Welcome to the 2023 review you have been waiting for, covering the 23 male stars that defined the calendar year. From high school and collegiate legends to club soccer champions and youth national team stars, this list is all-encompassing. The only exclusions are players who did most of their work in the professional ranks or overseas, regardless of age. For example, Joshua Wynder and Diego Kochen had outstanding years, but the former did it exclusively as a professional, and the latter is plying his trade with Barcelona. With that said, here we go

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Nimfasha Berchimas, Charlotte FC – There is no better place to start than with the player who lit the U17 World Cup on fire. Despite going in at just 15 and the only 08 player born on the American roster, Berchimas scored three to lead the team in goals and a trip to the knockout stages before losing to eventual champions Germany. That was in November. In March, he made his pro debut for Crown Legacy in the MLS Next Pro, and in September, he scored his first-ever professional goal. 

Coleman Catlett, Wake FC – Catlett, who signed with the Columbus Crew Academy a few days ago, had a breakout year. In April, he performed admirably in goal for the U16 US Talent Projekt team at the prestigious MIC Cup in Spain, conceding just three goals in 5 games. That led to winning the US TalentProject’s Goalkeeper of the Year before heading back to the States and starring for Wake FC U19 despite his 2007 birth year. In early December, Catlett stood as one of the best at the MLS Next Fest and had his moment of fame with an outstanding point-blank kick save that went viral through the TopDrawerSoccer Instagram. 

Devin Dillon, Sparta United – Out of Utah-based Sparta United, Dillon had a legendary 2023 season. He captained his team to an Elite 64 U17 National Championship in the middle of July. Two weeks later, the center-back accomplished an unprecedented double by winning the US Youth Soccer National Championship and was in the Best XI for both. Oh, and in April, he was part of the 2006 national ODP team that reached the Dallas Cup final. Any way you slice it, you cannot tell the story of the 2023 youth soccer season without mentioning Dillon and Sparta United.  

Yan Diomande, DME Academy/AS Frenzi – Seemingly from nowhere, Diomande broke the UPSL this summer. Only 16 years old at the time, Diomande led AS Frenzi to the UPSL championship as he scored both goals in the 2-1 victory over Sporting Wichita. The Ivory Coast U17 Forward led the entire league in goals, won the MVP award, and had plenty of skillful moments that went viral through his historic run. In a league of grown men, Diomande stood a class apart, leading to several trials with MLS and European clubs as it seems a matter of when, not if, he leaves the Florida-based academy for a professional contract.  

Bryan Dowd, Notre Dame – Dowd is a no-brainer to make this list as the first goalkeeper to win TopDrawerSoccer College Player of the Year. Whether it was penalty kick heroics, making double-digit saves, or that one crucial stop in a close game, the ACC Goalkeeper of the Year was the catalyst in the Notre Dame run to the national final. 

Julian Eyestone, FC Dallas/Duke – The Texas native had a whirlwind of a year. First, he started professional games for North Texas SC, then was named the Generation Adidas tournament best goalkeeper in April with FC Dallas U17. Following that was an MLS Next All-Star game selection in June. Those six months alone are enough to make this list, but Eyestone was far from done. He would then graduate High School a full year early to attend Duke, make the second-team All-Conference as a Freshman, finish as the 5th-ranked player in the TDS Freshman 100, and announce he would be going pro after the season. Talk about taking over the year. 

Logan Farrington, Oregon State/Ventura County – Before FC Dallas drafted him with the third pick last week, Farrington gave a preview in the summer as he won USL-2 MVP at Ventura County while doubling as the league’s top goal scorer. What followed was a career-best year as he led Oregon State to a first-ever College Cup and doubled as Pac-12 Forward and Player of the Year.  

Miguel Garcia, GLSA FC1974 – Garcia completed his club soccer career in the summer by leading GLSA FC1974 to a third USYS National Championship in four years. Yup, you read that correctly, three in four years. He was tournament MVP this summer, as he was the prior season, and how is a hat trick in a 6-5 semi-final victory to leave your impact in 2023? Not good enough, what about a portfolio full of outrageous goals such as this one? Courtesy of being the best player on one of the best team in U.S. Youth Soccer history, Garcia has to make the list. 

Vitor Geromel, Sporting Wichita – In one of the best calendar years a club/high school player has ever accomplished, Geromel stacked one accomplishment after another in a 12-month period anyone would dream of. In January, Geromel captained the U.S. U19 Futsal National Team on an international trip; April, he won the Dallas Cup with the ODP 05 National Team; June saw him win an ECNL-RL Regional Championship with Sporting Wichita U19; July, he wins a Futsal National Championship with the same team; August, helped lead the Sporting Wichita senior team to the UPSL National final as their top scorer, then later that month, was named USA Today National Boys Soccer Player of the Year; in November, leads Maize South to a second straight High School State Championship while setting the Kansas single season, 56, and career, 130, goal-scoring records; a few days after that, Geromel officially signs for Clemson, then in December he starred in the High School All-American game as his side defeated the East 5-2. Did I miss anything?  

Braden Gritz, Charlotte Independence – The South Carolina native had an outstanding 2023. In the spring, he was an All-State performer at Fort Mill High School, then led the Charlotte Independence U19 team to a USL Academy championship in the winter. Leader, as in he won MVP and a share of the Golden Boot as the North Carolina team upset heavily favored Orange County SC in the final. 

Julian Hall, New York Red Bulls – Without a doubt, one of the stars of 2023, Hall had a breakthrough year. It started with a Golden Boot at the Generation Adidas Cup, developing into a U15 MLS Next Cup title as MVP of the tournament, morphing into a professional contract with the first team. Fast forward a few months and some professional goals in the MLS Next Pro, and on September 30th, Hall became the second youngest MLS player ever at 15 years and 190 days. 

Alex Harris, Washington Timbers/Cornell – Goals. Goals. Goals. Harris was in incredible form across the ECNL, High School, and College soccer seasons. In June, he led Columbia River High School to a 24-0 state championship, scoring a mind-boggling 76 goals on the season, including two goals and an assist in the final. That led to Gatorade Washington Player of the Honors, creating the momentum Harris needed to hit the Ivy League by storm with 12 goals and four assists as the highest-scoring rookie in the country and the TopDrawerSoccer Freshman of the Year. 

Zachariah Hume, Crossfire Premier – Commonly regarded as one of the best prospects on one of the best teams in the country, Hume led Crossfire Premier to a legendary U15 National trophy as ECNL Player of the Year in addition to a Dallas Cup championship in April. In that run to both titles the Washington-based club scored 145 goals and conceded 10 in 31 games  . . . absurd numbers for what might be the most dominant boys team in the country.

Da'vian Kimbrough, Sacramento United – On October 1, 2023, Kimbrough became the youngest player in American Pro team sports history, as he made his USL Championship debut at 13 years, seven months, and 13 days. That resulted in an international story that vaulted the California native to the top of youth soccer discussions. Interestingly, Kimbrough has opted for the Mexico U15 national team, a development to track over the coming months.

Viggo Ortiz, Austin FC – MVP of the U15 age group at the Generation Adidas Cup, Ortiz burst onto the scene with Austin FC. Those types of performances have led to an international battle between the United States and Mexico as Ortiz shined through the year. 

Kael Taylor, Toca FC 08 – Every successful team needs an elite keeper. And on a loaded Toca FC squad that won back-to-back variations of the USYS National Championship, Taylor is arguably the best player. It started with winning USYSA National Save of the Year in January. Then, after an Elite 64 national trophy in the summer, he led Olathe West High School to a deep playoff run, eventually cumulating in Kansas Goalkeeper of the Year honors despite being just a Sophomore. It has been quite the year for one of the best in the country. 

Neil Pierre, Philadelphia Union – 2023 has seen a rapid rise in the stock of one of the jewels of a stacked Union academy. Pierre is a center-back whose imposing height matches his high-level composure and athleticism at 16 years old. He signed a professional contract in August to dissuade contract offers from overseas, then scored his first senior goal for the Union ll in that same month. And at the most recent MLS Next Fest, the American Youth International was one of the most talked about prospects in attendance. 

Rocket Ritarita, Atlanta United – MVP of the U16 MLS Next Cup and recorded an assist on his professional debut with the Atlanta United ll side in June, Ritarita did a lot of his work in the summer. And with a name fitting of his rise to prominence, the Georgia native capped off his run with a USYNT camp call-up. 

Charlie Sharp, Western Michigan – The decision to forego professional opportunities at Toronto United for one last collegiate season proved prudent as Sharp was the highest-scoring D1 player in the country with 19 goals and eight assists in 20 games. He led the Broncos to multiple trophies, their best-ever season, and finishes as the career record holder in goals. And as a Michigan native playing for a team in his home state, Sharp stands as an example of how recruiting locally can still be an avenue to collegiate success.  

Nicholas Simmonds, Richmond United – From relatively unknown to a Jamaica U17 Concacaf international by February and an ECNL National Champion by summer in the Richmond United U17 midfield, Simmonds has developed rapidly over the months. And with a rare combination of size, physicality, and two-footed technical ability, do not be surprised to see the Virginia native quickly become a USL League One regular. 

Kaedren Spivey, San Jose Earthquakes – The middle school-aged group can be the toughest to judge as players develop physically at different paces. One who is a late bloomer is Spivey, a 2009-born prospect who went from under the radar to a USYNT regular for the U15s by the end of 2023.  

Blake Stuart, Utah Celtic – Headed into the U15 USYS final in the blistering Florida heat, the Celtic would need special performances from their stars to win a first-ever national trophy for the club. Stuart took whatever the coach said to heart with a jaw-dropping four goals in the 5-1 win. A performance like that in a game that big is exactly how you stamp your footprint on the year. 

Cavan Sullivan, Philadelphia Union – Not that he was an unknown prospect before 2023, but this was the year Sullivan rose to international prominence. It started in April as his match-winning performances in the Generation Adidas Cup as a 13-year-old playing against Real Madrid and Arsenal U15s went viral. By summer, he would one-up that accomplishment, as despite being the youngest player on the U.S. U15 Concacaf roster, Sullivan would win MVP of the tournament after recording two assists in the 4-2 final victory over Mexico. And with a reputation to match his highly entertaining style of play, the Union product has amassed a large social media following. Conversations as one of the best prospects in the World are unfair to a player who only turned 14 in September. But rumors are a move abroad is imminent once he turns 16, opening the door for some of the best clubs in Europe to get their hands on the U.S. youth national team star.