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Luke Haakenson, Midfielder, Shattuck St. Mary’s Academy
IMG Academy Top 150: #86
Class: 2016
Commitment: Creighton

From the start of his college search, Luke Haakenson prioritized what he was looking for at the right program.

The Shattuck St. Mary’s midfielder has eyes on a pro soccer career, and finding a soccer team to help his development became the pillar of his search. It eventually led to his college commitment.

“Every soccer player that goes to Creighton has one common goal,” Haakenson told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “They all want to become a professional soccer player.

Creighton will provide me with a great platform and base to continue to develop and grow into a professional soccer player and this is led by an amazing coaching staff in coach [Elmar] Bolowich and Johnny Torres.”

High academic standards were also a key element to his search, right beyond the soccer program. It was something Creighton offered as well.

Haakenson, who has experience training abroad with a myriad of professional teams in England, was able to compare the environments he found there with what Creighton offered.

“I found the program at Creighton to mirror Europe the most, [from] the coaching staff, the training, the stadium, and the fan base,” he said. “The soccer program will provide me with everything I need to reach the next level. Also the last four years at Shattuck has taught me the value of a tight-knit community. Creighton provides a great fan-base as well as a tight-knit school and community.”

The U18 standout is the second verbal commitment to join Creighton in 2016.

Griffin Jende, Forward, SC Waukesha
Class: 2016
Commitment: Marquette

A product of local Wisconsin club SC Waukesha, Griffin Jende had his sights set on Marquette from the start of his recruiting search.

It paid dividends for the tall, pacey 2016 graduate, who recently pledge to join the Big East program next fall.

“I decided to commit to Marquette after visiting the school and attending a game with the team,” Jende told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “They play a great style of soccer and are a very technical team. I loved my visit, and I am happy with the high level of competition they face in the Big East. I am excited with the direction of the program and the team's family atmosphere, and I am looking forward to becoming a part of such a great program.”

When he gets on campus, Jende will look to translate his finishing ability and 6-foot-2 frame into an elite Division I goal scorer. He felt like he found not only the right soccer program, but also a school with plenty to do off campus and the right support for a student athlete.

“I really like Marquette's campus and it's proximity to a big city like Milwaukee,” he said. “I am very happy with the school's academic excellence and the great business program they have there. They also have a great student to teacher ratio and student resources, which I feel would allow me to excel as a student as well as an athlete.”

He’s the fifth verbal commitment for Marquette’s 2016 recruiting class.

Yosimar Hernandez, Midfielder, DMS 11
Class: 2015
Commitment: UC Riverside

Snapping up the local talent in Southern California is a priority for every major DI program in the region.

And a tour of the campus helped UC Riverside land Yosimar Hernandez, a tricky and skillful player who liked what he saw from the school and soccer program.

“I chose UC Riverside because when [assistant coach] Kyle [Schmid] had invited me to go to the campus and observe the team practice, it felt like home,” Hernandez told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “The players introduced themselves to me, I felt like I already knew these players because of how friendly they were. They treated me as if I was part of the team, part of the family. From that point on I knew UC Riverside was the perfect school to attend.”

MORE: Boys Commitments | 2015 Boys IMG Academy Top 150 | DA Scoreboard

Hernandez saw UC Riverside as an opportunity as a chance to improve on the field,

“I feel like their program has every tool that will only increase my value as a player,” he said. “They have a unique style of play, a style that I am very familiar with and will have no problem getting use to.”

His level of comfort with the school extended well beyond the soccer program, as he liked the friendly atmosphere and diverse student body.

“I feel very confident that I will make good friends and have a bright future as a student,” Hernandez said. “I also enjoy the individualism that a student can have when they need to study or do homework. I have no doubt I will become a skillful student."

Six players are verbally committed to join UC Riverside this fall.