The TDS Combine schedule for 2014 came to a close in Bradenton, Florida in late December. After another year of running the recruiting events, the Florida location provided the perfect platform to end the season on a high.

With a number of college coaches in attendance, there were plenty of players looking to stand out from the field including a couple of players ranked in the IMG Academy Top 150 Recruits for their respective classes.

Below is the Best XI from the boys at the TDS Combine in Bradenton, Florida, as selected by the coaches and staff. Check back later this week for the girls best XI.

TDS Combine: Bradenton Boys Best XI

GK Kieran Jones, Space Coast, 2016:  Jones is a solid keeper with good physical attributes. He organized the field well on the day and demonstrated great shot stopping skills with low and high dives.

D Brandon Pavon, Kendall Soccer Coalition, 2016: Pavon stood out as a solid defender at the combine. On the ball, he distributed well out of the back and made good decisions. Off the ball, he showed good positioning, tactical awareness, and patience when winning the ball.

D Connor Nixon, Central Pasco United SA, 2017: Nixon is a well-built athlete who is comfortable and effective on the ball out of the back. He reads the game well and is very strong in the air, barely losing any battles throughout the full field games.

D/MF Tyler Dueker, FC Tampa, 2018: Dueker has a fantastic work rate and is comfortable on the ball. He showed a great understanding of the game and tactical awareness beyond his years.

MF Gaige Robinson, FC Barcelona (MD), 2016: Robinson is technically solid and was an effective player throughout the full field games. Creating chances out of nothing for himself and even getting an assist on a beautiful through ball in the first game.

MF David Cruz, Team Boca, 2015: Cruz is a deeper center midfielder who is a strong stocky player, is technically sound and keeps things very simple. He can hold the ball up well with his back to goal and is always looking for the ball and keeps it moving. His pass completion ratio was very high.

MF Zion Gray, Continental FC Delco, 2016: Gray was one of the standout players from the day and had all the college coaches swooning over him. He was a pleasure to watch. One of his greatest attributes, which set him apart on the day, was his movement off the ball, always creating angles and support, passing and moving.

MF Keegan Bertrand Mays, Cruz Bay, 2018: Mays is a winger, who is elegant in possession. He had chalk on his cleats throughout the games, getting out wide, and creating space. He reads the game very well, made good decisions on when to dribble and when to release the ball and was rewarded with a great finish on a goal in first game.

MF Julian Hall, West Florida Flames, 2016: Hall is nationally (#58) and regionally (#4) ranked at TDS in the IMG Academy Top 150 Recruits for his graduating class and showed exactly why at the combine. Technically and athletically gifted, Hall glided past players throughout the day creating chances and slotting great through balls to the forwards. Hall also put in a good shift defensively showing his strength and competitive nature in 50/50 challenges.

F Marcelo Malpartida, South Carolina United Battery, 2017: Malpartida played as the deeper forward in the No. 10 role, picking up possession off the center midfielders and driving at the defense. He reads the game well and slipped some fantastic through balls into the other forward and wingers, resulting in a few assists.

F Storm Robinson, FC Barcelona (MD), 2015: Robinson is an all-round solid forward; well-built and technically gifted. He can hold the ball up well and made good runs. He always looked to sniff out chances for his team and pressured well when not in possession.

 

Honorable Mention

Andrew Cornett

David Walter

Luke Lhota

Tye Hendrix

Caleb Franke