If you aren’t mentioned here but feel you should be, don’t worry. This evaluation is very early and will evolve significantly over the coming years. Keep working — your time to shine will come.

Within each position group, I’ve divided players into two categories: core and rotational.

The core are players I believe should be locks for camps with competitive matches or international friendlies.

The rotational are players who deserve a look at some point in domestic camps. Those who perform well and show the highest upside should earn more opportunities in competitive settings.

That’s the lens I’m applying to this U-15 cycle.

Core
‍Zorian Hickson, Real Salt Lake
Zach Lapierre, New England Revolution

‍Rotational
‍Alex Bayraktarov, Chicago Fire
Nikolaos Christidis, NYCFC
Parker Henry, Colorado Rapids
Ben Huh, New York Red Bulls
David Jaimes, FC Dallas
Luan Silva, Orlando City
Thomas White, Philadelphia Union

Goalkeepers take longer to evaluate because their involvement is more limited than field players. The only one I’ve studied in depth is Hickson, who impressed me last season playing up an age group with RSL. He has big upside but remains raw. Lapierre looks like the other top option so far. The rest of this group have shown flashes that merit a USYNT look at some point, but for now Hickson and Lapierre should be prioritized.

Core
N/A

‍Rotational
Aiden Appiah, Colorado Rapids
Blaise Blackwell, Nashville SC
Wilson Marzariegos, San Jose Earthquakes
Jacob Mays, D.C. United
Eli Quincy Green, LA Galaxy

There are no elite right-backs in this class yet, but that’s not unusual. Many full-backs transition into the position later in development. At this stage, right-backs are often quick players without quite enough to be wingers or the size to play centrally.

Blackwell and Mays stand out defensively — Blackwell as a strong 1v1 marker, Mays for his movement and reading of play — but both are somewhat limited going forward. Appiah is more naturally a midfielder but can cover at right-back, which is where Colorado and U.S. Soccer currently use him. Green has big upside but is raw, while Marzariegos is one of the more refined options right now but doesn’t project as high.

Core
Easton Odom, Barca Residency

‍Rotational
Andre Campbell, Inter Miami
Isaiah Fabunmi, D.C. United
Dalu Nwazojie, New England Revolution

Unlike the right side, there’s a clear top talent here: Easton “Eazy” Odom. He could easily be impactful as a winger, but may not have the long-term size for that role. At Barca, he’s already an attack-minded left-back and checks all the boxes: pace, composure on the ball, and flashes of defensive ability (though Barca often dominates possession).

Fabunmi would be a top option in many classes, though less polished than Odom. Campbell and Nwazojie are also quality prospects worth a look.

Core
Reggie Bailey, San Jose Earthquakes

‍Rotational
Mateo Anderson, FC Cincinnati
Miguel Coriano, FC Dallas
Isaiah Covington, Atlanta United
Malachi Joseph, New York Red Bulls
Ethan O’Neil, Barca Residency
Jaxon Prather, Orlando City
Kai Simmonds, Philadelphia Union
Harrison Storey, Chicago Fire
Estifanos Thompson, New York Red Bulls
Mason Washington, LAFC
Wes Wolfley, Phoenix Rising

This looks to be another weak center-back group, which is becoming a concerning pattern. The three pillars of a great center-back prospect are: physical profile (size and mobility), desire to defend, and press resistance. We have players who check one or two of those boxes, but really only one who might have the potential to check all three — Reggie Bailey from San Jose. For me, he should be a roster lock, though he’s still raw. The rest bring different tools but also clear weaknesses.

Core
N/A

‍Rotational
Immanuel Adewunmi, Columbus Crew
Maxi Alvarez, Orlando City
Alan Boer, Homburg
Caleb Chabala, Philadelphia Union
Bradley Castro, New York Red Bulls
Samuel Harris, St. Louis City

Defensive midfield, like full-back, tends to be weaker at younger ages since long-term prospects often shift deeper later in development. This class doesn’t yet have an elite option, but there are several good players who could provide value at the national team level.

Adewunmi probably has the most complete profile right now, while Alvarez, Boer, Chabala, Castro, and Harris all bring something different. Chabala and Harris could end up at center-back long term, with Chabala in particular profiling well as a left-footed center-back — always in demand. Boer is an intriguing player at a smaller club in southwest Germany who could draw bigger interest soon.

Core
Diego Ros, Barca Residency
Dino Shang, San Jose Earthquakes

‍Rotational
Jaethan Irwin, Phoenix Rising
Ian Miller, Portland Timbers
Sam Onsarigo, FC Dallas
Davi Pereira, New England Revolution
Carter Patterson, Charlotte FC
Cosimo Tristani, NYCFC
Levi Welch, LAFC

This is a strong center-mid group. Ros is the most technical and intelligent, though currently recovering from a back injury. He should return soon. Shang is the most dynamic — he can do a bit of everything with a strong frame and good athleticism.

Beyond them, there are interesting profiles: Irwin could settle as a six, Miller is a clever and creative eight/ten, Onsarigo has tons of skill but hasn’t figured out how to impact games, Pereira is well-rounded and mature, Patterson is very complete but needs to grow into his body, Tristani is undersized but highly skilled, and Welch has a solid profile and tools.

Core
Daniel Brown, Charlotte FC
Papo Gordon, Valencia CF

‍Rotational
Maxwell Camara, D.C. United
Zamir Loyo Reynaga, Sporting KC
Ryan Schlotterbeck, FC Cincinnati
Leo Woehl, Columbus Crew
Darwin Yair Lopez, Barca Residency

Another strong group. Gordon may be the most talented player in the entire class — elite ball mastery, confidence, size (already over six feet), and still growing. He has clear five-star potential. Brown is another top prospect, a left-footer who can also play wide, though his long-term pace for the wing is a question.

Camara is a smooth lefty, Loyo Reynaga is very mature and already playing with SKC’s second team, Schlotterbeck and Woehl are versatile attackers, and Lopez is a maestro on the ball.

Core
Blessed Chea, Atlanta United
Chris Fitanidis, Cedar Stars Bergen
Benjamin Flowers, FC Dallas

‍Rotational
Musah Adamu, New England Revolution
Kylin Arbet, LA Galaxy
Rikelme De Almeida, Athletico Paranaense
Junior Diaz, Chicago Fire
Gabriel Jones, FC Cincinnati
Neville Knowles III, Villarreal
Jeffrey Lara Delgado, San Jose Earthquakes
Miroslav Levkovsky, St. Louis City
Eli Luster, Atlanta United
Nosazena Osagie, Minnesota United
Jason Pillado, Chicago Fire
Aiden Wallensky, Inter Miami

This class has three standout wingers. Chea is small but electric 1v1, like Ikenna Chidebe. Fitanidis is more physical and direct, similar to Julian Hall. Flowers is the most complete: strong physical profile, creativity, and final-third execution, reminiscent of Mathis Albert.

Among the rotational group, Knowles looks most promising but will likely only feature in international camps since he’s in Spain. Pillado is the only natural left-footer here and likes to cut inside effectively. All should get looks as the cycle progresses.

Core
RJ Atali, Orlando City
Quincy Lamar, Chula Vista
Carson Starrett, Inter Miami

‍Rotational
Oscar Olsen, Houston Dynamo
Santiago Suarez, Atlanta United

Atali, Lamar, and Starrett are all high-potential prospects. Atali looks more like a second striker/pocket winger but is playing as a nine with Orlando. Lamar might be the most dynamic — a rare combination of size, speed, and strength, very difficult to stop in transition and 1v1. Starrett is the most complete nine at this stage, with a strong profile and great hold-up play, though his goal scoring is still developing.

Olsen and Suarez are also capable players, though they don’t have the same upside. Suarez has already gotten a look in camp.

GK: Zorian Hickson (Real Salt Lake), Zach Lapierre (New England Revolution)
LB: Easton Odom (Barca Residency), Isaiah Fabunmi (D.C. United)
RB: Blaise Blackwell (Nashville SC), Jacob Mays (D.C. United)
LCB: Mason Washington (LAFC), Harrison Storey (Chicago Fire)
RCB: Reggie Bailey (San Jose Earthquakes), Wes Wolfley (Phoenix Rising)
DM: Davi Pereira (New England Revolution), Immanuel Adewunmi (Columbus Crew)
CM: Dino Shang (San Jose Earthquakes), Diego Ros (Barca Residency)
AM: Papo Gordon (Valencia), Maxwell Camara (D.C. United)
LW: Benjamin Flowers (FC Dallas), Blessed Chea (Atlanta United)
RW: Daniel Brown (Charlotte FC), Chris Fitanidis (Cedar Stars Bergen)
CF: Quincy Lamar (Chula Vista), Carson Starrett (Inter Miami)