North Carolina men’s soccer head coach Carlos Somoano announced the signing of nine student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday. Carolina will welcome in eight high school seniors and UCSB transfer Drew Murphy to the Tar Heel program. Both College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer rank Carolina’s signing class No. 1 in the country.

Murphy along with newcomer Drew Romig entered school in January. All eight seniors are ranked among College Soccer News’ Top 150, including a pair of top 5 players in No. 1 Cameron Lindley and No. 5 Mauricio Pineda.

“We have brought in another impressive group of young men that will proudly represent the University of North Carolina,” said Somoano. “I also want to credit our coaching staff for their hard work in identifying not only high-level soccer players, but also great student-athletes that will uphold the honored and successful Carolina traditions of excellence on the field and in the classroom.”

Murphy was a two-year starter for the Gouchos, before sitting out most of 2015 due to injury. When healthy Murphy was a second team All-Big West selection as a sophomore in 2014 and was named to the Big West All-Freshman Team in 2013 after notching eight assists, the most at UCSB since 1978. Joining Murphy as new Tar Heels in 2016 will be forward Nathaniel Adamolekun (Spicewood, Texas), midfielder Jeremy Kelly (Chapel Hill, North Carolina), midfielder Cameron Lindley (Carmel, Indiana), forward Giovanni Montesdeoca (Dallas, Texas), defender Mauricio Pineda (Bolingbrook, Illinois), goalkeeper Drew Romig (Midlothian, Virginia), midfielder John Skahan (Memphis, Tennessee) and defender Auston Trusty (Media, Pennsylvania).

2016 UNC Signing Class

Nathaniel Adamolekun • F • 6-2/175 • Spicewood, Texas (Seminole HS/Orlando City Academy)

Ranked the No. 12 player in the 2016 class by O When The Yanks and 17th by College Soccer News • 4-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer • NSCAA 2015 All-American • Member of Jamaican National Team, most recently the U20 squad during his senior year • Was the top goal scorer in the 2015 U17 CONCACAF Tournament • Currently competes for Orlando City Academy since 2014 • National Merit Scholar.

Jeremy Kelly • M • 5-9/155 • Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Cardinal Gibbons HS/CASL Railhawks)

Ranked the No. 82 player in the 2016 class by College Soccer News • 4-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer • Capital Area Railhawks Academy U18 team captain • Member of 2014-15 USSDA Southeastern Conference champions • Brother, Robert, is a member of the UNC men’s tennis team, while father, Robert, played soccer at Carolina from 1981-84.

Cameron Lindley • M • 5-10/165 • Carmel, Indiana (Guerin Catholic HS/Chicago Fire Academy)

Ranked the No. 1 player in the 2016 class by College Soccer News • 5-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer • NSCAA 2015 Youth Boy’s National Player of the Year • 2014-15 NSCAA All-American • Captain of the U20 U.S. Men’s National Team • U.S. National Team member since 2009 (U14, U15, U17, U20) • Won a national championship with the Chicago Fire’s U18 team in July 2015 • Currently plays basketball at Guerin Catholic High School.

Giovanni Montesdeoca • F • 5-10/160 • Dallas, Texas (LoneStar HS/FC Dallas Academy)

Ranked the 36th player in the 2016 class by O When The Yanks • Has competed the last two years with FC Dallas Academy • Scored 27 goals in his first season with FCD • Helped lead team to the 2015 USSDA U16 National Championship • Was named Newcomer of the year at Jesuit Prep during sophomore season.

Drew Murphy • M • 6-2/175 • Palos Verdes, California (Palos Verdes HS/UCSB)

Enrolled at UNC in January • Played portions of three seasons at UCSB from 2013-15 • Started 40 games and appeared in 43 matches for the Gauchos • Compiled five goals and 13 assists for 23 total points • Named All-Big West Second Team as a sophomore in 2014 after recording three goals and five assists • Selected to 2013 Big West All-Freshman Team after notching one goal and eight assists, the most at UCSB since 1978 • Competed with the LA Galaxy Academy from 2008-13 • Was a member of the 2011 U.S. Soccer Academy’s National Championship Team.

Mauricio Pineda • D • 6-0/175 • Bolingbrook, Illinois (Plainfield East HS/Chicago Fire Academy)

Ranked the No. 5 player in the 2016 class by College Soccer News • 4-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer • 2014-15 NSCAA All-American • Won a national championship with the Chicago Fire’s U18 team in July 2015 • U.S. National Team member (U18 and U20) • Graduated high school in December, and is currently going through preseason training with the Chicago Fire first team in both Chicago and Tampa.

Drew Romig • GK • 6-1/180 • Midlothian, Virginia (St. Christopher’s School/Richmond Kickers USL Pro)

Enrolled at UNC in January • Ranked the No. 45 player by O When The Yanks and the 62nd player in the 2016 class by College Soccer News • 4-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer • Member of the Richmond Kickers USL Pro Team during the 2014-15 season • Served primarily as the backup goalkeeper, but did see action against West Bromwich in a 2015 exhibition match • U.S. National Team member (U14, U15, U17) • Also competed with Richmond Kickers Academy (2011-13) and Richmond United Academy (2014-15).

John Skahan • M • 5-10/165 • Memphis, Tennessee (Memphis University School/Philadelphia Union Academy)

Ranked the No. 34 player in the 2016 class by College Soccer News • Played with the Philadelphia Union Academy alongside fellow 2016 signee Auston Trusty and current UNC freshman Sean Wilson in 2014-15 • U.S. National Team member in 2014-15 for the U16 team • Also competed with Sunrise Elite from 2011-14 • Led Sunrise Elite to U14 and U15 Dallas Cup championships • Named best XI at 2012 US Youth ODP Boys Thanksgiving Interregional event • His grandfather played basketball and baseball at North Carolina in the 1950’s.

Auston Trusty • D • 6-3/185 • Media, Pennsylvania (Penncrest HS/IMG Academy/YSC Academy/Philadelphia Union Academy)

Ranked the No. 16 player in the 2016 class by O When the Yanks and 26th by College Soccer News • 4-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer • Competed with the U19 U.S. Men’s National Team for tournaments in the Canary Islands and Spain in Jan./Feb. 2016 • Played on the U.S. U17 Men’s National Team at the 2015 FIFA World Cup in Chile • 2014-15 NSCAA All-American • Current team captain for U18 Philadelphia Union Academy team • Was also team captain for U16 Union Academy team that ranked No. 2 in U.S. Development Academy standings during junior year.