In what may prove to be a sign of things to come, the best high school player coming out of Region II this year will forego college to enter the pro ranks.

Nino DaSilva — the son of former Brazilian pro Batata out of Hoffman Estates, Ill. — draws raves from college coaches for his ability.

“The best compliment I can give is he makes players around him better,” said Evansville’s Fred Schmalz, who coached him in Region II select camps.

But neither Schmalz nor any other college coaches will have the services of the U.S. under-18 national team midfielder.

DaSilva has decided to turn pro and is a prime candidate for MLS’s Project-40, although he’s also been considering pro opportunities in Brazil. Batata is serving as his son’s agent.

But DaSilva isn’t the only player of potential to emerge from Region II this year. Several other top-notch high school players stand out and have a good shot at making an impact on the college game, even as freshmen.

Ali Curtis, headed to Duke, can play either up front or as a flank player, where his speed can make him an overlapping threat.

Striker Corey Woolfolk — who got the nod from several coaches as the best player in the region, aside from DaSilva — chose Stanford over a queue of wooing coaches.

“He’s very quick and skillful, he loves to go to goal,” said Indiana’s Jerry Yeagley. “He’s going to be a great college player.”

Stanford coach Bobby Clark is very happy with Woolfolk, who impressed him with not just his play but also with his maturity and demeanor.

“He’s a pretty special kid,” Clark said. “He’s a great student [3.9 GPA and top four in his class] and a very good athlete. He’s the package, a perfect fit for Stanford.”

Also headed out west is McKinley Tennyson, a powerful forward who signed a letter of intent to go to UCLA.

Tennyson is another player in the U.S. U-18 pool, who has the physical tools to fend off collegiate defenders. Although Yeagley exaggerated just a bit when he described the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder as having a “Shaquille O’Neal body type,” Tennyson turned college coaches’ heads in high school

“He was a man among boys,” was one coach’s assessment.

Yeagley missed out on Tennyson, but he did pick up his Indianapolis high school teammate in Matt Fundenberger.

The pair led North Central High School to the Indiana state championship, the school’s fourth state title in a row. In fact, it was Fundenberger who led the team in scoring and was named Indiana’s High School Player of the Year.

Fundenberger is a year older than the other recruits because he spent a year in Germany. The year’s experience shows, according to Yeagley.

“He’s sophisticated,” said Yeagley. “He doesn’t quite have the [physical] gifts that Tennyson has, but he’s big and strong and a good goalscorer.”

It was a sparse year for defenders in the region this year, but Wisconsin managed to pick up two able backs in Adam Erhard and Mike Congiu. Both Erhard, a commodity as a left-footed player, and Congiu could see time as freshmen for the Badgers, who have yet to name a replacement for ousted head coach Jim Launder.

The top midfielder in the region is probably Pat Mahoney, a teammate of DaSilva and Tennyson on the U.S. U-18 team. He nixed offers from several more heralded schools to stay close to home at Michigan State.

UNC Charlotte picked up midfielder Doug Deken, who may be converted to a defender by coach John Tart.

by Soccer America Associate Editor Poul Swain

Soccer America’s Super 11 Recruits (Region II)

Pos. Name Hometown College

F Jaron Barbee Cleveland Wake Forest

Shields ball well, scores goals

D Mike Congiu Wheaton, Ill. Wisconsin

A tough, solid defender

MF Ali Curtis Milan, Mich. Duke

Explosive speed could put him on flank

MF Doug Deken Strongville, Ohio UNC Charlotte

Comfortable with ball at feet

D Adam Erhard North Olmstead, Ohio Wisconsin

Good technical ability and pace

F Matt Fundenberger Indianapolis. Indiana

Gained experience from year in Germany

MF Brad Henderson St. Louis Evansville

Technical player with a “huge throw-in”

MF Pat Mahoney Shelby Township, Mich. Mich. State

Total package; has vision and ball control

G Kyle Milligan Hudson, Ohio Akron

Tremendous range, confident with feet

F McKinley Tennyson Indianapolis UCLA

Physically a dominant player

F Corey Woolfolk Ann Arbor, Mich. Stanford

Great work ethic, can set people up and finish