USL Feature
Friday, September 20, 2013
MLSSoccer.com’s annual 24 under 24 rankings were announced this week, with 10 former USL players, ranging from the top of the organization’s development pyramid in USL PRO to its base, the Super Y-League, being selected by a panel of MLSSoccer.com and national media writers.
The PDL had the most selections, with three former award-winners among the seven players named to the list. Leading the way was former Cleveland Internationals standout Darlington Nagbe, who claimed top spot in the rankings after his continued progression with the Portland Timbers in the 2013 MLS season. Nagbe, who made 18 appearances for the Internationals, has scored eight goals and added three assists this summer for the Timbers, playing a crucial role in the club’s pursuit of a place in the MLS Playoffs.
Former Sounders FC U-23 standout DeAndre Yedlin also ranked highly as he claimed the No. 3 spot. A 2012 PDL All-League selection, Yedlin has had a standout rookie season after being signed to a Home Grown Player contract by the Seattle Sounders FC. Having made 23 starts to date, the right back also played a role in the U.S. advancing to the U20 World Cup earlier this summer, and scored his first professional goal against Tigres in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Another pair of Home Grown signings were also named in the Top 10, with former Ventura County Fusion standout Gyasi Zardes being named at the No. 7 position, and former Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 midfielder Russell Teibert taking the No. 10 spot.
Zardes, now with the Los Angeles Galaxy, had a standout 2012 season for the Fusion, claiming All-Western Conference honors as he scored eight goals to help Ventura County to a division title. Teibert, meanwhile, made 28 appearances for the Whitecaps U-23 side before being brought up to the first team, and has made a strong impression this summer with two goals and eight assists in 18 appearances.
Two former Super-Y League standouts were also named to the list, with the New England Revolution’s Juan Agudelo claiming the No. 6 spot, and D.C. United’s Bill Hamid coming in at No. 18. Agudelo began his youth career with the New Jersey Stallions, and was an ODP selection after leading his side to the 2006 Super Y-League North American Finals. From there, he joined the New York Red Bulls Academy, and will soon join Stoke City in the English Premier League.
Hamid, meanwhile, was part of the D.C. United side that competed in the Super-Y League before signing with the club at the age of 18 in 2009. Since then, the former U.S. Youth international has gone on to make 84 appearances for the club’s first team, and one appearance for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Other players to earn selection include the Portland Timbers’ Andrew Jean-Baptiste, named at No. 16, who was sent on loan to USL PRO’s Los Angeles Blues in 2012 to gain experience that has proven essential this summer as the Timbers compete for a place in the MLS Playoffs. Jean-Baptiste had also previously been part of the Super Y-League, earning ODP selection in 2007 as a member of the New York Rough Riders.
Back in the PDL, former River City Rovers defender Andrew Farrell was named at the No. 9 spot as he bolstered the reputation that saw him selected with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by the New England Revolution. Farrell, who claimed a Super-20 League championship with the Columbus Crew Juniors in 2011, has been spoken of as a potential future right back for the U.S. Men’s National Team, with he and Yedlin likely to battle for that responsibility in years to come.
The Colorado Rapids duo of Deshorn Brown and Dillon Powers, both former PDL standouts, were also named after playing critical roles in their rookie seasons in Denver. Brown, an All-League selection after he led the PDL with 13 goals in 13 games for Reading United, came in at No. 20 while in the middle of a season that has seen him lead all rookies with seven goals. Powers, formerly of the Austin Aztex, has been a standout in the center of the Rapids midfield, making 27 appearances while scoring four goals and adding five assists.