U16 USYNT February Roster Analysis

James Donaldson (Atlanta United), Thomas Burchfield (Austin FC), Julian Pierik (Barca Residency)

Donaldson is, in my estimation, the third-best domestic keeper and is typically part of the A team. Burchfield is an intriguing prospect at 6-foot-6. I have not studied Pierik in detail.

Marcelo Avalos (Philadelphia Union), Tobias Szewcyk (New York Red Bulls), Philipp Eckle (FC Augsburg), Leonard Prescott (Bayern Munich)

Avalos is my top-rated goalkeeper in this age group. He has primarily played for Mexico recently, as the United States had not been prioritizing him properly. With Andaz taking over, it seems they have recognized this mistake and are now working hard to bring him back. This will be a tough recruiting battle with Mexico, and the United States must remain consistent in its approach, demonstrating that they truly value him.

Szewcyk appears to be the clear No. 1 for this age group in U.S. Soccer’s eyes. None of the Red Bull players are in this camp, as they are currently competing in a tournament in Brazil.

Eckle and Prescott have both been involved with Germany in the past, though Eckle has been more consistently and recently. Based on my review, he appears to be the better prospect. Neither player was included in Germany’s most recent camp, which seemed to focus on exploring new talent.

RB/LB, Linkon Ream (Real Salt Lake), RB, Eddie Chadwick (LA Galaxy), DM/RB/CB, Daniel Barrett (Houston Dynamo), LB/CB, Liam Vejrostek (FC Dallas), LB, Jackson Pomeroy (Colorado Rapids)
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For anyone who consistently follows my USYNT roster analysis articles, you know I've been puzzled by Linkon Ream’s exclusion over the past year and a half. Consider that mystery solved—Ream has finally, and deservedly, been given an opportunity in a team camp. In my view, he is clearly a top-three full-back in this class, offering true flexibility on both the right and left sides. He is also one of the most two-footed players in the youth pool.

Chadwick has been a fairly consistent selection for this age group and, by my measure, ranks among the top five right-backs. Barrett has tons of positional flexibility. He was primarily a center-back last season, but has moved to the midfield for Dynamo this season. In his first camp with the United States in November, he played as a right-back, which is why I have included him with this position group. 

Vejrostek earned his first call-up in November and has now been invited back. I thought he was solid in the two friendlies against Mexico but didn’t stand out significantly. Pomeroy is the new face in this camp, receiving his first USYNT call-up.

RB, Alexito Gomez (New York Red Bulls), RB, Joshua Wilbrenninck (Feyenoord), RB, Jason Hunt (Philadelphia Union), RB, Nash Dearmin (Inter Miami), RB, Tanner Miller (Orlando City), LB, Prince Forfor (Columbus Crew), LB, Liam Devan (Nashville), LB, Gabriel Florentino (Inter Miami)

Gomez, the top right-back in this age group, is currently in Brazil with his teammates for a tournament. Wilbrenninck was recently called into a U16 camp with the Netherlands and has only represented them so far. It would be great to see him in a U.S. camp eventually, though I’m not sure his level is above Gomez and Ream.

I would have preferred to see Jason Hunt get his first opportunity instead of bringing Chadwick back, but the U.S. may be wary of Chadwick’s recent selection by England. Dearmin and Miller have been part of recent camps but were not called up for this one.

On the left side, it’s been too long since Liam Devan has received a call-up. He is one of the better left-backs in this age group. Florentino has also been absent from camp for a while.

Hugo Berg (Chicago Fire), August Nystrom (Portland Timbers), Wyatt Holt (Charlotte FC)

Berg is the only center-back in this group with previous USYNT camp experience. Based on recent selections, he appears to be the preferred left-footed center-back in this age group.

Nystrom earns a well-deserved first call-up. While he lacks the ideal physical profile of an elite center-back prospect, he is an excellent distributor with both feet, strong in duels, and a well-positioned, alert off-ball defender.

Holt is a player I’ve been meaning to evaluate further, as he has spent most of the season playing up with Charlotte FC’s U18 team.

Tyson Espy (LAFC), Ethan Degny (Nice), Caleb Trombino (Orlando City), Astin Mbaye (New York Red Bulls), Mateo McClean (LA Galaxy), Gianmarco Di Noto (Columbus Crew), Josh Munson (New York Red Bulls)

Espy is, in my view, the clear top center-back in this age group but was left out to give new players an opportunity. Trombino, who was in the last camp, may have been omitted for the same reason. Mbaye and Munson, like all Red Bull players, were unavailable, while Di Noto is currently in preseason with Columbus Crew’s second team.

Ethan Degny is one of the top players in this age group yet to receive a USYNT call-up. He recently moved from Atlanta United to Nice in France, which will likely limit his camp opportunities. However, hopefully, U.S. Soccer is keeping a close eye on his development. Last year, he looked like one of the top center-back prospects in this group.

DM, Peter Molinari (NYCFC), DM, Timo Mendoza (Philadelphia Union), CM, Roko Pehar (Chicago Fire), CM, Graham Ford (Barca Residency)
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Molinari and Pehar have been in and out of the team and now have another opportunity to make an impression on Andaz and his staff. Mendoza and Ford, meanwhile, earn their first USYNT call-ups.

Mendoza, a recent Philadelphia Union signing, has impressed in his first season within an MLS academy. Ford is a solid player, but in my view, he is neither the top midfielder at Barca Residency’s academy nor the most deserving player from the program to receive a first call-up.

DM, Adri Mehmeti (New York Red Bulls), DM, Caleb Simmons (New York Red Bulls), DM, Lukas Bruegmann (Houston Dynamo), DM/CM/CB, Jack Francka (Sporting KC), CM, KK Spivey (San Jose Earthquakes), CM, Gustavo Borges (Eintracht Frankfurt), CM/WING, Judah Siqueira (New England Revolution)
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Two players who should have been included in this exploratory camp but have yet to receive a USYNT call-up are Jack Francka and Judah Siqueira. Francka offers great versatility, and while I’m not sure Sporting KC has put him in the best positions to succeed, he is certainly deserving of an opportunity.

Siqueira is in the midst of a position switch. He has primarily played as a left-winger throughout his youth career but is now transitioning to an eight. While he’s a strong winger prospect, I believe he has the potential to be a top midfield prospect. His style of play in midfield reminds me a lot of Weston McKennie.

Mehmeti is the one exception among Red Bull players, as he is not with the U16s in Brazil due to playing up an age group. He hasn’t been in a USYNT camp for a while and appears to be focusing on his club career.

Bruegmann, a consistent call-up for this group, makes way to allow others a chance to be evaluated. Spivey, one of the top players in this age group, is also likely absent for the same reason. Another top player yet to receive a USYNT camp invitation is Gustavo Borges, who recently joined German giants Eintracht Frankfurt. If he performs well there, he will eventually force his way into a call-up.

AM, Willy Ferreira (Philadelphia Union), AM, Ademar Chavez (FC Cincinnati), AM/WING, Mateo Aritmendiz (Achilles FC), AM/WING/CF, Samuel Sedeh (FC Dallas), WING, Kairo Smith-Phillips (Crystal Palace), WING, Immanuel Ewing (Columbus Crew), WING, Matthew Dimareli (Houston Dynamo)
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Ferreira earned his first USYNT call-up in November and, while he underwhelmed, he now gets another chance to impress. Chavez, meanwhile, receives a well-deserved first call-up. Since moving from LAFC to FC Cincinnati, he has performed at a high level and has also previously attended camps with Mexico.

Aritmendiz is a name I hadn’t heard before, but it’s great to see U.S. Soccer branching out beyond MLS academies. I’m excited to dive into his game. It appears he primarily plays as a right-winger for Achilles, a club based in the DMV area. Sedeh also earns his first USYNT call-up after joining FC Dallas this season. He is a versatile attacker capable of playing all four forward positions and is highly skilled on the ball.

Smith-Phillips is the only international player in this camp, which is unusual for a domestic camp, as these are typically reserved for domestic players. This marks his first USYNT call-up, and from what I saw of him last season, I was impressed by his 1v1 ability and his striking technique with both feet. I haven’t watched him this year, but his highlights are promising. He seems like a player who could eventually draw England’s attention as well. It’s great to see him in his first U.S. camp—oftentimes, a player develops a sense of loyalty to the country that calls him up first.

Ewing and Dimareli are the most experienced USYNT players in this position group. While I don’t see either at the very top of the winger depth chart, both are quality players.

AM/CM/WING, Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), AM, Paul Sokoloff (New York Red Bulls), AM, Will Ostrander (San Jose Earthquakes), AM, Xander Newstead (Ajax), AM, Steel Cook (FC Dallas), AM, Ignacio Suarez (Atlanta United), WING/LB, Manu Romero (Real Madrid), WING, Omar Hassan (Seattle Sounders), WING, Kashan Hines (Sporting KC), WING, Makai Wells (Barca Residency), WING, Darris Hyte (Chicago Fire), WING, Jakob Garcia (Orlando City), Jordyn Eason (FC Dallas)
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There was a great opportunity to bring in some highly talented and deserving attacking players for their first USYNT camp, but I believe Aldaz and his staff missed the mark—particularly with Kashan Hines and Makai Wells, who I consider among the top wingers in this age group.

As for the rest of the group, most have been in and out of camps. Many are likely absent to give others an opportunity, were not released, or are recovering from long-term injuries, like Manu Romero.

Malik Jakupovic (Philadelphia Union), James Bilden (NYCFC)
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Cadet and Jakupovic are the top strikers in this age group by a considerable margin. Jakupovic’s omission from the last camp was puzzling to me, so it’s great to see him back.

Bilden is an interesting and, in my opinion, well-deserved selection. I see him as a strong contender for the third-best striker in this age group. He had a slow start to the year but recently found his form, highlighted by a four-goal performance at MLS Next Fest. Bilden is a vertical, direct striker with great pace and the ability to stretch a backline.

Zidane Cadet (Inter Miami), Aaron Medina (LA Galaxy)
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Cadet is CF1 and is likely not here to give Bilden a look.

The purpose of this camp is for the coaching staff to evaluate new players, so my focus in assessing the roster is on those receiving their first call-up.

Of course, I want to acknowledge that I don’t have all the information—some players may have been invited but were unable to attend. As a result, some of my criticisms may not be entirely fair.

That said, 13 of the 24 players in this camp are receiving their first USYNT call-up, which is fantastic. This is exactly how a low-stakes, domestic camp should be utilized.

Among the new additions, my favorite selections are Linkon Ream, Ademar Chavez, Kairo Smith-Phillips, and James Bilden. However, several talented players continue to wait for a well-deserved opportunity. At the top of that list are Jason Hunt, Ethan Degny, Jack Francka, Gustavo Borges, Judah Siqueira, Kashan Hines, and Makai Wells.

Hopefully, these players will get their chance to prove themselves in the near future.