Top 20 United States Prospects Born in 2004
NOVEMBER 2023
The 2004 class was one of the groups that was most impacted by the Pandemic. They lost the majority of their U16 and U17 seasons, critical development ages where players are growing into their bodies and learning out how to apply their skills within a match situation. Many kids that could, fled to Europe where there were more opportunities to get games. One of those players includes the young man that takes the top spot for the final 2004 rankings.
There is still a long way to go before we know the impact of this class. There are few players that have emerged as potential USMNT candidates, but overall the class still lacks depth. If we don't get contributions from some of the top players in this class, it could be a year that contributes very little to the senior team.
Luca Koleosho, Winger for Burnley
2004 Class at a Glance
C
Class Grade
GK/LB
Positional Strengths
DM/CF
Positional Weaknesses
#1 | WING, Luca Koleosho, Burnley
Other Citizenship: Italy, Canada, Nigeria
Last International Cap: Italy U-21
Prospect Tier: 1
Koleosho has been the emergent story of the 2023 - 2024 season so far. The talent has always been there, but he struggled to stay fit and put together a consistent run of games during his time at Espanyol. After a somewhat surprise move to Burnley, he has become one of Burnley's most dangerous attackers in the Premier League. As a result, Gregg Berhalter and United States Soccer have ramped up their efforts to try and persuade Koleosho to file a one-time switch away from Italy to join USMNT. If they can succeed in this recruiting campaign, Koleosho likely becomes the third or fourth winger on the USMNT depth chart.
#2 | LB, Caleb Wiley, Atlanta United
Other Citizenship: None
Last International Cap: USA U-23
Prospect Tier: 1
People forget Wiley is still only 18 (December birthday) and he just completed a very solid second pro season playing both left-back and left-wing. He isn't quite in the USMNT picture yet, but another jump or two in level and he is likely competing for the backup spot behind Jedi Robinson. He has the talent to be one of the best left-backs that the United States has ever produced.
#3 | GK, Chris Brady, Chicago Fire
Other Citizenship: None
Last International Cap: USA U-23
Prospect Tier: 1
Maybe not the keeper you were expecting to be first on this list, but a keeper that had a great first pro season in MLS. Brady was one of the better shot stoppers in MLS at just 19 years of age. I thought he performed better than Slonina did in his first pro season, albeit player at a year older. Brady is one of a few players that look like a future contender as the USMNT number one. His shot stopping ability is elite and his ceiling is quite high.
#4 | GK, Gabriel Slonina, KAS Eupen (Chelsea)
Other Citizenship: Poland
Last International Cap: USA U-20
Prospect Tier: Low 1
I know many people will take Slonina at number four to mean that I don't rate him, but that isn't true. Slonina has an incredibly refined and mature game for his age and he is one of, if not the youngest starting keepers in Europe. His performances this year have been up and down, playing for a bottom table club in Belgium. Slonina probably has a higher floor than Brady, but his ceiling isn't as high.
Rokas Pukstas, Center-Mid for Hajduk Split
#5 | CM, Rokas Pukstas, Hadjuk Split
Other Citizenship: Lithuania
Last International Cap: USA U-20
Prospect Tier: High 2
Pukstas broke out last year as a first team player for Split and carried that over to a hot start this season before suffering a knee injury. He is back in the starting eleven for Split and looking to regain his form and momentum. If he does, he is probably a year or two away from a big move within Europe. Pukstas will be competing for one of the midfield positions on the 2024 Olympic team, a highly competitive position group. He has the potential to be a USMNT pool player in the future.
#6 | CM, Owen Wolff, Austin FC
Other Citizenship: None
Last International Cap: USA U-20
Prospect Tier: Low 2
Wolff had a solid season for Austin and earned a U-20 World Cup invite where he played fairly well. Wolff is another player looking to make the 2024 Olympic Team, though I think it will be difficult for him to make that team. I am not sure he has the ceiling to be a big time USMNT contributor, but I am also not counting him out.
#7 | LB, Noah Allen, Inter Miami CF
Other Citizenship: Greece
Last International Cap: USA U-20
Prospect Tier: Low 2
Allen ended up having a big role for Inter Miami in the second half of the season due to injuries and he took that opportunity and performed quite well. Allen does not have the ceiling that Wiley has, but he is a very good left-back prospect that in prior eras of U.S. Soccer would be viewed as a potential savior for the position. He is on the outside looking in for the Olympic team with John Tolkin and Caleb Wiley ahead of him. I am not counting him out as a potential USMNT depth piece down the line.
#8 | GK, Antonio Carrera, FC Dallas
Other Citizenship: Mexico
Last International Cap: USA U-23
Prospect Tier: Low 2
In most classes, Carrera would be a top goalkeeping prospect, but this class is special. Nonetheless, Carrera is a very good young keeper that isn't too far away from being ready for a first team opportunity.
#9 | CB, Brandan Craig, Philadelphia Union
Other Citizenship: England
Last International Cap: USA U-23
Prospect Tier: Low 2
Craig has been a hot storyline this year among prospect nerds. Many hoped Craig would get a chance to be a rotational player for Philly this year. Instead, he was loaned to Austin where many thought he'd get the chance to start. He didn't, and as a result it really has been a lost year for Craig. His talent as a distributor from the back line is world-class, but he has physical limitations that have not yet been tested against grown men. Is he being mismanaged or is he not showing what he needs to show in training to get an opportunity? I don't know, but it's likely a mix of both.
Zach Booth, Attacking-Mid for Volendam
#10 | AM, Zach Booth, Volendam (Leicester City)
Other Citizenship: Italy
Last International Cap: USA U-19
Prospect Tier: Low 2
Booth has always been a talented player, but he has really struggled to stay healthy over the last few years, which has stunted his development. He got off to a really strong start for Leicester City's U21s and earned a loan to Volendam in the Eredivisie for the rest of the 2023 - 2024 season.
#11 | CF, Darren Yapi, Colorado Rapids
Other Citizenship: Ivory Coast
Last International Cap: USA U-20
Prospect Tier: Low 2
Yapi had an intriguing start to the 2023 season, earning starts as more experienced veterans were unavailable. While he got into dangerous spots and showed high level skill, he wasn't able to find the back of the net, which has been his knock as a prospect. His opportunities dwindled as the season carried on and he became more of a Next Pro player by the end of the year where he was more productive. The physical tools and talent are there, but he is a striker and the goal production needs to show up sooner or later.
#12 | RB, Alex Freeman, Orlando City
Other Citizenship: None
Last International Cap: USA U-23
Prospect Tier: Low 2
Freeman has immense talent but he hasn't been able to breakthrough with Orlando's first team. There is a lot of depth at the right-back position in Orlando and it doesn't look like a situation that is going to improve for him soon. I don't think another season in Next Pro is going to help him grow, so hopefully the club can find a better situation for him.
#13 | AM, Quinn Sullivan, Philadelphia Union
Other Citizenship: Germany
Last International Cap: USA U-20
Prospect Tier: High 3
Sullivan is one of the toughest players for me to scout. I still don't know what his best position is and in what system, but he has a lot of useful tools that make him an intriguing player. I thought he struggled at the U-20 World Cup and while he has had his moments with Philly, he hasn't improved as much as I would have liked to see the last couple of years.
#14 | SS, Damion Downs, FC Köln
Other Citizenship: Germany
Last International Cap: N/A
Prospect Tier: High 3
Downs is another attacker that doesn't have a clear position. He has the physical profile of a striker, but plays more like a winger. He'd be best in a setup that would allow him to play off of a more traditional striker, but that isn't a super common setup in global football. Downs did earn his first team debut in the Bundesliga this year, showing how much Koln believe in his potential.
Devan Tanton, Right-Back for Fulham U-21s
#15 | RB, Devan Tanton, Fulham
Other Citizenship: Colombia
Last International Cap: Colombia U-20
Prospect Tier: High 3
Tanton is having a very nice season with Fulham's U21s and recently earned his first appearance for the senior team in a FA Cup match, nothing to sneeze at for a 19-year old. He is a talented full-back that U.S. Soccer should be keeping tabs on given the lack of right-back talent within the youth pool. He is currently tied to Colombia and the question now is whether he will reach a level that garners senior caps for Colombia or the United States.
#16 | CB, Thomas Williams, Orlando City
Other Citizenship: None
Last International Cap: USA U-23
Prospect Tier: 3
Williams is a big, mobile, left-footed center-back which is a coveted profile. He has not broken through with the first team yet, but if he puts it altogether he could have an interesting future.
#17 | CB, Tony Leone, LAFC
Other Citizenship: Mexico
Latest International Cap: Mexico U-23
Prospect Tier: 3
Leone was once thought of as a top prospect, but injuries and a lack of opportunity have reduced expectations for the young center-back. He is currently cap-tied to Mexico and working towards getting an opportunity with LAFCs first team. He'll need to take some big steps if there is ever a decision to be made between Mexico and the United States' senior team.
#18 | WING, Korede Osundina, FC Dodrecht (Feyenoord)
Other Citizenship: Nigeria
Last International Cap: USA U-19
Prospect Tier: 3
Osundina was the first player to take advantage of the relationship that Orange County SC and Dutch giant Feyenoord formed by making the move to the Netherlands. He was immediately loaned to second tier side Dodrecht for the season.
#19 | WING, Jackson Hopkins, DC United
Other Citizenship: None
Last International Cap: USA U-23
Prospect Tier: Low 3
Hopkins is another player that has been a little bit of a head scratcher for me. He has the profile of a center-forward, but is more comfortable playing out wide or in support of a traditional striker. He has tools, but I am not sure there is enough there to ever breakthrough with USMNT.
#20 | SS, Nathan Ordaz, LAFC
Other Citizenship: El Salvador, Mexico
Last International Cap: El Salvador U-20
Prospect Tier: Low 3
Ordaz had a really solid season this year for both LAFC and LAFC II. He is another striker, winger, attacking-mid type tweener with good technical and tactical ability. He looks like a player that will have a really solid career in MLS and likely an impact player for El Salvador's men's team.
Additional notes
I was not able to acquire film on Malick Sanogo or Ken Aboh from this season. I don't publicize a scouting grade complete until I have watched at least 250 minutes of play within the last six months.
Scouting Approach
How I approach scouting, grading and tiering youth prospects.
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