MLS prospects dot NCAA landscape
Scouting reports on some of nation's best college seniors
NCAA College Cup
GOALKEEPERS
Chris Brown, Boston College
6-5, 225, Pleasant Hill, Calif. (Walsingham Academy)
2008: 20 games, 20 goals Against, 0.96 goals against average
Scouting report by Eagles head coach Ed Kelly:
"Chris is All-ACC, one of best goalkeepers in country ... very good reflexes ... command of box ... has improved kicking ... he can really play ... very highly thought of by pro coaches."
Neal Kitson, St. John's
6-0, 180, Queens, N.Y. (Cardozo H.S.)
2008: 23 games, 11 GA, 0.47 GAA
Scouting report by Red Storm head coach David Masur:
"Neal's done a fantastic job for us ... very consistent ... controls box well ... makes saves off-line ... trains very hard ... complete player ... ability to improve"
Zach Simmons, Massachusetts
6-2, 185, Durham, N.H. (Oyster River H.S.)
2008: 21 games, 18 GA, 0.81 GAA
Scouting report by Minutemen head coach Sam Koch:
"Zach's been an outstanding player for us ... led us back to the NCAA Tournament with two new backs in front of him, who he had to help along ... an outstanding leader, an outstanding individual ... Academic All-American, plans to attend Yale law school when he is finished playing ... good hands ... good physical presence ... very quick up top ... fearless coming out on crosses...good shot blocker, very good with his angles"
DEFENDERS
Ryan Adeleye, North Carolina
6-1, 170, Maplewood, N.J. (PDA)
2008: 22 games, 0 goals, 0 assists
Scouting report by Tar Heels head coach Elmar Bolowich:
"Ryan was with us for two years after transferring from Davidson ... he's made very steady progress and is a key reason why we've come so far (in 2008) ... anchors young backline ... great maturity ... athletic and very strong ... will need to continue to adapt to mental aspect of playing vs. professionals"
Calum Angus, Saint Louis
6-0, 168, Portsmouth, England (Portsmouth Football Club)
2008: 16 games, 0 G, 2 A
Scouting report by Billikens head coach Dan Donigan:
"Calum has had a fantastic career at Saint Louis ... one of the first foreign players to play for SLU, England native has adjusted well to American game and lifestyle ... very vocal, passionate leader ... very good two-way game, defends well, and can run, beat people with the dribble ... good in the air ... best at outside back or outside mid ... lacks ideal size, but makes up for it with speed, intelligence, savvy"
Matt Besler, Notre Dame
6-0, 170, Overland Park, Kan. (KCFC Alliance)
2008: 21 games, 1 G, 1 A
Scouting report by Fighting Irish head coach Bobby Clark:
"Matt is a four-year starter, two-time captain ... very athletic, very skilled, excellent field awareness ... started out at center mid, moved to center back ... an outstanding defender who can also play the ball out of the back ... being left-footed is a tremendous asset"
Oscar Castillo, Connecticut
5-7, 165, El Monte, Calif. (Mountain View H.S.)
2008: 21 games, 0 G, 1 A
Scouting report by Huskies head coach Ray Reid:
"Oscar is a very tough kid ... good feet ... great athlete ... very good attacker ... very competitive."
Chris Clements, Tulsa
6-2, 187, Allen, Texas (Dallas Texans '87 Red)
2008: 18 games, 0 G, 0 A
Scouting report by Golden Hurricane head coach Tom McIntosh:
"Been a starter for Tulsa for better part of four years ... very comfortable in possession, gives other players time on ball ... strikes an excellent ball ... excellent passing range, 50-60 yards with accuracy ... wants ball, comfortable with ball ... grown in understanding of how to hold, adjust a defensive line ... not super athletic, but more than compensates for that with poise, intelligence and strength in possession."
Eric DeFreitas, Tulsa
6-0, 153, Coppell, Texas (Metro '86, Solar '87)
2008: 19 games, 4 G, 2 A
Scouting report by Golden Hurricane head coach Tom McIntosh:
"Third-team All-American as a junior, senior season affected by injuries ... played up front and in midfield in college, future is likely in back ... compares favorably to former Tulsa player Lawson Vaughn, current starter with Chivas USA ... nothing physically that he can't do"
Paul Gerstenberger, Boston College
6-0, 160, Schenectady, N.Y. (Colonie)
2008: 18 games, 0 G, 2 A
Scouting report by Eagles head coach Ed Kelly:
"Excellent attacking fullback ... great feet ... quality person ... natural left foot ... very good with crosses, free kicks ... natural left back, doesn't need to be converted there."
Jack Traynor, Notre Dame
5-9, 150, St. Charles, Mo. (Scott Gallagher Soccer Club)
2008: 21 games, 1 G, 1 A
Scouting report by Fighting Irish head coach Bobby Clark:
"Jack is a four-year starter at left back for the Irish ... played every minute since coming into the program ... very tough on the ball and good in the air, though lacking ideal size ... left-footed"
MIDFIELDERS
Michael Callahan, North Carolina
5-9, 150, Cary, N.C. (CASL Elite)
2008: 21 games, 3 G, 5 A
Scouting report by Tar Heels head coach Elmar Bolowich:
"Michael has provided us with great leadership as a defensive midfielder ... team captain ... very disciplined, focused 100 percent of the time in training and in games ... makes everyone around him better with winning attitude ... very versatile player, can play multiple midfield positions ... not the fastest runner, but has very good awareness, positioning, and competitiveness."
Sam Cronin, Wake Forest
5-10, 165, Winston-Salem, N.C. (Mount Tabor)
2008: 23 games, 10 G, 4 A
Scouting report by Demon Deacons head coach Jay Vidovich:
"Sam came to Wake Forest under the radar ... Winston-Salem native ... improved throughout career ... three-year captain ... led team to national championship as junior ... very capable of doing the 'dirty work' of a holding midfielder ... tremendous work rate ... can cover top players ... good air game ... long distance distributor ... reads game quickly."
Andrei Gotsmanov, Creighton
6-1, 170, Eagan, Minn. (Minnesota ODP)
2008: 18 games, 10 G, 4 A
Scouting report by Blue Jays head coach Bob Warming:
"Andrei probably has the most beautiful touch and best vision of any player we've had at Creighton ... completes over 80 percent of his passes going forward, which is incredible, very unusual ... left-footed ... can score off free kicks ... great teammate ... has a lot of tremendous positives, but he's not perfect ... needs to find right coach and system in MLS."
Kyle Patterson, Saint Louis
5-9, 160, Birmingham, England (West Bromwich Albion FC)
2008: 21 games, 12 G, 5 A
Scouting report by Billikens head coach Dan Donigan:
"Came to St. Louis from England along with (Calum) Angus ... brings great attitude to training everyday ... very professional demeanor instilled in England ... fast, powerful attacker ... uses strength on offense ... very consistent game ... excellent leader by example"
Akeem Priestly, Connecticut
5-11, 165, Kingston, Jamaica (Wolmers)
2008: 16 games, 3 G, 4 A
Scouting report by Huskies head coach Ray Reid:
"Akeem has a great left leg ... reads the game very well ... excellent technique ... makes good runs."
Brad Ring, Indiana
5-10, 165, Rockford, Ill. (Chicago Magic)
2008: 17 games, 1 G, 1 A
Scouting report by Hoosiers head coach Mike Freitag:
"When we recruited Brad, we knew he was a big-time winner ... Effective, tough ball-winner, who can also play ... has the fight and drive of a winner, competitive as heck ... explosive, scored some world-class goals for Indiana ... has the right makeup to play in MLS"
FORWARDS
Mike Grella, Duke
5-11, 170, Glen Cove, N.Y. (Albertson Red Storm)
2008: 18 games, 14 G, 8 A
Scouting report by Blue Devils head coach John Kerr:
"Mike has meant a great deal to our program. We've had a lot of success with him, and the team has been successful because of him ... he deserves all of the accolades he's received ... he's got it all ... creates goals for himself and others ... has made technical progress ... ball control is immaculate ... I think he'll do great in MLS ... his will to win is remarkable."
Chris Pontius, California-Santa Barbara
6-0, 170, Yorba Linda, Calif. (Irvine Strikers)
2008: 22 games, 14 G, 4 A
Scouting report by Gauchos head coach Tim Von Steeg:
"Chris' strength is the fact that he is as athletic as you are going to find in this year's class ... has rare combination of being great athlete and great soccer player ... very versatile, played fullback early in college career, then midfield, before moving up front ... tailor-made for MLS as an outside midfielder ... I actually think he'd be able to start for an MLS team (in 2009) ... comparable as a player to Clint Dempsey."
Marcus Tracy, Wake Forest
6-1, 170, Newtown, Conn. (Beachside of Connecticut)
2008: 23 games, 13 G, 10 A
Scouting report by Demon Deacons head coach Jay Vidovich:
"We are very fortunate to have Marcus ... grown tremendously ... willingness to improve ... tremendous leader ... has athleticism of top goal scorers ... threat to opponents at all times ... strong ... he doesn't run, he glides ... has fantastic vertical ... scores goals with his head ... capable of playing in tight spaces ... tremendous potential under right tutelage with right opportunity."
O'Brian White, Connecticut
6-1, 175, Scarborough, Ont., Canada (Lester B. Pearson)
2008: 14 games, 6 G, 2 A
Scouting report by Huskies head coach Ray Reid:
"O'Brian's a horse up top ... Hermann Tropy winner as a junior ... very good MLS forward prospect ... good in the air, great feet, great pace ... provides a great target and is a great finisher."
