High School All-America Watch Lists update

by Sheldon Shealer

September 4, 2014

An unknown boys talent and a committed girls player highlight the newcomers to this week’s TopDrawerSoccer Fall All-America Watch List.

Each Thursday, during the fall season, we will add players to All-America Watch List as their performances deem worthy. The only players that will be removed from the list are players who are out for the season due to injury, or simply opting out of high school soccer.

This week, Tresor Mbuya of Garinger (Charlotte, N.C.) highlights the boys additions, while Syracuse commit Sydney Brackett is a newcomer to the girls list.

Mbuya netted 13 goals in Garinger’s first three matches, including four against former FAB 50-ranked Providence. Now, Mbuya, a 5-9, 140-pound senior forward, is facing constant double- and triple-teams, and coupled with the higher quality of Garinger’s recent opponents, he has not scored in the team’s last two outings.

“We man-marked him and used a shadow on him, and he still got off four great shots,” Hough coach David Smith said. Hough and Garinger played a scoreless tie last week. “(Mbuya) works hard and never gets rattled.”

Mbuya plays for One7 Academy and led the team to a US Club Soccer national title in 2012. Garinger and One7 Academy coach David Garrett said he’s been approached by the New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union to have Mbuya join their residential academy programs. One7 Academy has a relationship with Charlotte Soccer Academy in the Development Academy, but Garrett said he has declined to let Mbuya play outside of One7, saying he needs to make sure the Congo-born player’s academics are in order before exploring other opportunities.

One7 Academy, based in Charlotte, is made up of internationally born players, mostly from the city of Charlotte, Garrett said. Mbuya arrived in the U.S. while he was in eighth grade.

Garrett said UNC Asheville has expressed the most interest in Mbuya at this point.

Brackett, a forward, was an Independent School League all-league performer in high school last year as a sophomore. The Class of 2016 prospect helped FC Stars of Massachusetts to a first-place finish in the ECNL New England Division. A rival coach said Brackett is the top player in the ISL, high praise given the general quality of play in that league.

Other additions this week:

BOYS

Erick Hasselkus, Evansville Memorial (Ind.)

GIRLS

Maxine Blackwood, Somerville (N.J.)

Amanda Carolan, Central Regional (N.J.)

Casey Palmer, Brick South (N.J.)

Olivia Vaughn, Montclair Kimberley Academy (N.J.)

Complete Fall All-America Watch List: BOYS | GIRLS