 birth year players will move up to the U-16 boy’s national Team for the 2018-2019 player cycle.
U.S. U-14 national team
GOALKEEPERS (4): Andrew Cordes (Colorado Rapids; Denver,
Colo.), Eliot Jones (New England Revolution; New Britain, Conn.), Gavin Krenecki (Sacramento Republic; Fair Oaks, Calif.), Jacob Morris (Real Colorado; Parker, Colo.).
DEFENDERS (14): Adrian Aguilar (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Niklas Dossmann (De Anza Force; Belmont, Calif.), Andrew Durkin (Richmond United; Henrico, Va.), Marcus Ferkranus
(LA Galaxy; Santa Clarita, Calif.), Isaiah Foster (Bethesda SC; Frederick, Md.), Reece Fragle (FC Dallas; Plano, Texas), Jacob Greene (DC United; Crofton, Md.), Noah Hall (Columbus Crew; Cincinnati,
Ohio), Isaac Homer (Portland Timbers; Portland, Ore.), Ulysses Martinez (Portland Timbers; Mt. Angel, Ore.), Morris Mathews (New England Revolution; Cambridge, Mass.), Nico Rei McMillan (Seattle
Sounders; Seattle, Wash.), Andre Ramos (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Bogart Roca (LA Galaxy; Sylmar, Calif.), Casey Walls (San Jose Earthquakes; Mill Valley, Calif.).
MIDFIELDERS
(16): Paxten Aaronson (Philadelphia Union; Medford, N.J.), Sebastian Burke (FC Bayern Munich; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.), Javier Casas (Chicago Fire; Addison, Ill.), Caden Clark (Barca Academy;
Medina, Minn.), Brian Gutierrez (Chicago Fire; Burbank, Ill.), Dante Huckaby (Philadelphia Union; Morgantown, W. Va.), Martin Killeen (LA Galaxy; Brea, Calif.), Sota Kitahara (Seattle Sounders;
Edmonds, Wash.), Daniel Leyva (Seattle Sounders; Seattle, Wash.), Brian Lopez (Weston; Miami, Fla.), Diego Luna (San Jose Earthquakes; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Leonardo Martinez (San Jose Earthquakes;
Biola, Calif.), Jack McGlynn (BW Gottschee; Middle Village, N.Y.), Anthony Miron (Real So Cal; Pacoima, Calif.), Nicholas Pariano (Philadelphia Union; Wayne, Pa.), Aidan Wolf (Columbus Crew; Cleveland
Heights, Ohio).
FORWARDS (14): Nicolas Bellini (La Roca SC; Lehi, Utah), Andres Cardenas (Weston; Doral, Fla.), Edward Castro (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Alec Kenison (San
Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Tyler Freeman (Sporting KC; Shawnee, Kan.), Selmir Miscic (Philadelphia Union; Royersford, Pa.), Alex Monis (FC United; Naperville, Ill.), Sebastian Nava (LA Galaxy;
Wilmington, Calif.), Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas; McKinney, Texas), Jonathan Perez (LA Galaxy; Pico Rivera, Calif.), Samuel Sarver (Columbus Crew; Beachwood, Ohio), Dante Sealy (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas),
Dantouma Toure (PDA; Trenton, N.J.)
8 LA Galaxy players.
Craig, yes I also noted the number of LAG players. Something going on here? There are more than "just" eight players from the SoCal area, but there are (correct me if I am wrong) 17 from California. I could say I smell a rotten egg in the overall "selection" processes, IMHO, I've said this time and again, but I do wonder what the selection "thing" is all about or how/what the criteria is, or are all if not most of them Developmental "club" members? I dunno, but could/would someone please explain this process?
I'll be interested to see an answer to your question. California certainly has a lot of great talent but I see a lot of places with no representation at all. When it comes to a competitive U-team selection though I don't care if they're all from the same neighborhood as long as they are the best selection possible.
Kleiban is the U14 academy coach at Galaxy, so is very experienced in developing youth talent. Not surprised there are 8 of his players at this camp. In fact, his track record developing youth first at his own club, then Chivas, now Galaxy, should put him at the head of the line for a Uteam job. THAT would be the kind of change we need with our youth set-up at US Soccer!