Top 20 United States Prospects Born in 2008
December 2023
There are many that believe that the 2008 class represents a turning point in soccer talent development in the United States. COVID impacted this group much less than prior classes. They lost game time at an age where individual development is equally, if not more important than in-match development. They have benefited from a more competitive and professional academy environment at the U13, U14 and U15 level. As a result, this class looks like one of the deepest classes in a long time and it also boasts blue-chip talent at the top.
This class took home first place in the U15 Concacaf Championship, beating Mexico 4-2 in the final and outscoring their opponents 26-5 throughout the tournament. The next time we will see this team play in a competitive tournament will be the U17 Concacaf Championship in either summer/fall of 2024 or early Spring of 2025. If they make it to the semi-finals of that tournament, they would then play in the 2025 U17 World Cup.
Nimfasha Berchimas, winger for Charlotte FC, celebrating a goal at the U17 World Cup
2008 Class at a Glance
B+
Class Grade
WING/CF/CM
Positional Strengths
LB/RB/CB
Positional Weaknesses
#1 | WING, Nimfasha Berchimas, Charlotte FC
Other Citizenship: Burundi
Last International Cap: United States U17
Prospect Tier: 1
Berchimas already has a ton of tools and immense physical ability and now he's figuring out how to combine these gifts effectively on the pitch. He's coming off a breakout year, he scored his first professional goal and three goals in the u17 world cup, all as the youngest play to make a United States u17 team since Freddy Adu. He isn’t playing much academy ball anymore and is preparing himself to be a full-time starter in MLS Next Pro in 2024 and potentially a first team debut.
#2 | CM/DM, Jude Terry, LAFC
Other Citizenship: Argentina, Mexico
Last International Cap: United States U15
Prospect Tier: 1
I was admittedly way too low on Terry last year and I have rectified that in the second edition of my 2008 rankings. His game isn’t super flashy, but he does everything very well and he can really control a game from the midfield. He might end up as a six long term, but he is a plus athlete with great size that can play box to box as well. Terry has already been promoted within the U.S. Youth National Team ranks and is now playing with the 2007 group.
#3 | AM, Maximo Carrizo, NYCFC
Other Citizenship: Argentina
Last International Cap: Argentina U16
Prospect Tier: 1
Carrizo is one of the smartest and most technically gifted players in the United States pool. He isn’t the biggest guy, but I think he has enough athleticism and mobility to make it. This isn't always the case for super skilled ten's at the academy level. He has earned more MLS Next Pro minutes than any 2008 over the last two years and he is likely going to get a lot more in 2024. His MLS first team debut is likely not too terribly far away either. The United States are in a recruiting battle with Argentina for Carrizo’s Youth National Team services. Like Terry, Carrizo is part of the 2007 U.S. Youth National Team setup, not the 2008.
#4 | WING, Julian Hall, New York Red Bulls
Other Citizenship: Poland
Last International Cap: United States U15
Prospect Tier: 1
Hall is an elite athlete and his movement off of the ball is dynamic. He is on the fast track within the New York Red Bulls organization. He scored two goals in MLS Next Pro and made his first team debut at the age of 14. Hall possesses a Polish passport, so it’s possible that the Red Bull’s sold a plan that includes a move to one of their sister clubs in the near-ish future. He has also been rumored to be on the radar of some other massive clubs in Europe.
Austyn Jones, center-forward for PSV Eindhoven
#5 | CF/WING, Austyn Jones, PSV Eindhoven
Other Citizenship: Netherlands
Last International Cap: Netherlands U16
Prospect Tier: Low 1
Jones is one of the best players in his age group in the Netherlands and is someone that the United States should be recruiting consistently. He apparently has American parents, but was born and raised in the Netherlands. He can play as a nine or a winger and possesses the speed and skill on the ball to do both at a high level. The American force at PSV is strong, hopefully he’ll give the United States a look in the near future.
#6 | CF, Alexander Staff, Eintracht Frankfurt
Other citizenship: Germany
Status: Germany U16
Prospect Tier: Low 1
Staff is the second European Academy product on this list and another top player. He is a big, skilled and intelligent number nine that is the starting striker for the u16 German Youth National Team. I know that U.S. Soccer is aware of him, it is now just a matter of whether he is open to it.
#7 | CB, Ramiz Hamouda, Sporting Kansas City
Other Citizenship: Sudan
Last International Cap: United States U15
Prospect Tier: Low 1
Hamouda is the most talented center-back in this class. He is tall, mobile, left-footed and he has a ton of skill on the ball and as a passer. He continues to struggle with his decision making and focus, but when he is on he is very good. If he can become more consistent he has the tools to be one of the top center-backs in the youth pool.
#8 | CM, Cristiano Oliveira, New England Revolution
Other Citizenship: Brazil
Last International Cap: Not Capped
Prospect Tier: High 2
Oliveira has been very impressive in the first half of the 2023 - 2024 MLS Next season. New England plays him as a 6, 8 or 10 and he does all pretty well. I like him further up the pitch, because he can be lethal in the final third. New England has been aggressive with their pro pipeline and I expect Oliveira to get a considerable amount of time in MLS Next Pro in 2024.
#9 | WING, Jamir Johnson, Philadelphia Union
Other Citizenship: Jamaica
Last International Cap: United States U15
Prospect Tier: High 2
Johnson isn’t talked about as much on a super talented Philadelphia Union U17 team, but he is very good. He’s quick, dynamic on the ball, disruptive in the press and he is extremely two-footed.
Gio Villa, right-back for Real Salt Lake
#10 | RB, Gio Villa, Real Salt Lake
Other Citizenship: Mexico
Last International Cap: United States U15
Prospect Tier: High 2
Villa is the top full-back in a fairly weak full-back class. He can be a lockdown one on one defender and he is also very good at getting forward and contributing to the attack — a true two-way full-back for an era that demands it.
#11 | WING/CF, Cristiano Carlos, New England Revolution
Other Citizenship: Portugal
Last International Cap: Not Capped
Prospect Tier: High 2
Carlos is one of the most creative and unique attackers in this class. He can play as a nine or on the wing and he is very aggressive on the ball. He picked up a hip injury in late September, so he has been out of action for a lot of the 2023 - 2024 campaign, but he was effective early in the season. He should be back in action this Spring.
#12 | CF, Chase Adams, Columbus Crew
Other Citizenship: None
Last International Cap: United States U15
Prospect Tier: 2
Adams was the starting striker for the United States U15s at the Concacaf Championships last summer and he has been one of the bright spots for Columbus Crew’s U17 team this year. Adams is a unique striker with a strong frame, good feet and the ability to score or create chances in the final third.
#13 | CM, Cooper Sanchez, Atlanta United
Other Citizenship: None
Last International Cap: Not Capped
Prospect Tier: 2
Sanchez has taken big steps in his development this year. He is one of the only 2008s that gets consistent playing time on a very talented Atlanta United U17 team and he has been very good. He is a box to box midfielder that is very clean on the ball and he finds the game in a number of different ways. He has been overlooked by U.S. Soccer for this age group and I think that should change very soon.
#14 | CF, Anisse Saidi, Philadelphia Union
Other Citizenship: Tunisia
Last International Cap: United States U15
Prospect Tier: 2
Saidi was the number one U.S. striker for this group at the beginning of last year’s U15 cycle, but was not selected to the U15 Concacaf Championship, which came as a surprise for many. As a result, Saidi recently accepted a call-up to the Tunisia U17 National Team. Saidi played very well at MLS Next Fest and is making a strong case to get back into the U.S. squad. `
Gil de Souza, center-mid for New York Red Bulls
#15 | CM, Gil de Souza, New York Red Bulls
Other Citizenship: Brazil
Last International Cap: Not Capped
Prospect Tier: 2
I have liked Gil de Souza for a while now and I have not understood why he hasn’t been given much attention by U.S. Soccer. He is a big, strong and toolsy midfielder with good passing instincts and he has different ways to get on the ball.
#16 | WING, Omar Marquez, Real Salt Lake
Other Citizenship: None
Last International Cap: United States U15
Prospect Tier: 2
Real Salt Lake has an extremely deep academy system and they haven’t played many of their 2008s in big games for the U17s this year. Marquez has been the exception, which shows how much RSL thinks of him. He’s been very dangerous at times and he has a fantastic right foot. He is a little undersized and his explosiveness might be a little in question, but he’s skilled and hungry and is a consistent impact player.
#17 | DM, Isaiah Kaakoush, Barca Residency Arizona
Other citizenship: Lebanon
Status: United States U15
Prospect Tier: 2
Kaakoush is a true second coach out on the pitch. When you watch him live, he is constantly directing his team and getting people in the right positions. He plays a lot at center-back for Barca, but his future is in the midfield. He is very smooth on the ball and a clever passer.
#18 | DM, Decarlo Guerra, LAFC
Other Citizenship: Guetamala
Last International Cap: United States U15
Prospect Tier: 2
Guerra’s star has dimmed a little bit over the last year, but he is still a very good defensive-mid. His game isn’t flashy and he hasn’t necessarily added a ton to his game recently, but he continues to be a rock in the midfield of a very good LAFC U17 team.
#19 | CM, Liam Lambert, LAFC
Other Citizenship: England
Last International Cap: United States U15
Prospect Tier: 2
Lambert has primarily been playing with LAFCs U16s this year and he has been very good. There is a lot of competition on the U17 team in midfield, but my bet is Lambert will start to get more time with that team this spring. He started to get time with the U17s at MLS Next Fest.
#20 | AM/WING, Lionel Gitau, Houston Rangers
Other Citizenship: Kenya
Last International Cap: Not Capped
Prospect Tier: 2
Gitau is a forgotten name to many after leaving Houston Dynamo last year and missing the majority of last MLS Next season. He is now with Houston Rangers in MLS Next and playing quite well. He is extremely quick, skilled on the ball and a good playmaker.
Additional Class Notes
These are the players I have not watched at all or in quite some time so they were not eligible to be included on this list: GK, Jack Kortkamp, Sporting KC / GK, William Lodmell, Sporting CP / RB, Oliver Tan, Without Club / DM, Dalziel Osuna, San Antonio FC / CM, Austin Su, Columbus Crew / CM, Alexander Smith, Rangers / AM, Jack Mize, Borussia Dortmund / WING, Vinicius Limo, Palmeiras / CF, Bobby Jacobs, Strikers / CF, Peyton Pressor, Philadelphia Union / CF, Marius Aiyenero, Torcy / CF, Asher Artz, Borussia Mönchengladbach
Scouting Approach
How I approach scouting, grading and tiering youth prospects.
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