The top unsigned 2009 born players in the United States

Gardner is currently my 11th ranked player in the 2009 class and a United States youth international. He has a real chance of making the U-17 World Cup roster given his ability to play right winger and right-back at a high level, though roster calls are never as simple as they look from the outside. The Dynamo don't appear to rate him as highly as I do, at least based on how he's been used. He's been part of the second team for the last two years but primarily as a substitute, and there may be reasons for that we're not seeing. I've also spoken to agents who have pursued Gardner and the sense is that college is a probable outcome. He's already committed to Wake Forest. From a purely soccer standpoint I'd like to see him take a different path, but I understand the appeal of a great education and a strong backup plan, and I don't know what offers are or aren't on the table.

Predicted outcome: Wake Forest University

White is my 18th ranked 2009 and he could climb higher in my next update. His ability to defend in space is pretty rare. Inter Miami tend to move slowly on academy signings so this could come down to the deadline, though that's their process and not necessarily a read on the player. I do believe they rate him. No Inter Miami 2009 has played more with the second team. To my knowledge White hasn't signed with an agent and hasn't made a college commitment yet. He's the son of former MLB outfielder Rondell White. My guess is he ends up signing with Inter Miami.

Predicted outcome: Inter Miami hybrid deal

Dearmin is my 19th ranked 2009. He's been playing with the second team, just not as much as White. He also plays a homegrown-friendly position — right-back is typically a spot clubs leave open for homegrown players. Dearmin is a Scottish-American and is already signed with CAA Stellar, so college isn't in the cards. He's born late in 2009, which makes him younger than most on this list. He could sign with Inter Miami, but that Scottish passport could be useful in a move to a UK-based club. I have no insider information here, just a guess that he ends up at one of the two big Scottish clubs.

Predicted outcome: signs with Celtic or Rangers

Francka is the last player on this list who currently sits in my 2009 top 20, coming in at 20th. He started the MLS Next Pro season as the clear starter at right-back but has since lost that job and been coming off the bench. As I mentioned above, right-back is a good position to play as an MLS homegrown because you usually get opportunities to play sooner than at other positions. Jack isn't officially signed with an agent as far as I'm aware. He's born in late August, so he has another year to decide if he wants it, but I think Sporting KC gets this done in the next six months.

Predicted outcome: Sporting KC hybrid deal

Munson is a towering, 6-6 left-footed center-back with some mobility and flashes of ball-playing ability. RBNY have been patient with him and it's starting to pay off. He's stringing together more consistent performances for RBNY II and getting more starts because of it. If he keeps it up, he'll crack my 2009 top 20 for the first time. I don't know whether he's signed with an agent, but I think this is a player RBNY get signed. They have too good of a story to tell kids right now.

Predicted outcome: RBNY hybrid deal

Bori is Munson's center-back partner on the right side. He's also towering at about 6-4, but he's the more rough-and-tumble defender of the two. Like Munson, he's flashed well throughout the MLS Next Pro season. He may not have Munson's upside, but he has a higher floor. Bori got his first Albania U-17 call-up in June, which is worth filing away — a European federation getting involved can shift the calculus, even if more often than not it doesn't. I still think RBNY get him signed and end up with two future center-backs to groom for the first team.

Predicted outcome: RBNY hybrid deal

Hines has had a nice season in MLS Next Pro. He came up as more of a winger but has settled into the striker role this season and has delivered seven goals and one assist to date, which has him near the top of Sporting KC II's scoring charts. He also earned his first United States U-17 call-up in the spring. He recently signed with CAA Stellar, which suggests a decision is looming. The most likely outcome is a deal with Sporting KC.

Predicted outcome: Sporting KC hybrid deal

I'll admit I'm surprised Avalos is still at San Jose. He's played only once for the second team and the club has given those minutes to two former college keepers instead. From the outside that reads like a club that isn't prioritizing him, though depth charts, minutes agreements and development plans aren't always visible from where we're sitting. Avalos has an Icelandic passport, which would let him get to Europe before he turns 18, and that's the move I expected — I know there has been interest. He's born late in 2009, so he's on the younger side of this class. He was signed with YMU and I believe he's changing agents after a shakeup there, though I'd treat that as unconfirmed. He's a Mexican youth international and has become the first-choice keeper for a Mexico U-17 side that has qualified for the World Cup. Players on that track usually get pushed toward Liga MX and that's where I'm guessing he lands.

Predicted outcome: Liga MX club deal

Vejrostek is the youngest player on this list, born December 29, 2009, three days from being a 2010. He's earned some minutes in MLS Next Pro this year, primarily at left-back. He reminds me a little of Nolan Norris in that he's a little undersized as a left center-back and a little limited on the ball as a true left-back in a back four. His ideal position is left center-back in a back three. I believe FC Dallas rate him highly and he's already signed with CAA Stellar, which signals a deal is probably coming soon.

Predicted outcome: FC Dallas homegrown deal

Devan is one of the better players to come out of the Nashville area since the club's academy got up and running. He's played up a lot for them but hasn't featured much for the second team. Like Vejrostek, he's a bit of a center-back/left-back tweener. I like him much better at left-back and think he has enough to offer going forward to make it work there. Nashville want to sign their kids, but it's unclear from the outside how high they rate him. I don't believe he's signed with an agent or committed to a university, so he's keeping his options open. He seems like a good candidate to go play college soccer.

Predicted outcome: College soccer

Harrison only joined Philadelphia's academy toward the end of last academy season and has already debuted for the second team. From what I can tell Philadelphia rate him highly and see him as a high-potential player. Harrison is committed to the University of North Carolina, but I think a year integrating into Philly's program could lead to a lot of second-team minutes next year. If that happens, I think he ends up signing with Philly and forgoing college.

Predicted outcome: Philadelphia Union hybrid deal

Cadet is the third Inter Miami player on this list and the youngest of the three, so he has some time. A former top 20 player in this class, his stock has declined some for me. He's played here and there for the second team, but I'm not sure Inter Miami are in a huge rush. This is the hardest one on the list to predict. I don't think he's signed with an agent and I don't believe he's committed to a college program — he has two years to decide on that. I don't have any info here, so I'm guessing he eventually signs with Inter Miami, but it could be a year or two before it happens.

Predicted outcome: Inter Miami second team deal