U.S. Soccer describes the initiative as follows: “The Boys’ National Team Futures initiative will provide additional programming throughout the year for players ages 14 to 16, with the goal of identifying, supporting, and developing high-potential players who physically mature later than their peers.”

While most of the players can reasonably be considered “late developers,” there are a few who do not clearly fit that category, which makes the selection process feel slightly unclear. Perhaps a better way to describe these camps is: players U.S. Soccer believes have high potential but are not yet ready for international soccer for a variety of reasons.

2010 Roster

GK — Olumuyiwa Ajayi, NYCFC
GK — Abram Judy, Philadelphia Union
GK — Brady Krysiewicz, Sporting Kansas City
LB — Oliver Endo, Seattle Sounders
LB — Justus Jones, FC Dallas
LB — Dylan Lawlor, NYCFC
LB — Luca Stephen, Nashville SC
RB — Liam Alexander Henry, NYCFC
CB — Josh Brown, Atlanta United
CB — Aiden Gayle, Philadelphia Union
CB/LB — Orion Joliff, San Jose Earthquakes
DM/LB — Daniel Ewers, Orlando City
DM — James Haynes, Charlotte FC
CM — Matthew Shannon, Houston Dynamo
CM — Ezra VanCleave, Barca Residency
CM — Kenneth Walker, LA Galaxy
AM — Xavi Cervantes, Chicago Fire
AM — Angel Mora, Seattle Sounders
AM — Nolan Nguyen, Colorado Rapids
AM — Lucas Pereira, New England Revolution
AM — Gabriel Troya, Charlotte FC
W — Michael Pérez, El Paso Locomotive
W — Xavier Rodriguez, San Jose Earthquakes
CF — Felix Gomez, LAFC

I have not studied many of these players closely. I am familiar with most of them, but many have not caught my eye enough to warrant a deeper dive (there are only so many hours in the week). A few that intrigue me include Abram Judy, Josh Brown, Daniel Ewers, and Ezra VanCleave.

Judy was born very late in 2010 and is currently the Philadelphia Union U-16s’ second goalkeeper, but he shows real promise and could develop into a future pro. Brown has already been in main camps for the 2010 group and is one of my top-rated center-backs in the class. It’s interesting to see him here, though he is also a very late 2010.

Ewers has played both left-back and as a six or eight. He’s defensively versatile and reliable in possession. VanCleave is one of the top 2010s not currently at an MLS academy. He is undersized but very clever on the ball. Multiple MLS academies have tried to sign him, but none have convinced him to commit yet.

Players I would have liked to see:

LB — Logan Huffman, Philadelphia Union
Not sure Huffman fits the strict criteria, but he is undersized and excellent in tight spaces.
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CB — Titus Watson, FC Dallas
Two FC Dallas center-backs from the 2010 class have been invited into YNT environments, yet Watson might end up being the best long term.

CB — Slate Collins, LAFC
Collins is undersized but has grown over the past year and is a solid all-around center-back.

CB — Dami Samuel, Houston Dynamo
Samuel has good size and mobility but is still raw in possession.

CM — Adam Crawford, Charlotte FC
Crawford isn’t a late developer physically, but he came from a very small club before moving to Charlotte. The talent is there; he’s still adjusting to the level.

W — Deandre Beckford, Chicago Fire
Beckford is just a couple of days away from being a 2011 and has made strong strides this year. He fits the criteria perfectly, so it’s disappointing not to see him here. He also has a brother widely regarded as one of the top 2013s.

2011 Roster

GK — Brayden Gurske, San Jose Earthquakes
GK — Tristan Kirk, Without Club
GK — Jacob Modersohn, FC Dallas
RB — Jacob Mays, Pipeline SC
RB — Idris Louison, Colorado Rapids
RB/CB — Andrew Gilmour, Sporting Athletic Club
LB — Ali Divanovic, FC Cincinnati
CB — Miguel Coriano Alvarez, FC Dallas
CB — Bakary Kante, D.C. United
CB — Lio Romero Zuniga, Charlotte FC
DM — Jonathan Jimenez, FC DallasCM — Jack Apple, Charlotte FC
CM — Calen Dean, Seattle Sounders
CM — Gideon Gomez, Houston Dynamo
CM — Jensyn Goranson, Chicago Fire
CM — Jacob Rath, Atlanta United
CM — Thiago Romany, New York Red Bulls
AM — Christian Vanney, LA Galaxy
AM — Marco Vita, D.C. United
W — Mason Jackson, Barca Residency
W — Leonardo Reyes, NYCFC
W — Jose Orta Ruiz, Minnesota United
W — Lorenzo Uribe, Minnesota United
CF — Hudson Bancroft, Tampa Bay United

I like this roster considerably more than the 2010 group.

Mays has already been in a team camp and is one of my top-rated right-backs in the class. Once he develops physically, I think he could be a very good player. He plays part-time with D.C. United. Louison has flashed positive moments for me. Divanovic is tiny but a wicked little baller.

Coriano Alvarez is not really a late developer and, in my opinion, is a center-back who should be getting opportunities with the main team. He’s a very good, left-footed, ball-playing defender. Dean is a solid all-around midfielder who caught my eye last weekend against San Jose.

Jackson was in a recent team camp and is on San Diego FC’s protected list. Orta Ruiz and Uribe both stood out at MLS NEXT Fest. Orta Ruiz, in particular, is a player I’ve admired since he was at Minneapolis United SC last year.

Players I would have liked to see:

GK — Zorian Hickson, Real Salt Lake
He doesn’t get a ton of playing time because he plays up an age group, but I think he has USYNT-level talent.

GK — Matteo Mammarella, Nashville SC
Super impressed after watching him recently against Inter Miami. He stood on his head.

DM — Immanuel Adewunmi, Columbus Crew
A late 2011 who has already been in a team camp. He hasn’t matured much physically yet, but when he does, he could be very interesting.

CM — Dino Shang, San Jose Earthquakes
Not sure he qualifies as a late developer, but I’m a fan and this would have been a good opportunity for a look.

CM — Fekadu Assefa, Portland Timbers
Has intriguing tools that could materialize into something significant.

AM — Colin O’Neil, Atlanta United
An undersized attacking midfielder who consistently creates danger.

AM — Marcos Paulo, Columbus Crew
A tricky, left-footed player who is undersized and recently moved to Columbus. He looked good in his first match.

W — Williver Blessed Chea, Atlanta United
He has been in a team camp before. He’s adjusting to the physicality at Atlanta, but the talent is immense.

W — Nathan Sandi, San Jose Earthquakes
A player with unique 1v1 ability who is starting to emerge.

W — Jason Pillado, Chicago Fire
Very technically gifted, left-footed winger.

Overall, the Futures initiative is a smart and necessary layer within the U.S. pathway. Not every top player develops on the same timeline, and creating space for late bloomers to stay engaged is critical. If executed well, this program could quietly produce some of the most important long-term contributors in these classes.