U.S. U-17 standout DaMarcus Beasley and Wake Forest University product Sergi Daniv are the newest members of Project-40. “DaMarcus Beasley is the youngest player to ever sign a MLS contract,” said MLS Executive Vice President of Player Relations and Operations Ivan Gazidis. “He can be thought of as a prototype for the young American soccer player developing on our soil. We are delighted that DaMarcus has chosen to progress his talent in MLS.” Beasley, the youngest player to sign an MLS contract at 16 years and 10 months, has established himself as one of the U.S. U-17 national team’s top scorers with 17 goals and 16 assists during the last two years as the team prepares to qualify for FIFA’s World Youth Championship in November 1999. The youngest of the two Beasley brothers in MLS (older brother Jamar is part of Project-40 and is assigned to the New England Revolution), DaMarcus is a resident of the Bollettieri Academy, part of Project 2010’s Residency Program, in an effort to receive year-round training by national team staff coaches. Beasley will spend the time training with several different MLS clubs this summer in order to help immerse him into the professional soccer arena, but he will not see time in MLS matches. The Indiana native will train and play games with U.S. Pro-40 under the guidance of Head Coach Lothar Osiander when U-17 team duties do not conflict with the Pro-40 team’s A-League schedule. During the course of Major League Soccer’s fourth campaign, Beasley will be assigned to a squad and will report to the team following his high school graduation in the spring of 2000. Daniv, a three-time First Team All-ACC honoree and two-time NSCAA Third Team All-America selection, will forgo his final season of eligibility at Wake Forest University to join Project-40. “A number of MLS coaches have expressed a high degree of interest in Sergi Daniv,” Gazidis commented. “MLS is committed to see Daniv thrive in MLS’ professional environment.” A product of the Ukraine’s Lviv Academy of the Olympic Reserve, Daniv was a consistent contributor for the Deacon attack, scoring 17 goals and 14 assists in three seasons. Daniv was sidelined during the 1997 season after three knee surgeries during the 1996 postseason. The only freshman to receive NSCAA All-America honors in 1995 (Third Team), Daniv was a member of the U-16 Soviet National Team and U-18 Ukraine National Team prior to coming to the United States. Having never participated in a FIFA match, Daniv is committed to representing the United States in the future. The midfielder will be assigned to an MLS team in the near future.