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USL Academy Western Conference Players To Watch

By USL-Academy.com Staff, 10/03/19, 2:30PM EDT

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Keep your eye on these top talents in San Antonio


14-year-old Francis Jacobs (center) is one of the most exciting American youth prospects and will play for Orange County at the Western Conference USL Academy Event. Photo courtesy Orange County SC

The inaugural USL Academy event kicks off in just over one week, with 14 teams headed to San Antonio to test themselves against the nation's other elite youth players. Plenty of the players at the Western Conference event have been called in to the U.S. youth national team set up, and the talent on display should provide a glimpse of the future for American soccer fans. From this field of excellent players, there are a few that stand out as the event's top players to watch.

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Francis Jacobs
Midfielder
Orange County SC
As the youngest male professional soccer history in U.S. history, 14-year-old Francis Jacobs has a lot of hype to live up to. An excellent passing midfielder with plenty of skill on the ball, Jacobs will look to make his mark on the USL Academy stage. He has featured for the U.S. National Team at the U14 level and is one of the most highly-regarded prospects in the U.S. Youth system. Jacobs’ talents will be on display to a national audience in the tournament opener, which will be streamed live by Nutmeg Sports and available to watch on YouTube.
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Leo Torres
Midfielder
San Antonio FC
Another player to sign a pro contract at a young age, Torres was just 15 when he inked a deal with San Antonio FC and has also taken part in U.S. Youth National Team camps. Torres will have a chance to showcase his skills on his home turf. He was called up to U.S. U15 national camp in April, where he impressed coaches with his versatility. For such a young player, Torres already has a full arsenal of flicks and tricks. The first game of the tournament pits Torres and SAFC against Jacobs’ OCSC in what should be a matchup of two of the most talked-about young players in American soccer.
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Rocky Perez
Midfielder
San Antonio FC
Yet another talented SAFC youngster, Perez forms a formidable partnership with Torres that will be tough for any team to beat at the USL Academy level. Like his teammate, Perez has also been called in to the U.S. U15 National team set up, and has piqued the interest of coaches and scouts alike.
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Diego Rosas
Forward
Rio Grande Valley FC
The IDEA Toros academy system is turning heads for its approach to youth development, and no player is getting more attention in its ranks than Diego Rosas. At just 14-years-old, Rosas was recently involved in a U.S. Youth National Team Talent ID camp. He was ranked as one of the top offensive prospects for his age at that camp, and will put his abilities on display at the inaugural USL Academy event.
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Devin Pittler-Mcnamara
Defender
San Francisco Glens SC
Pittler-McNamara was named to the Tournament Best XI at the Donosti Cup in Spain, where the Glens finished as runners-up. A precocious defender with intelligence beyond his years, Pittler-McNamara will be tough to get past in the Premier Division.
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Jack Wagoner
Midfielder
Saint Louis FC
A promising midfield talent, Wagoner was identified by U.S. youth national team in November 2018 when he was invited to a regional ID session. At only 15 years old, USL Academy is the perfect platform for Wagoner to continue making a name for himself, and fans will have a chance to watch him play when St. Louis play Austin in one of the event’s three streamed games.
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Giuseppe Gereau
Defender
Saint Louis FC
Gereau joined his teammate Wagoner at the U.S. youth national team regional ID session last November. Though also just 15 (and 14 at the time), Gereau started 23 of 26 games for St. Louis FC’s U16/17 squad during the 2018/2019 season. Some of the top young attackers in the country will face a stern test of their skills in going up against Gereau in San Antonio.
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Riley Lynch
Midfielder
Phoenix Rising FC
Lynch was named to the Boys ECNL All-America Team for the 2018-2019 season, and watching him play it’s easy to see why. An exciting creator, the young midfielder has done a good job establishing himself in a competitive Phoenix academy system. Phoenix’s game against San Antonio FC on the final day of the event will be live-streamed by Nutmeg Sports, giving fans that may not have heard of him a chance to see him in action.

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