Top 20 United States Prospects Born in 2006
November 2023
The 2006 class has been under the microscope for the last two years as the first U17 World Cup class to feature since youth soccer started up after the pandemic.There were high hopes for this class early on, but their development has not accelerated as much as you’d like to see, especially the domestic pool. They lost the majority of their U14 and U15 academy seasons due to the pandemic, which has had an impact on their development.
This class was one of the first to experience MLS' new reserve team league, MLS Next Pro. On the one hand, it has given many MLS academy kids a chance to play at a higher level of competition than U19 Academy play, but on the other, it has slowed their progression to the first team. Matai Akinmboni is the only 2006 player to get first team minutes in MLS.
The top of the class is led by players that have been in Europe for the majority of their academy careers, which we get to see less of and I believe skews the perception of the potential of this class. Many are down on the 2006 class, but I think they have the potential to be a decent class. There is more depth in the 2006 class than 2004 and 2005, but around the same amount of top level talent. It looks like there are around a handful of players that have legitimate chances to impact the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Diego Kochen, United States goalkeeper for Barcelona
2006 Class at a Glance
B-
Class Grade
CB/WING
Positional Strengths
LB/CF/CM
Positional Weaknesses
#1 | GK, Diego Kochen, FC Barcelona
Other Citizenship: Peru
Last International Cap: United States U17
Prospect Tier: High 1
Kochen has become more of a household name because he was getting first team squad appearances with Barcelona before injuring himself a few months into the season. Kochen is the most well-rounded and high potential player in this class. Many consider him one of, if not the best goalkeeper in the global 2006 class.
#2 | CB, Noahkai Banks, FC Augsburg
Other Citizenship: Germany
Last International Cap: United States U17
Prospect Tier: 1
Banks is one of the most exciting center-back prospects in the United States youth pool. He has an elite physical profile and the modern on ball skills that are required to be press resistant and build from the back. If he can clean up some of his over aggression defensively, he is a player that could impact FC Augsburg’s first team in the next few years.
#3 | DM, Pedro Soma, UE Cornella
Other Citizenship: Brazil
Last International Cap: United States U17
Prospect Tier: 1
Soma is the highest floor player in this class. If I had to bet on one player becoming at least a rotational USMNT player, it would be Soma. His physical profile isn’t out of this world, but I think he has enough to play at a good level in Europe. The rest of his game is so good. He is incredibly mature tactically and technically.
#4 | CF, Keyrol Figueroa, Liverpool FC
Other Citizenship: Honduras
Last International Cap: United States U17
Prospect Tier: 1
Figueroa is a highly talented and explosive striker prospect and the son of Honduran legend Maynor Figueroa. Figueroa has struggled with injuries early in his career, but has as much natural ability as any player in this class.
Matai Akinmboni, center-back for D.C. United
#5 | CB, Matai Akinmboni, D.C. United
Other Citizenship: Nigeria
Last International Cap: Not Capped
Prospect Tier: Low 1
Akinmboni is the best 2006 prospect that plays in the United States and the only player from this class who has earned MLS minutes. He is very well regarded within the D.C. United organization, but strangely was not highly rated by the U.S. U17 coach, Gonzalo Segares.He wasn’t a massive part of the last U17 cycle and was not selected to the U17 World Cup, which was a huge miss in my opinion. Hopefully Akinmboni can re-energize his USYNT career with a new cycle and a new manager.
#6 | AM, Christopher Olney Jr, Philadelphia Union
Other Citizenship: Italy
Last International Cap: Not Capped
Prospect Tier: High 2
Olney recently signed a professional contract with Philadelphia Union, a hybrid deal that can turn into a first team deal quickly. Olney was the best 2006 player in MLS Next Pro this past season and another snub on the U17 World Cup roster. His long-term position isn’t completely clear. He can play as an 8, 10 and winger. I would not be surprised if he starts getting first team minutes next season, he has a very mature game.
#7 | CB, Lazar Stefanovic, Toronto FC
Other Citizenship: Canada
Last International Cap: Canada U17
Prospect Tier: High 2
Stefanovic is the first player on this list that is provisionally cap-tied to another federation, Canada. Stefanovic logged over 2,000 minutes in MLS Next Pro and looked pretty good. He was the best player on the Canada U17 World Cup team and is a player the United States should continue to stay in contact with and recruit. Canada’s federation is in shambles and while his preference is clearly Canada, the U.S. might be able to get him to consider a switch because of the lack of stability within the Canadian federation.
#8 | DM, Matthew Corcoran, Birmingham Legion
Other Citizenship: None
Last International Cap: United States U17
Prospect Tier: High 2
Corcoran had a nice season in USL as one of the youngest starters in the league. He improved his stock as much as anyone at the U17 World Cup and it was great timing. He turns 18 in February next year which allows him to move to Europe and all signs are pointing to that happening.
#9 | GK, Julian Eyestone, Duke University
Other Citizenship: None
Last International Cap: Not Capped
Prospect Tier: High 2
Eyestone is the first and only player on this list that is playing college soccer. I don’t foresee him playing at Duke University for too long. Next year he turns 18, so his options open up a bit. Dallas could decide to sign him to a pro contract or he will likely have options in Europe. It’s also possible he stays at Duke — college has proven to be a decent place for goalkeepers to develop. Eyestone’s physical tools are elite and if he puts it all together he has the potential to be a USMNT level goalkeeper.
Fidel Barajas, winger for Charleston Battery
#10 | WING, Fidel Barajas, Charleston Battery
Other Citizenship: Mexico
Last International Cap: Mexico U17
Prospect Tier: 2
Barajas, like Soma, is another high floor player that is likely to have a very successful professional career. He has the most professional experience and success in this class after a fantastic first full season in USL. I like Barajas a lot, but I do have some questions about his ceiling and how effective he can be against better competition.
#11 | WING, Cole Campbell, Borussia Dortmund
Other Citizenship: Iceland
Last International Cap: Iceland U17
Prospect Tier: 2
Campbell is another player that is provisionally cap-tied to another country, Iceland. Campbell is an active and skilled left-footed attacker who can play as a 10 and on the right-wing. He hasn’t played for Iceland in a while, so the United States may try to get him to switch for the upcoming U20 cycle if they feel he is talented enough to be a key part of that group.
#12 | WING, Olger Escobar, New England Revolution
Other Citizenship: Guatemala
Last International Cap: Guatemala First Team
Prospect Tier: 2
I’ve long admired Escobar’s flair and technical ability, but he is looking more and more like a player that isn’t going to ever play in a USA kit. He was recently called up to the Guatemala senior team and received his first cap in a friendly against Jamaica.
#13 | RB, Oscar Verhoeven, San Jose Earthquakes
Other Citizenship: None
Last International Cap: United States U17
Prospect Tier: 2
Verhoeven has USMNT potential, but his inconsistency and propensity to make mistakes is a cause for concern. He is a very good defensive full-back with the skills to contribute in attack. He played well in MLS Next Pro for San Jose Earthquakes II and if he can become a little more consistent, I could see him start to get some opportunities with the first team in the next one or two seasons.
#14 | RB, Malachi Molina, FC Dallas
Other Citizenship: Jamaica
Last International Cap: Jamaica U17
Prospect Tier: 2
I’ve admired Molina’s game ever since Dallas moved him back to right-back from winger, similar to what they did with Bryan Reynolds, Justin Che and Collin Smith. He is a smooth and athletic full-back that is currently provisionally cap-tied with Jamaica.
Shakir Ajani Nixon, right-back for LAFC
#15 | RB, Shakir Nixon, LAFC
Other Citizenship: Jamaica
Last International Cap: United States U17
Prospect Tier: 2
Nixon has long been one of the most undervalued players in this class and one of the two unsigned players in my top 20 list. Nixon can play right-back and center-back, though I think his highest ceiling position is right-back. He’s a great defender with good ability on the ball. He has professional options, but I think his most likely destination is to follow through on his commitment to UCLA.
#16 | AM, Crus Medina, San Jose Earthquakes
Other Citizenship: Mexico
Last International Cap: United States U17
Prospect Tier: Low 2
Medina was at one time considered the crown jewel of this class, but after a very good U16 season at the academy level, he struggled to dominate in his U17 season. As he advanced to MLS Next Pro, the struggles continued and he failed to make any kind of an impact at that level. I would have left him off of this list had it not been for a solid U17 World Cup performance. He played with more poise and incisiveness than I have seen from him in over a year. Hopefully he can carry the momentum from that tournament into the MLS and MLS Next Pro season.
#17 | WING, Bryce Jamison, Orange County SC
Other Citizenship: None
Last International Cap: United States U17
Prospect Tier: Low 2
Jamison earned over 1,000 minutes in USL last season as a part time starter. He struggled to produce goal contributions as an attacker and looked pretty raw going forward. He does have an excellent physical profile and he is one of the best defensive wingers you will see at his age. These signals point to a potential future move to right-back, but I think he will stay at wing for another year or so before that move is considered.
#18 | CM, Ben Norris, Orange County SC
Other Citizenship: Canada
Last International Cap: Not Capped
Prospect Tier: Low 2
Norris is the player on this that most are likely to have not heard of, but I am here to tell you that this is a player to track. He is an athletic and good sized midfielder that can play as a 6, 8 or 10. He earned some first team minutes last year for Orange County and he caught my eye. I expect him to have a much bigger role with the first team next year and potentially earn himself a first team contract.
#19 | CM, Alejandro Granados, Club Brugge
Other Citizenship: Spain, Cuba
Last International Cap: Spain U17
Prospect Tier: Low 2
Granados became more of a household name after surprisingly earning a spot on Spain’s U17 Euro Championship roster where he played a fairly significant role. He parlayed that into a transfer from Orlando City to Club Brugge where he has now been playing for their second team. He’s struggled a little bit while he has been adjusting to Belgian football and as a result he did not make Spain’s U17 World Cup team.
#20 | LB, Tahir Reid-Brown, Orlando City
Other Citizenship: None
Last International Cap: United States U17
Prospect Tier: Low 2
Reid-Brown has the profile of an elite defensive left-back and he has taken some positive steps forward on the ball in the last year or two. If he can continue his progression and become more of an impact player going forward, he has a pretty interesting ceiling.
Additional Class Notes
There are a few players that I have not scouted that could be high potential United States eligible players from this class. This list includes CB, Elijah Scott from Stuttgart’s Academy who has been called into a Germany U18 camp. It also includes DM, Han Willhoft-King of Tottenham’s Academy, CM, Cheik Kone of West Brom’s Academy and AM Valentin Yotov from Bayern Munich’s Academy.
LW, Andre Gitau of Wormatia and LW Bajung Darboe are two players that I rated highly at one time, but I have not seen play a lot in the last year or so.
Scouting Approach
How I approach scouting, grading and tiering youth prospects.
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