All this talk about this guy and that guy, playing young players, including Zardes (who's on the bench in jeans) and nothing about O'Neill, who's sitting a couple seats down from Zardes. Just a little about Serna (as an example of a guy who experienced hardship, in that he was one of the last cuts from the U-20 World Cup team). A lot of the guys in this game have barely played senior team minutes.
BTW, top reporting from Soccer By Ives again earlier today: http://www.soccerbyives.net/2014/08/homegrown-chance-tomorrow.html Hmm, Serna didn't start and O'Neill didn't play. The Rapids announced on Sunday O'Neill wouldn't play. But according to Ives, O'Neill was expected to start! smh
Something about this season has put me off from updates here but with draft coming up it time to look: Colorado Rapids Sophomore MF Ricardo Perez started and played 81 minutes in Creighton’s 2-1 win against Butler on Oct. 11. Freshman D Kortne Ford started and played 90 minutes in Denver’s 1-0 win against UIC on Oct. 10. Sophomore F Eric Kronenberg came off the bench and played 29 minutes in Denver’s 1-0 win against UIC on Oct. 10. Sophomore GK Andrew Epstein started and played 90 minutes in Stanford’s 2-0 win against San Diego State on Oct. 9. He also started, played 110 minutes and made two saves in a 1-1 draw against UCLA on Oct. 12. Senior F James Rogers started, played 66 minutes and scored a goal in a 2-0 win against Florida Atlantic on Oct. 8. He also started and played 78 minutes in a 2-0 win against Missouri State on Oct. 12 http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/mls-academy-alumni-roundup:-oct-15_aid34804 James Rogers has been highly rated in past, not sure if he still is getting same remarks this year. However, still not sure MLS will award the Rapids HG status to him, but given the talent other teams have compared to our few, I would hope so.
I think the Rapids have to claim rogers now (essentially) to get an HG label attached. And of course we still have the debate on if he's a FSL or Rapids HG. Either way though, after his senior year he either has to be HG or go in the draft.
With all these townhall meetings and PR Spinning sessions, maybe they forgot? Would anyone be surprised? In past he was considered a top 2-way (Box to Box your choice) left footed middie.
Rapid Academy's Sam Vines called up to USA U-16 team GOALKEEPERS (2): Alex Budnik (Sockers FC; Arlington Heights, Ill.), Eric Lopez (LA Galaxy; Westminster, Calif.) DEFENDERS (8): Jose Alfaro Jr. (Fuerza Monarca; West Chicago, Ill.), Andrew Aprahamian (Philadelphia Union; Malvern, Pa.), Jordi Avila (Kendall SC; Hialeah Gardens, Fla.), McKay Eves (Real Salt Lake AZ; San Diego, Calif.), Kyle Gruno (Leicester City; Saddle River, N.J.), Matthew Real (Philadelphia Union; Drexel Hill, Pa.), Daniel Villegas (Chivas USA; Los Angeles, Calif.), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; Colorado Springs, Colo.) MIDFIELDERS (5): Raul Aguilera Jr. (Orlando City; Sanford, Fla.), Jose Carranza (D.C. United; Manassas, Va.), Christopher Goslin (Georgia United; Locust Grove, Ga.), Nicholas Taitague (Richmond United; Midlothian, Va.), Juan Pablo Torres (Georgia United; Lilburn, Ga.) FORWARDS (7): Andrew Carleton (Georgia United; Powder Springs, Ga.), Lucas Del Rosario (Capital Area RailHawks – CASL; Durham, N.C.), Jonathan Gonzalez (Monterrey; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Jeanpaul Marin (New York Red Bulls; Rego Park, N.Y.), Marty Raygoza (FC Golden State; South El Monte, Calif.), Adolfo Trujillo (De Anza Force; Livermore, Calif.), Hanif Wright (Unattached; Los Angeles, Calif.) http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...rospects-roster-u-16-national-team-camp-clair
@JasonMa will like this- 2015 #11 prospect Quentin Pearson looks like he's headed (over sign with Rapids rumor) to University of Washington. 11 Quentin Pearson D USSDA Colorado Rapids Washington
From all accounts he did have a poor Combine only scoring on final day of camp. But that "El Campo" CB that was projected as top 10 pick coming in didn't get drafted at all. He was one of the few that MLS signed to contract before hand so I am sure some team will end up getting him. Meanwhile Rapids drafted almost all CB's (1 forward I think), not sure how exactly that helps team unless your parking the bus.
I know he wasn't ever in Rapids Academy system, so he probably wouldn't be a "homegrown" player, but I'm really looking forward to see Miguel Jaime (former Cherry Creek H.S. star) make and MLS squad in the upcoming years. I have a feeling he'll be a future 1st to 2nd round pick whenever he decides to go pro.
Had to go look him up Miguel Jaime, Midfielder, Rush Colorado Class: 2014 Commitment: Florida Gulf Coast There is a certain flair to Miguel Jaime’s game, which fits aptly with his bleached hair. The creative midfielder from Colorado has been a dominating force at the high school and club level in the Rocky Mountain state for the past few seasons including last year where he collected Player of the Year honors for his exploits with Cherry Creek High School. The success attached the interest of a few schools, but it was a rising program in Florida that got Jaime to give his verbal commitment. “I knew that Florida Gulf Coast was the best fit after I went on an unofficial [visit],” Jaime told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “The weather is perfect for soccer and the is so young that when I will be there they will all still be playing.” Jaime said that San Francisco and Jacksonville were also in consideration for his verbal commitment. “The style of soccer is amazing,” Jaime said about FGCU’s possession-based attacking fluidity. “It fits in with my style and what I am used to here at Rush Academy.”
I still wonder what happened to a kid named Daniel Devora who played at Adams City, and was in the Rapids academy briefly. I'm no judge of whether he has the physical attributes to keep climbing the ladder, but damn he had dribbling and shooting skills.
Looking good! Congrats to Quentin Pearson who announced his commitment to @UW_MSoccer while attending Rapids preseason in San Diego pic.twitter.com/u3yzmBS8HP— Brian Crookham (@briancrookham) February 5, 2015
I was browsing Top Drawer Soccer's commitments list. They list 5 Rapids Academy players in the 2015 class (which is the same number as Rush and Real combined, pretty amazingly, but I don't know that this a census of all recruits)(here). Incidentally, does anyone know what, if any, tangible advantages our relationship with the Carolina Rapids (and now the Charlotte Independence) conveys for Homegrown or academy recruiting? North Carolina has more than twice as many listed recruits than Colorado (here), including three from the Carolina Rapids.