Sometimes it’s refreshing to see the big fish remain in their local pond. Such was the case when a couple of highly touted Top 100 prospects recently committed to programs close to home rather than chase visions of grandeur elsewhere.

New York Red Bulls winger Ross Tetro will be taking his talents to nearby Rutgers, after verbally committing for the 2012 season. Tetro is a small but dangerous attacker who is solid technically. He has a good pair of feet and a soccer brain makes up for his lack of physical prowess.

Tetro has played in the U.S. National Team program and is our No. 55 ranked player in the country.

Anthony Ricci is No. 96 on that same list. He puts in his work at Weston FC where he’s a linchpin for the squad in the midfield. At 5-foot-9 he possesses good strength and is a solid scorer and distributor.

He, too, will not be going far for college after verbally committing to Florida Gulf Coast for the 2012 season.

Way to support your local programs, fellas.

As for the rest of the commits:

Adam Hermsen (Paper Valley YSC) has verbally committed to Marquette for the 2012 season.

Andre Reyes (Dallas Texans) has verbally committed to Old Dominion for the 2012 season. Reyes is No. 10 in the Texas Region.

Benjamin Crognale (Columbus Crew) has verbally committed to Maryland for the 2013 season.

Ryan Perry (Mockingbird FC) has verbally committed to Wake Forest for the 2012 season.

Eric Budniewski (San Diego Surf) has verbally committed to UC Davis for the 2012 season.

Ryan Harmouche (DC United) has verbally committed to George Mason for the 2012 season.

David Ellis (Virginia Rush) has verbally committed to George Mason for the 2012 season.

Myles Bent (Dix Hills SC) has verbally committed to Stony Brook for the 2012 season. Bent is No. 20 in the New York Region.

Matt Pritchard (Omaha FC) has verbally committed to Northern Illinois for the 2012 season.

Kyle Fisher (Carolina Elite Soccer Association) has verbally committed to Old Dominion for the 2012 season.  

Jimmy Myers (Albertson SC) has verbally committed to New Jersey Institute of Technology for the 2012 season.

Andrew Garcia (Brandon FC) has verbally committed to Florida Gulf Coast for the 2012 season.