William and Mary men’s soccer head coach Chris Norris announced his eight-member recruiting class on Wednesday afternoon. Ryder Bell, Marcel Berry, Antonio Bustamante, Josh Cox, Remington Frost, John Fuquene, Armand Jeffris, and Cole Smith are all set to join the Tribe for the 2015 season.

“We are very excited to announce this incoming recruiting class, Norris said. “We graduate a lot in terms of quality and depth and it is critical that we address a number of needs with the 2015 class. Our staff worked very hard during the process to identify prospective student-athletes who possess the talent, drive and character to succeed athletically and academically at William and Mary. We could not be happier with the addition of these eight young men.”

Ryder Bell, Forward, 6-0, 165, Moreland Hills, Ohio/University School
Bell is a three-sport athlete at the University School in Ohio, playing soccer, football, and track and field. On the pitch, Bell earned First-Team all-region and all-state honors, while also being named the All-City/Greater Cleveland Player of the Year the last two seasons. Bell also earned his team’s MVP honors the past two years. He holds his school record with 105 goals, as well as the school's single-season record with 45 goals in his senior season. Bell played his club soccer for the Shaker PFC in Cleveland. He helped lead the team to USYS Midwest Regional final in 2013, and to a state championship in 2012. He has also taken his game to the international level, playing for the Ku-ring-gai Northern Tigers FC Rep Team in Sydney, Australia and New South Wales. He also thrived in football and track and field. On the gridiron, Bell was first-team all-state, while also qualifying for the state meet in the long jump (regional champ) and the high jump (third in region). Bell’s sister, Hadley, played field hockey at Virginia, while his grandfather, Roger Headrick was the President and CEO of the Minnesota Vikings from 1991-98. In the classroom, he is active with the Cum Laude Society and the Davey Fellow (creative writing group). Bell, who plans on majoring in economics at the College, enjoys listening to music, watching movies, hanging out with friends, writing, skiing, and snowboarding in his free time.

Norris on Bell
“Ryder comes to us from the Shaker Premier Football Club in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He is an extremely powerful attacking player. Ryder is strong, quick and explosive, but also possesses a very high soccer IQ. He uses this combination of athleticism and understanding to a devastating effect, scoring goals and creating goal-scoring opportunities for teammates. Ryder is predatory, recognizing key attacking moments and springing to life to capitalize. He is also a versatile finisher. Ryder is capable of playing anywhere up front, in both three-forward and two-forward systems. We expect Ryder to compete right away for a place in the first eleven.”

Marcel Berry, Midfield, 5-8, 150, Charlottesville, Va./Albemarle
Berry played three years of varsity soccer at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville. Berry received a plethora of honors following the 2014 season including: First-Team All-State Group 5A, First-Team All-Region 5A North, Conference 16 Player of the Year honors, First-Team All-Jefferson District, First-Team All-Central Virginia, while winning his high school’s MVP honors. Prior to the 2014 season, Berry was named First-Team All-Commonwealth District, First-Team All-Central Virginia, and his team’s MVP. He helped lead his high school to the Group 5A state final, a North Region final in 2014, after helping his high school to a state championship and Northwest Region in Group 3A in 2012. Berry played his club soccer for the Soccer Organization of Charlottesville Area (SOCA) (2005-present), where he earned US ODP Region I Pool honors in 2013-14 and 2014-15, Virginia ODP State Pool from 2010-14. He helped his SOCA team to the State Cup finals in 2012 and 2013, while they were semifinalist in 2011 and 2014. Berry has also had the chance to take his game to the international level playing in the South Africa Future Champions Gauteng Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2014, the Italy Atlantic Soccer Select Team in Novara, Italy in 2013, and the San Marino Cup in San Marino in 2012. He also participated in the Real Madrid Adidas Training Program in Madrid in 2013. His mother Michelle was also a collegiate athlete, playing softball at North Carolina A&T. In the classroom, Berry is a member of the National Beta Club, DECA, and the African-American Scholars Alliance. In the summers of 2013 and 2014 he was a teacher’s assistant with Math, Men, and Mission sponsored by 100 Black Men of Central Virginia. Berry, who is leaning toward studying kinesiology or marketing at W&M, enjoys playing video games in his free time.

Coach Norris on Berry
“Marcel joins us from the Soccer Organization of Charlottesville-Albemarle (SOCA). Marcel is a very dynamic and versatile player. He has tremendous quickness and acceleration, and is extremely deceptive on the dribble. He is very capable of scoring goals and also making chances for teammates. Marcel also possesses excellent tactical awareness, enabling him to adapt to a number of roles. He plays with a quiet confidence and is willing to take responsibility for producing big moments. While we see him primarily as an attacking midfielder or forward, his versatility reminds me of former Tribe All-American Phil Hucles, who is tied for fifth on our all-time goal scoring list, with 36 career goals, but earned All-America honors in his senior year as a defender. Marcel will compete for a role in the starting lineup immediately”

Antonio Bustamante, Forward/Midfield, 5-7, 140, Springfield, Va./West Springfield
Antonio Bustamante played four years of varsity soccer at West Springfield High School in Northern Virginia. Bustamante played his club soccer for the McLean Academy (2010-11), before moving on to the DC United Academy (2012-15). He helped his club team to the state championship in 2009, after winning the regional in 2009. He also attended US National Youth Training Center in 2009. Bustamante plans to major in economics at the College.

Coach Norris on Bustamante:
“Antonio currently represents the D.C. United youth academy. Antonio is outstanding technically and is one of the most tactically mature players we have seen in a long while. He is capable of playing either as an attacking or connecting midfielder. Antonio plays very simply most of the time, maintaining possession, dictating rhythm and tempo, and rarely turning the ball over. However, he has a knack for recognizing moments when it is time to try and penetrate, and has the vision and range of passing to unlock defenses. Additionally, he has added more goals to his game in the past year and we will certainly continue to encourage that. Antonio has the tools and mentality to have an immediate impact upon his arrival in Williamsburg”

Josh Cox, Midfield, 5-10, 145, Locust Grove, Va./Saint John Paul the Great
Cox played varsity soccer at Saint John Paul the Great High School in Virginia. He earned 2014 MVP honors, while being named to the All-Tournament team from 2013-15. In high school, he registered 24 goals, and contributed 36 assists, which ranks first all-time at John Paul the Great, and scored 84 points throughout his career. Cox played his club soccer for the PWSL (2007-11), Arlington Strikers (2011-13), Richmond Strikers Academy (2013-14), and the US Regional and US National Team (2010-12). He was a captain for a majority of the teams, and helped lead the Arlington Strikers to two State Cup championships. In the classroom, Cox was a member of the SLA, Student Leadership, in his sophomore and junior years. His father, Mike, played collegiate soccer at VCU and Salisbury State. Cox, who plans to study psychology at W&M, enjoys boating, waterskiing, and snowboarding his free time.

Coach Norris on Cox:
“Josh currently trains at the Futbol Barn in Fredericksburg, Va., operated by the Grover Gibson Soccer Foundation. Josh is technically clean, intelligent, hard-working and versatile. He is a player with whom good players love playing. Josh plays simply and efficiently, does the hard running, and plays with a bit of an edge. He also possesses the ability to lead, which will serve our program well. Josh is capable of playing as a connecting or holding midfielder, or, anywhere in the back. We envision Josh providing some vital depth, in those areas, this fall.”

Remington Frost, Back, 6-1, 185, Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park
Frost played varsity soccer for the Charlotte Country Day School and the United States Soccer Developmental Academy (USSDA). A decorated soccer player, Frost ranked in the Top 150 National Ranking by TopDrawerSoccer.com from 2011-15, and earned a top 20 positional ranking the last two seasons. Frost helped his USSDA team to the playoffs in 2014, and was the national leader in games played and percentage starts in 2013 and 2014. In 2012, Frost was selected to the USSDA Playoff Best XI Team, and his team was a playoff qualifier and advanced to finals week. A multi-sport athlete he played AAU baseball and basketball from 2008-2011. His mother Wendi was also a collegiate student-athlete playing volleyball at Wake Forest. In the classroom, Frost is a member of the National Honor Society, Young Republicans, holding the position of treasure, and National Jr. Honor Society. Frost, who plans to major in economics, enjoys skiing, snowboarding, basketball, hiking, and hunting in his free time.

Coach Norris on Frost:
“Remi has been a mainstay for many years with the Charlotte Soccer Academy in Charlotte, NC. Remi has everything for which we look in a center back. He possesses good size and strength. He is strong in the air. He keeps things simple in possession and is an efficient passer. Most importantly, he has some qualities that often get overlooked in favor of size, speed and athleticism. Remi loves to defend. He takes extreme pride in his role as a center back and values that contribution to a team effort. In addition, he is remarkably consistent. In a position where mistakes often lead to opposition goals, Remi exhibits a level of concentration that is seldom matched. Finally, Remi is a leader on and off the field. While we return a number of young players who can play center back, Remi’s qualities will enable him to compete for time right away and, at a minimum, will make everyone around him better.”

John Fuquene, Midfielder, 5-11, 155, Arlington, Va./Wakefield
Fuquene played four years of varsity soccer at Wakefield High School in Northern Virginia. He eared first-team all-district and all-region honors in 2014, while also being named the to his high school’s team Coaches Award, Sportsmanship Award, and his team’s Most Valuable Player Award. A proven leader, he has been named the team captain on both his high school team and his club team. He played his club soccer with the Arlington Strikers Red where he helped his squad to two state titles. He also played for the ODP, where he was on a team that reached the National Semifinals in 2013. Originally from Bogota, Colombia, Fuquene plans to major in kinesiology and health sciences at the College and also enjoys coaching, spending time with his friends and family, and listening to music in his free time.

Coach Norris on Fuquene
“John currently captains the Arlington Soccer Association’s top U-18 team in Arlington, Va. Operating primarily as a defensive center midfielder, John is clean technically and plays very simply and efficiently. He has a big engine, covering a lot of ground on both sides of the ball. John reads the game well, and relishes his defensive role in the middle of the park. He combines grit and determination with tactical awareness to win tackles, intercept passes and regain possession of loose balls. John is also a leader, verbally and by example. He is one of those players who can be the bridge between a coaching staff and a team. We expect John to be a great option for us, deep in midfield, this fall.”

Armand Jeffris, Forward, 6-0, 190, Fairfax, Va./Oakton
Jeffris played four years of varsity soccer, while running two years of indoor track at Oakton High School in Northern Virginia. He was named first-team all-district in soccer in 2013 and 2014, while also garnering all-region honors. Jeffris was also selected to the Washington Post All-Met team in 2013 and 2014 seasons. He played his club soccer for Braddock Road Youth Club in Northern Virginia. In the classroom, Jeffris is a member of DECA. Currently undecided on his major at William and Mary, he enjoys skiing in his free time.

Coach Norris on Jeffries
“Armand comes to us from the Braddock Road Youth Club in Fairfax, VA. Armand is a classic center forward. He is big and strong, yet quite mobile. Armand is good playing with his back to goal, holding the ball and bringing teammates into the game. His movement is also good. Armand understands how to play off the shoulder of defenders and his running off the ball, particularly to break the defensive line and penetrate, is very intelligent. He also poses a threat in the air. Finally, Armand is very good around the goal. He displays the ability to make room for his shot and typically chooses his type of finish well. Armand’s unique attributes will allow us to vary our attacking play and make us more unpredictable. We anticipate that Armand will challenge our other center forward options and add a different dimension to the group.”

Cole Smith, Midfield/Forward, 5-9, 160, Virginia Beach, Va./Cox
Smith played one year of varsity soccer at Cox High School in Virginia Beach, before moving on to play for the Virginia Rush USSDA team. During his freshman season, he scored 13 goals, which led the team, had six assists in just 12 games. With the Rush, he has scored 20 goals during the past three seasons. In the classroom he is a member of Operation Smile, the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and the Key Club. Smith, who plans on majoring in marketing at the College, enjoys snowboarding, surfing, and watching soccer in his down time.

Coach Norris on Smith:
“Cole Smith joins us from the Virginia Rush Soccer Club in Virginia Beach, VA. Cole is the only lefty in this year’s class and is capable of playing as a winger, outside midfielder or even as a left back. He is quick, fast and has a high work rate. Cole is a slashing dribbler who is capable of breaking down defenses on his own. He is aggressive with his off-the-ball running and can score goals or provide dangerous service from wide positions. Cole is always looking for ways to positively impact the game, but in doing so, always puts the team first. Cole is most likely to push for opportunities as a winger during his freshman year.”

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