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Don Tchilao, Forward, San Tan YSA
Class: 2015
Commitment: Denver

It’s been a long journey for Don Tchilao, from Benin, to Arizona, and now to Denver.

The captain on his Chandler High School soccer team, he moved from West Africa to the United States seven years ago with his family. He knew no English when he moved, but after settling in Arizona, soccer opportunities helped him fit in and learn the new language.

When it came time to pick the right college fit, there was plenty he liked about the Colorado program.

“Deciding that Denver was the right school was a very easy decision because I felt at ease around the coaches and the players,” Tchilao told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “The players made me feel welcome. Another thing that made this decision to commit to Denver easy was the fact that they were able to show me their style of play and how I would fit into the system which I liked.”

Tchilao hit it off with the coaching staff, and as he mentioned, feels like it would be easy to adjust to the way the team plays.

He also thinks that it’s the right place for him to develop and help him pursue his dream of playing professionally one day.

“I also really liked the environment the players are provided to succeed,” Tchilao said. “The players and coaches had strong goals and ambitions, which also attracted my attention.” 

The forward is the sixth reported verbal commitment to Denver’s 2015 recruiting class. 

Evan Williams, Defender, Strikers FC
Class: 2015
Commitment: San Francisco

A defender who played in all but one of his side’s 28 games this DA season, Evan Williams is in the middle of the Academy Playoffs with his Strikers FC side.

He’ll continue his playing career at the Division I level, recently committing to the University of San Francisco.

MORE: Dev. Academy scoreboard | 2015 IMG Academy Top 150 | Boys Commitments 

“The overall feel of USF was great, I liked the size, location, and obviously the soccer program,” Williams told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “The program is going through a significant change in the coming years, with the new coaching staff. I am really excited to become a part of that change and help bring the school back to its glory years.”

Williams, who also considered other West Coast schools like Washington, San Diego State and Santa Clara, is another exciting recruit under new head coach Eddie Soto, who took over the program earlier in the year.

It didn’t take long for him to realize that USF was the right place for him.

“After I visited the campus on an unofficial visit, on which I had a talk with the coaching staff and some players and watched a training session, I immediately knew that it was the place for me,” Williams said.

The defender is the third commitment to San Francisco for the class of 2015.

Other commitments:

Forward Connor Stevenson (St. Croix SC) committed to Loyola-Chicago for the class of 2015.

Midfielder Daniel Crisostomo (FC Golden State) committed to UC Irvine for the class of 2015.

Midfielder Jeffrey Carreira (Westchester Flames) committed to Manhattanville for the class of 2014.