Top 20 United States Prospects Born in 2008
JUNE 2023
It's very early, but the 2008 class has the potential to be one of the strongest in recent history. The class is rich with high end talent at many different positions with players that are already on first team contracts and playing up various age groups. The positional strengths of this group include center-backs, even left-footed center-backs, wingers, attacking and defensive mids. The weaker position groups include full-backs and box to box midfielders.
#1 | AM, Maximo Carrizo, NYCFC
Other citizenship: Argentina
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: 1
Carrizo is technically and tactically elite for his age. He is a classic number ten that keeps the ball glued to his feet, with great vision and a ton of ways to deliver dangerous passes.
Club Experience
Carrizo has more or less graduated from NYCFCs academy and is now predominately a second team player in MLS Next Pro. As crazy as it sounds, Carrizo could be in store for a MLS debut at some point this season. If not this year, next year seems likely. Carrizo is one of only a few 2008 players already on a first team contract.
International Experience
Carrizo has been involved with Argentina U17 camps and is currently in Japan with the United States U16 team. He has been invited to United States U17 camps as well.
#2 | AM/SS, Jack Mize, Borussia Dortmund
Other citizenship: None
Status: Not applicable
Prospect Tier: 1
Mize is a versatile attacker that has played as a 10, winger, second striker and center-forward for Dortmund this year. He displays some of the best final third composure, decision making and precision I have seen from a U.S. player at this age. While I haven't seen full game tape of Mize this year, I've seen enough really high level clips to be confident about his ranking.
Club Experience
Mize had a fantastic first season at Dortmund playing primarily with the U15s, but also spending time with the U16s. Mize scored well over 20 goals and added over 15 assists on the season across competitions.
International Experience
Mize has yet to appear at a United States YNT camp.
#3 | LCB, Ramiz Hamouda, Sporting KC
Other citizenship: Sudan
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: 1
Hamouda is a special center-back talent with tons of elite tools: size, athleticism, ball control, passing range, quick feet, defensive instincts and confidence.
Club Experience
Hamouda has been a star player for SKC's U15 team this year and has recently been playing for the U17 team. He has been playing primarily as a left center-back, but also getting time as a left-back and striker. Hamouda is the best prospect SKC has had in a long time and it shouldn't be too long before they try to sign him to a first team deal.
International Experience
It did not take long for Hamouda to get on U.S. Soccer's radar. He has been a fixture with the U15 in the last few camps and played in all three games in the U15's recent tournament in Spain.
#4 | DM/CM, Decarlo Guerra, LAFC
Other citizenship: Guetamala
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: 1
Guerra is an advanced defensive midfielder with great size, athleticism, on ball ability and defensive presence.
Club Experience
Guerra is one of a few 2008 players that played at the U17 level for his MLS academy this year and he was a key starter for a dominant team. He doesn't always have a ton to do because his team so dominant, but he showed up well at the GA Cup against higher levels of competition. It will be interesting to see if LAFC look to sign Guerra to a first team deal soon. LAFC have not been a club that gives out first team deals to very young players.
International Experience
Guerra has appeared in three games with one goal for the U.S. U15 team and he has also been invited to U.S. U16 camps. He has also appeared in two games for Gautemala's U17 team.
#5 | WING, Nimfasha Berchimas, Charlotte FC
Other citizenship: Burundi
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: Low 1
Berchimas is a direct and dynamic winger with good feet, relentless off ball movement and the will to impact most games he plays in.
Club Experience
Berchimas is another 2008 that played up this year with Charlotte's U17 team. Overall I thought he did well to get in dangerous positions, but did struggle to find the back of the net at times. Berchimas has played a little bit with the second team this year and is already on a first team deal.
International Experience
Berchimas is highly rated by U.S. Soccer and has been playing up an age group since 2022. He played with the U15s last year and is now playing with the U16s and has been one of their better players. He has also been invited to a U17 camp.
#6 | WING, Julian Hall, New York Red Bulls
Other citizenship: Poland
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: Low 1
Hall is a dynamic winger with tremendous pace, verticality, quick feet and he can be deadly in the final third.
Club Experience
Hall has been one of the best, if not the best, player at the U15 level this year in MLS Next and he was having an incredible GA Cup before he was red carded in the playoffs. Hall has also spent some time with the U17 team and is also one of the few 2008 players to play in MLS Next Pro. Hall is likely a homegrown candidate as RBNY likes to lock up top prospects early, but Hall has an EU passport and will be tempted to leave for Europe when he turns 16.
International Experience
Hall was selected to the first set of official games in late April, early May and appeared in three games, scoring one goal.
#7 | WING/CF, Cristiano Carlos, New England Revolution
Other citizenship: Portugal
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: Low 1
Carlos is one of the most creative attackers in the USYNT pool. He has great feet and an imagination and confidence to do many surprising things in tight spaces.
Club Experience
Carlos has been a standout and best eleven level player in MLS Next at the U15 level, leading his team in goals scored.
International Experience
Carlos has been invited to numerous U15 camps, but was not at the latest set of games in Spain.
#8 | WING, Omar Marquez, Real Salt Lake
Other citizenship: Unaware (reach out if you knowledge)
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: Low 1
Marquez is a strong, brave and explosive winger with a tremendous first touch, ball control and a powerful right foot.
Club Experience
Marquez has been electric for RSL at the U15 level and has also spent some time with the U17 team.
International Experience
Marquez was selected to the first set of official games in late April, early May and appeared in three games, scoring one goal.
#9 | GK, Aidan Stokes, New York Red Bulls
Other citizenship: England
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: Low 1
Stokes is one of the best goal keeping prospects in the U.S. youth pool with very few weak spots in his game.
Club Experience
Stokes has split his time between the U15 and U17 team, playing very well at both levels.
International Experience
Stokes was selected to the first set of official games in late April, early May and started one of the three games.
#10 | CM/DM, Jude Terry, LAFC
Other citizenship: Argentina, Mexico
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: Low 1
Terry has a super well rounded physical profile and skillset that enables him to do so many valuable things on the field. He is good on and off the ball, both offensively and defensively — very few glaring weaknesses in his game.
Club Experience
Terry splits his time between the U15 and U17 team and does not look out of place at all when he is playing up with the U17s.
International Experience
Terry has been at every U.S. U15 camp and was selected to the first set of official games in late April, early May. He appeared in all three games. Terry has also attended a Mexico U15 camp.
#11 | CF, Anisse Saidi, Philadelphia Union
Other citizenship: Tunisia
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: Low 1
Saidi is a super skillful striker with tremendous instincts in the penalty box. Saidi loves getting the ball delivered to his feet where he can create space with clever touches, create chances with proficient passes and score goals in a variety of ways.
Club Experience
Saidi has been one of the top goal scorers in MLS Next at the U15 level and has recently played in some important games for the U17s.
International Experience
Saidi has been at almost every U.S. U15 camp and was selected to the first set of official games in late April, early May. He appeared in all three games.
#12 | CM, Gil de Souza, New York Red Bulls
Other citizenship: Brazil
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: High 2
de Souza is an imposing midfield prospect with good dribbling ability, progressive passing and good movement off of the ball. Defensively, he can be a bully in duels.
Club Experience
de Souza has split his time between the U15 and U17, more recently playing predominately for the U17 team in league play.
International Experience
de Souza has only been invited to one or two U.S. U15 camps which is very surprising to me. I am not sure what the reason is, but in a class that lacks true box to box midfielders, de Souza is one of the best and should be with the U15 group.
#13 | AM/WING, Gustavo Caraballo, Orlando City
Other citizenship: Venezuela
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: 2
Caraballo is a big time playmaker and impact player. He generates a ton of chances for himself and for others and is one of the leading goal scorers in MLS Next at the U15 level.
Club Experience
Caraballo has been the top player for the Orlando City U15 team and a best eleven player in MLS Next at that level.
International Experience
Caraballo has been invited to a few U.S. U15 camps but has not yet played in an official game.
#14 | RB, Gio Villa, Real Salt Lake
Other citizenship: Mexico
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: 2
Villa is a speedy full-back that loves joining in on the attack. Villa has advanced dribbling ability, and can cut in on his right foot and deliver a great strike on goal. Villa knows how to impact games in a variety of ways.
Club Experience
Villa has played both left and right-back for RSL's U15s this year and has also appeared for their U17 at times. He has been one of the best full-backs in MLS Next at the U15 level this year.
International Experience
Villa has appeared three times for the United States U15s and twice for Mexico's U15 teams. My sources tell me he will choose Mexico for the Concacaf U15 Championships later this year.
#15 | WING, Jamir Johnson, Philadelphia Union
Other citizenship: Jamaica
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: 2
Johnson is a smart and speedy winger with the ability to make plays with both feet. Johnson can deliver dangerous crosses and also times his back post runs very well. He is a fearless player.
Club Experience
Johnson has been one of the best players on arguably the most talented U15 team in MLS Next.
International Experience
Johnson appeared in all three games in the U.S. U15s tournament in Spain earlier this month and was regarded as one of the top performers.
#16 | RCB, Kevin Jimenez, San Jose Earthquakes
Other citizenship: Mexico
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: 2
Jimenez is one of the best center-backs on the ball in this class. He is very tidy with the ball at his feet and is very clever with his body positioning and body manipulation to get himself out of pressure and break lines with his dribbling and passing. Defensively he shows very good feet in one on one situations.
Club Experience
Jimenez has been a best eleven level center-back in MLS Next this year at the U15 level.
International Experience
Jimenez has been involved in a U.S. U15 camp, but was not in the squad for the latest tournament in Spain.
#17 | CF, Zidane Yanez, NYCFC
Other citizenship: Puerto Rico, Chile (in progress)
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: 2
Yanez is a skillful striker that thrives when dropping in, connecting with teammates and initiating give and go situations. Yanes moves really well off of the ball and has clever feet when on the ball.
Club Experience
Yanez has been the leading scorer for NYCFC's U15 team this year.
International Experience
Yanez has not yet been invited to a U.S. U15 camp.
#18 | LCB, Zach Molomo, FC Dallas
Other citizenship: None I am aware of
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: 2
Molomo is a very athletic left footed center-back with a ton of tools. He is comfortable on the ball and an above average passing range. Defensively, he has the profile that could translate to be a dominant defender.
Club Experience
Molomo has been the top player on FC Dallas' U15 team this year, playing primarily as a left center-back, but also seeing time at left-back.
International Experience
Molomo has been involved in a couple of U15 camps, but was not in the squad for the latest tournament in Spain.
#19 | GK, Jack Kortkamp, Sporting KC
Other citizenship: Canada
Status: Not tied
Prospect Tier: 2
Kortkamp is a big and athletic keeper with very good hands. He makes smart and precise decisions on the ball and shows good technique and range when passing out of the back.
Club Experience
Kortkamp is the starting goalkeeper for SKCs U15 team and one of the top performing keepers at that level. Next year he will look to win the U17 starting job next season.
International Experience
Kortkamp has been in almost every U15 camp over the last year or so and started two of the three games in their first set of official friendlies earlier this year.
#20 | RCB, Christopher Cupps, Chicago Fire
Other citizenship: None
Status: Not applicable
Prospect Tier: 2
Cupps is a mature center-back with good size, mobility and vision. He is very good at finding players in pockets of space between the lines and executes his passes with consistent accuracy. Defensively, he is positional sound and disciplined when facing dribblers in one on one situations.
Club Experience
Cupps is the only 2008 born center-back at an MLS academy that primarily played for his U17 team this year and he rarely looked out of place.
International Experience
Cupps has been involved in a couple of U15 camps, but was not in the squad for the latest tournament in Spain.
Additional Notes
I have not seen William Lodmell (Sporting CP), Alexander Smith (Rangers), Lorenzo Oertli (Damm), Austyn Jones (Utrecht) and Marius Aiyenero (Torcy) play and there are always dual-nats in overseas academies that emerge at the U16 and U17 levels.
I have also not seen Lio Gitau play this year who is a player that I viewed as a top 2008 last year.
Scouting Approach
How I approach scouting, grading and tiering youth prospects.
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