Berchimas remains at the top and he continues to rise both with Charlotte FC and the USYNT. Berchimas was the youngest United States U17 World Cup player since Freddy Adu and was one of the top players for the United States at that tournament. Most recently, he was selected to the United States U19 team and it looks like he will have a role in the upcoming U20 World Cup cycle. He also made his MLS debut earlier this season and has been primarily playing for Charlotte second team in MLS Next Pro this year. While the goals have not come in MLS Next Pro, the talent is undeniable. Once Berchimas learns how to get his shots off more often without getting deflected, the goals will start coming. He is a direct, dynamic and creative winger — a style of attacker that the National Team is in need of. 

Carrizo moves up a spot primarily because he has looked much more proactive, effective and confident in what is his second full season in MLS Next Pro. He is starting to add goal contributions to his game, which is a really exciting development. Technically and tactically, there might not be a better player in the U.S. youth pool and while he isn’t the biggest guy, he is strong on the ball and quick enough to succeed against bigger and stronger players. I don’t think his MLS debut is too far away. If the United States can convince him to participate in the next U17 World Cup cycle it will be a huge boost to the group. 

Terry has battled injuries in the second half of the season, but when he is playing he still looks like a top prospect. He can truly do it all in the midfield. He is a highly disruptive defender, he can operate as a single pivot, he can progress the ball using his dribbling ability as well as his passing ability and he can arrive in the final third with effectiveness. He has a physical profile that projects nicely to the pro game and by all accounts he is highly admired by the LAFC staff. It would seem that LAFC is having a difficult time convincing him to sign a homegrown contract, or else that would be done already. Without an EU passport, he would have to wait until October of 2026 to move to Europe. Keep an eye on San Diego FC. They have shown that they are a highly ambitious club and they may be willing to pay a record breaking fee to get Terry’s rights. 

Hall became the second youngest goalscorer in MLS last week, second to only Freddy Adu. Hall is a direct and physically gifted attacker that can play all three attacking positions. His cleanliness on the ball is still a little inconsistent, but he is capable of the spectacular and his work rate off of the ball is a strength. He is the only 2008 that seems to have a somewhat consistent role on the first team right now and his future looks to be very bright. Now that he is playing on the first team, it may be difficult to get him released for youth tournaments going forward, and that is quite alright, MLS experience is the goal right now.

Okoduwa is the highest rated newcomer in the list and it just became public that he is United States eligible. Okoduwa has made some headlines after getting first team squad selections for Wolves at such a young age. Okoduwa has only appeared for England on the Youth National Team front, but the USSF is aware of him. Given USSFs with dual-national recruitment in England (see Folarin Balogun, Yunus Musah, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jedi Robinson), I am certain they are recruiting him to come check out the U.S. setup. Okoduwa is an incredibly physical right-back prospect with the potential to be a lock-down defender. He shows flashes of being effective in build up and the final third, though from what I have seen, Wolves do not ask him to do it much . There are rumors that Chelsea are trying to get him to move to their setup. 

Staff is another high priority dual-national that may be difficult to recruit for a while. He had a very productive season with club and country contributing thirteen goals and eight assists for Frankfurt’s U17 team in 23 league games. He also  scored six times in eight appearances for Germany’s U16s. He is a traditional center-forward profile with great hold up play, link up play and clever finishing and passing in the final third.

James has emerged this season as my top center-back prospect from this age group. He has the size, mobility, one on one defensive ability and emerging on ball skills that you want in a modern day center-back. He has shown great improvement from the U15 level to the U17 level and he’s considered a leader and great communicator on his team. USSF have taken notice and he has broken through with the United States U16 team while Sporting KC have given him opportunities with the second team as well. 

Oliveria is a smooth operator in the midfield. I’ve seen him excel in all three midfield positions and he might be one of the best passing midfielders in the U.S. youth pool. He is an effective passer with both feet and he has great touch and range. He’s struggled with health lately, but when fit he will be a critical player for this U17 World Cup cycle. This group lacks pure eight’s, so it’s critical that he is available as a ball progressor. 

Adams is off to a sizzling start in his MLS Next Pro career with five goals in ten appearances. Given  the way that he is developing and progressing through the pro player pathway, I would expect that homegrown negotiations are already happening between Columbus and Adams’ representation. Adams has also become the number one striker option for the 2008 class.

Jones is a true vertical center-forward that can also face a defender and play direct. He is an explosive athlete that has a nose for goal. He has had a very successful young career within PSVs academy and the Netherlands Youth National Team. Jones was invited to a USYNT camp shortly after PSV visited the United States for the 2024 Generation Adidas Cup. He had to turn it down due to school obligations, but Jones remains open to the United States.

Johnson is a super fun player that has had a great U17 academy season, certainly a best XI type of campaign. He plays as an outside midfielder in Philadelphia’s 4-4-2 diamond and shows the versatility to float out wide to  do traditional winger things while  also sliding inside to play as an attacking-mid within the half spaces. He is a speedy, intelligent and versatile player that is as two-footed as you will see at this age. 

Hamouda is as talented as any player in this class, but consistency is what is going to move him back up this list. There are not many prospects in world soccer that display his level of size, athleticism, ball control, passing ability and one on one defensive ability, but it’s more of the tactical and mentality stuff that needs to catch up.

A couple years ago Guerra was considered a top five prospect in this class and while his development plateaued a bit, he’s starting to pick it back up in MLS Next Pro. He’s removing some of the unforced errors and focus issues while  being a little more progressive with the ball. He’s cap-tied to Guatemala after appearing in Concacaf U20 qualifiers, but he might be a player that the United States should try and recruit back at some point.

Stokes is the only goalkeeping prospect from this class that is consistently playing in MLS Next Pro. From what I have seen he has held his own there, showing good shot stopping ability to all sides, with both his hands and feet. I’d like to see him look a little steadier with the ball at his feet, but overall he is a well rounded keeper prospect with a bright future. He’s mainly played with the Welsh Youth National Team but I know he’s been invited to recent USYNT camps.  While he has not yet been released, he is still very much in the picture.

Cupps is the third center-back on this list and a very solid all around prospect. Chicago Fire have played him five times in MLS Next Pro and from the matches I have seen, he has held his own pretty well and carried his confidence as a passer to this level. He has become a consistent selection to this groups USYNT’s and should be one of the favorites to play in this U17 World Cup cycle.

Villa has been the top domestic full-back in this age group for the last year and continues to display a high quality level for Real Salt Lake. He is effective on both the left and right and effective in the attack showing  a powerful strike from distance. He also shows incredible mirroring ability as a one on one defender. He is on the smaller side, but the rest of his game is exactly what you are looking for in a modern full-back. He will be a key player for the upcoming U17 World Cup cycle. 

Gil de Souza is a player I have admired for the last two years. He is a strong midfielder that can play as a six or an eight and he’s even seen time at center-back. He doesn’t always have a huge impact on matches, but when he is locked in he can be very influential. He hasn’t been given an opportunity with the USYNT yet, but I think that will change over the next couple of years.

Early last year, it looked like Saidi was the clear number one center-forward for this age group, and while he continues to produce and play well, he’s fallen out of favor with U.S. Soccer. That’s no reason to forget about him. He is still a super intelligent striker with a nose for scoring goals in a variety of ways. He has also been called into Tunisia Youth National Team camps, so he has options if U.S. Soccer continues to move in a different direction at center-forward.

Sanchez is another player that can play any midfield position at this stage of his career. Technically, he is incredibly smooth on the ball, he glides around it and moves the ball effortlessly. The rest of his game is solid, but not spectacular. There have been rumors that he is headed to USL, but I have not seen anything official on that front. 

Moisa is one of the few players from this class that is already on a homegrown contract. He played a critical role on a very good U17 team this year, operating mainly as a box to box midfielder that also had some impact in the final third. He is small, but quick and works quickly to win the ball back in counter-pressing situations. He has been a regular with this class’ USYNT and will be one of the primary midfielders heading into the U17 World Cup qualifications.

United States eligible players from the 2008 class that I have not had the chance to scout over the last year: CF, Asher Artz, Gladbach, CF, Bobby Jacobs, CF Peyton Presson, Philadelphia Union, AM, Jack Mize, Borussia Dortmund, WING, Kaelen Dougan, Greuther Fürth, WING, Vinicius Limo, Palmeiras, DM, Dalziel Ozuna, San Antonio FC, CM, Alexander Smith, Rangers, CM, Bennett Wilp, Union Berlin, RB, Keehan Barrett-Underwood, Liverpool, GK, William Lodmell, Sporting CP

If you have full match video of any of these players and would like to share that with me so that I can scout them, please reach out. Additionally, if you know of other United States eligible players that are playing Internationally, please reach out.