FORT MYERS, Fla. – Coming off a season in which it was ranked in the national polls for several weeks, won an unprecedented sixth-straight Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season title and produced three professional players, head coach Bob Butehorn announced the FGCU men’s soccer program’s incoming recruiting class for the Fall of 2016 on Monday.

In the first wave of newcomers to join the quickly-ascending Eagles, 10 players have committed to join the A-Sun’s preeminent program – four of whom were former campers – and hail from six different countries and represent three difference states.

The nearly dozen players – with likely more to come in the summer – will look to replace five graduating seniors and a few others who have departed the program, including professional players Rodrigo Saravia, Aaron Guillen and Nathan Ingham – the reigning A-Sun Player, Defender and Goalkeeper of the Year, respectively.

“We’re not going to be able to replace those three professionals right away, and we know that,” commented Butehorn, who has been the program’s only coach since its inaugural 2007 season. “But what we were able to do was get a very promising class with an outstanding pedigree to take on that challenge.”

Below is more information on each signee:

Jahan Rajaee
Hometown: Gainesville, Fla.
High School: F.W. Buchholz
Year: Freshman
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-0
Weight: 150
Bio Blast: Has already enrolled at FGCU and joined the Eagles this spring … a former two-time camper at FGCU … transferred to F.W. Buchholz High School for his senior season after playing as a midfielder and leading Saint Francis Catholic High School with 13 goals and three assists as a junior … for that performance he was named to the Second Team All-Area … played his club soccer for the Gainesville Soccer Alliance … academic honors included: National Honor Society, Honor Roll and National Latin Honor Society.

Shak Adams
Hometown: Antioch, Tenn.
High School: Cane Ridge
Year: Freshman
Position: Winger
Height: 5-6
Weight: 135
Bio Blast: Another former FGCU camper … scored 15 goals and added nine assists as a midfielder for Cane Ridge HS in Nashville … was named AAA Offensive MVP in District 12 … ODP Interregional All-Star Team (1998 Boys Best XI) … Top Draw Soccer Atlanta Combine Boys Best XI … Showcase Black Division at Disney Soccer Showcase 2015 … during his senior season in a trip to Costa Rica with the Region 1 Team, he was the leading scorer with five goals in three games … played his club soccer for Tennessee SC under coach Sandy Pollock.

Alex Alexis
Hometown: Miramar, Fla.
High School: South Kent
Year: Freshman
Position: Winger
Height: 5-7
Weight: 130
Bio Blast: Member of the 2015 East All-American Team … honors include: 2013 Super y Champion, 2013 Disney Memorial Champion, 2013 Super y League Golden Boot Winner and 2014 U-16 Broward League Champion … recently guided South Kent HS to an undefeated season under head coach Owen Finberg … also helped his team to the National New England Championship … plays his club soccer for Miramar United Elite FC.

Jiro Barriga Toyama
Hometown: Chiba, Japan
Previous School: Barton Community College
High School: Chibakennrituoihama
Year: Junior
Position: Winger
Height: 5-9
Weight: 166
Bio Blast: Transferred from Barton CC where he played in nine games as a sophomore last year before suffering a season-ending injury … scored four goals and added six assists for 14 points – the 3rd-highest total on the team in about half the games … as a freshman he played and started all 16 games, scoring three goals and adding four assists for 10 points … claimed all-conference and all-region honors at Chibakennrituoihama HS … plays his club soccer for JEF United and helped the club advance to the third round of the 2015 Emperor’s Cup.

Jared Brown
Hometown: Aurora, Ontario
High School: St. Maximilian Kolbe CHS
Year: Freshman
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
Bio Blast: Called into the Canadian U-18 National Team Camp … trained with Toronto FC II under former FGCU assistant coach Phil Boerger … played his club soccer for Vaughan Azzurri under coach Patrice Gheisar.

Dante Longo
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
High School: Otay Ranch
Year: Freshman
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Weight: 150
Bio Blast: Another former FGCU camper … played his club soccer with Albion SC … member of the WCDA All-Star Team in Las Vegas, WCDA West Coast All-Star Team and Cal South ODP.

TC Anderson
Hometown: Gainesville, Fla.
High School: F.W. Buchholz
Year: Freshman
Position: Center Back
Height: 6-2
Weight: 195
Bio Blast: Member of the Florida ODP Team and Region III ODP Team … academic honors include: Honor Roll, National Honor Society and top-10 percent in his class … enrolling in the Honors Program at FGCU … plays his club soccer for Leg-A-Z SC under coach Darnell Bernier … his father Neal (CJ) Anderson is a former First Round NFL Draft Pick and four-time Pro Bowl selection as a running back with the Chicago Bears from 1986-93 as he was picked to back up, and eventually succeed, Walter Payton.

Gustavo Vasconcelos
Hometown: Recife, Brazil
High School: Colegio GGE
Year: Freshman
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-3
Weight: 176
Bio Blast: Has trained with the Orlando City First Team … played his club soccer for BWFA/Santa Cruz Futebol Clube.

Paris Psaltis
Hometown: Nicosia, Cyprus
High School: The Grammar School Nicosia
Year: Freshman
Position: Right Back
Height: 5-8
Weight: 152
Bio Blast: Two-time champion with his club team, U-21 APOEL FC, the last two years … has competed in the U-19 UEFA Champions League.

Thomas Delplace
Hometown: Toulouse, France
High School: Scientific Bac
Year: Freshman
Position: Center Back
Height: 6-0
Weight: 161
Bio Blast: Was called in to the U-16 and U-19 National Team camps for France … plays his club soccer for the Toulouse Football Club.

FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the minute information and a behind-the-scenes look at the FGCU men’s soccer program, follow on Twitter @FGCU_MSoccer, Instagram @FGCU_MSoccer, Facebook /FGCUMSoccer and YouTube /FGCUAthletics.

COACH BUTEHORN
FGCU is led by Bob Butehorn, who has coached six professional players and 54 A-Sun All-Conference selections since FGCU started its program in 2007. In just five years of postseason eligibility, Butehorn has guided FGCU to three A-Sun Tournament championships and NCAA Tournament appearances – in 2011, 2012 and 2014 – and has won an unprecedented six-straight A-Sun regular-season championships. His teams have been ranked nationally on several occasions by multiple media outlets. Having completed his 13th season as a head coach, Butehorn has a 115-90-25 (.554) overall record, 81-58-21 (.572) mark in his nine seasons at FGCU and 48-17-6 (.718) record in A-Sun contests.

SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics’ charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.

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