College: SA Boys Region III Super-11 Recruits

The consensus choice among college coaches as the top incoming freshman in the country this fall is midfielder Jason Moore, who at 18 is already a seasoned veteran of the U.S. national team system. Moore has long caught the wandering eyes of college coaches at youth tournaments, as it was visible early in his development that there was something extra special with the Lilburn, Ga., midfielder. He’s always had a little more poise, a little more speed and a little more creativity than his peers. At 14 he was already playing on the U.S. under-17 national team. At 15, he was a member of the U.S. Pan-American Games team. And at 16 he was a standout among players four years his senior at ODP camps. Moore, who graduated early from Parkview High School in order to try to make the U.S. Olympic team, looked poised to go the pro route, like Chicago area senior standout Nino Da Silva. Ajax at one point approached Moore about signing a youth contract. But a blown-out left knee threw a wrench into the gears. Although Moore was named an alternate to the Olympic team, the injury set him back enough to make him reevaluate his future. The beneficiary has been the University of Virginia and coach George Gelnovatch, who will get to see if the Parade Magazine High School Player of the Year can transfer his youth success to the college game. “Jason has all the potential to be a big-time player [in college],” Gelnovatch said. “He is athletic, fast and technically sound with the ball.” Although Moore has the most international experience of the Region III recruits, several others are gaining ground with the U.S. under-18 national team and coach Mitch Murray, whose day job is coaching at Santa Clara University. At a recent training camp in Chula Vista, Calif., in mid-February, Murray had a chance to evaluate his players in preparation for an international tournament in Italy. “It’s a very talented class,” Murray said. “There’s a lot of talent, players with good technical abilities and maturity. I’m not sure that there’s too many dynamic, impact players. But there are some solid, mature players that should be able to contribute right away in college.” Among players out of Region III to impress Murray were midfielder Nick Garcia, the Gatorade Player of the Year; defender Rusty Pierce; and striker Caleb Norkus. Norkus, a 6-foot, 170-pound striker, is headed to the University of North Carolina. “He’s the best player [on the U-18 national team] with his back to the goal,” Murray said of Norkus. “We can play into his feet and he is able to hold on to the ball. However, he needs to be a little bit more goal dangerous.” Pierce, bound for UNC Greensboro, was the defensive standout in camp. “Pierce just had a tremendous camp [in San Diego],” said Murray. UNC Greensboro head coach Michael Parker, who doubles as the Region III ODP coach, also likes what he sees in Pierce. “Rusty is the kind of big, strong, physical player we need,” Parker said. “He’s a fine tackler and has the skill to go forward with the ball. He should help us right away.” Garcia, a 5-10 midfielder who plays for youth club powerhouse Dallas Texans, will join Jerry Yeagley at Indiana. Yeagley, who returns all 10 field starters from a season ago, thinks Garcia can break into the lineup. “Nick is mature beyond his years,” Yeagley said. “We have a lot of talented and experienced starters returning next year so it will be tough for anyone to become an immediate impact on the field. But Nick is one of those special players…. He has a sophistication that kids don’t have as freshmen.” Garcia visited the campus and watched a game last year. He liked what he saw. “The campus was beautiful and we got to see Indiana play Wisconsin. Dema [Kovalenko] was already hurt, unfortunately, but I loved watching the team play,” Garcia said. “Theirs is a style I definitely feel comfortable with. But coming in as a freshman I’m not sure what to expect. I’ve heard the game is more physical and faster. The quicker and better I adapt to the college game, the better I’ll be able to contribute.” by Soccer America Associate Editor Poul Swain

Soccer America’s Super 11 Recruits (BOYS REGION III)