See South Atlantic Region Top 20 Rankings - Boys | Girls

Self-awareness can be a fundamental trait leading to success. Recognizing that you are a talented player, but also acknowledging what it took to get to that point, and what it takes to stay up there can be as important as the skills you display on the field.

Joanna Boyles (committed to North Carolina), who leads the 2013 Girls class of the Players To Watch South Atlantic Regional rankings, understands that principle and uses it to further cement herself as one of the best central midfielders in the nation.

“It’s an honor to be ranked among the best players in country. Many are very close friends of mine that I admire both on and off the field,” Boyles said. “There are lot of great players out there ‘nipping’ at my heels, and this motivates me to continue to be a student of the game.”

Very few players at her age call themselves a ‘student of the game’. It is a display of the kind of player that Joanna is; one that recognizes it takes hard work and honesty to continue being the best.

It’s the reason why she’s blossomed with her Raleigh-based club team, CASL. Even though Joanna does have a specific role, the entire squad plays as a unit, which has led to much success.

“I believe I am a player that keeps the ball moving, gets my teammates involved, wins balls, and starts the attack,” she said. “I also try to be a leader and friend to all my teammates because they are like sisters.”

Being a facilitator to her teammates doesn’t allow Joanna to have many looks at goal. But with the ability to take a solid shot, she is currently trying to master the appropriate moments when she can crack a shot at goal.

Continuing to develop her 1v1 defending will also make her an exquisite box-to-box midfielder, and a stronger threat in the ECNL, where currently she and her CASL teammates play against top opposition.

“Playing at the highest level requires me to recognize my weaknesses so that I can tweak the little details to become a better player,” Boyles said. “When you play against the best, you can learn from the best.”

The South Atlantic region is packed with loads of talent. Brittany Conley and Annie Speese are first and second in the 2011 Girls class. Abigail Lutzenkirchen leads the 2012 Girls, and Dominique Babbitt heads the 2014 Girls.

Ted Mullin leads the 2011 Boys class, and U17 MNT star Joseph Amon heads the 2012 Boys.  Jonathan Scherzer and Patrick Khouri take the top spot among the 2013 and 2014 Boys, respectively. Meanwhile, the 2015 Boys has Caleb Moore ranked first.

See South Atlantic Region Top 20 Rankings - Boys | Girls