2017 Boys Soccer Verbal Commitments

[Unregistered]

Pardon my ignorance, but is the quality of soccer at private schools substantially better than the quality at public schools? Could BBN beat Masco, Needham, Nauset, Framingham, etc? I can imagine the coaching is better, but it seems that the clubs are where most kids go for better coaching. I know there are a few very good private school teams, but how many are truly elite and offering better training, and more dedicated soccer players, than the top Stars, GPS, etc. clubs?

And I can't believe that D1 schools are too concerned about the relative quality of players' high school education. The better D3 schools might prefer a Lawrence academy kid over a low to mid-level public school, but many places like Lexington, Concord-Carlisle, Brookline, Winchester, etc. also produce a lot of solid student athletes.

From a soccer perspective, I think too much emphasis is being placed on where (public v private v club) a kid is playing- a kid like the BBN player referenced would be on local college programs' radar screens almost regardless of where he played. The thing about prep kids is that, as an initial screen, most schools can take grades out of the mix and assume the kid will be academically eligible.

[Unregistered]

Pardon my ignorance, but is the quality of soccer at private schools substantially better than the quality at public schools? Could BBN beat Masco, Needham, Nauset, Framingham, etc? I can imagine the coaching is better, but it seems that the clubs are where most kids go for better coaching. I know there are a few very good private school teams, but how many are truly elite and offering better training, and more dedicated soccer players, than the top Stars, GPS, etc. clubs?

And I can't believe that D1 schools are too concerned about the relative quality of players' high school education. The better D3 schools might prefer a Lawrence academy kid over a low to mid-level public school, but many places like Lexington, Concord-Carlisle, Brookline, Winchester, etc. also produce a lot of solid student athletes.

BBN was middle/below middle of the pack in the ISL this year, but still would have been a tough out for any of those teams. The top half of the ISL is generally a lot better than the public schools, and the bottom half (with 1-2 exceptions) remains pretty good, largely due to depth, as the schools (esp. the boarding ones) can draw from all over (including out of state and international), have better facilities and coaching, and there is a lot more flexibility to coordinate with clubs. Add in the facts that many of the kids are repeating a year so are older, plus the apparent greater willingness of academies to grant waivers to private school kids, and you end up with a very competitive, high quality high school league. Of course, there are excellent (often just as good or better) players in the public schools, but the teams are not as consistently deep.

[Unregistered]

fixed club affiliation

D1

Nathan Plano-Aztec-Reading HS-Brown *
Sam Hatem-FC Stars-Worcester Academy-Columbia
Cole Venner-Black Rock-Berkshire-UConn
Matthew Ranieri-Revs-Nobles&Greenough-Dartmouth
Wilhelm Jacques-Bolts-Medford-Duke
Rory Conway-Bolts-Brookline-Harvard
Max Benford-Aztec-Ipswich-Holy Cross
Edi Mujan-Bolts-Revere-Holy Cross
Justin Rennicks-Revs-Hamilton/Wenham-Indiana
Trey Miller-Revs-Monson-Louisville
Ben Ludwick-FC Stars-Acton/Boxborough-PC
Alex Shterenberg-Revs-Westwood-Michigan St
Nicholas Woodruff-Revs-Attleborough-Michigan St
Jonathan Wolf-NEFC-Worcester Academy-UNH
Adama Kaba-Hammer-St Sebastian- Northeastern
Noah Abrams-Manhattan-Berkshire-Northeastern
Edward Walsh-Revs-Westwood-Xavier

D2
Mauricio Martinez-Aztecs-Revere-Assumption*
Ha Tim Brahimi-GPS-Franklin-Bentley
Hayden Yakola-Liverpool-Nauset-Bentley
Kyle Archambault-Bolts- St Johns Shrewsbury-Bentley

D3


Jack O'Brien-GPS-Milton Academy-Amherst
Andy Manos-GPS-NMH-Brandeis*
Chris Russo-FC Stars-Westford-Brandeis
Samson Heyer-FC Stars-Amherst HS-Colorado College
Justin Miranda-Aztec-Winchester-Connecticut College
Liam Donelan-FC Stars-Milton HS-Connecticut College
Grayson Presutti-GPS-Hingham-Denison
Ryan Horan-GPS-Norwell-Franklin & Marshall
Liam Thor-Blackrock FC-Berkshire-Kenyon
Justin Burns-GPS-Walpole-Mass Maritime
Matthew Hyer-FC Stars-Groton Dunstable-Middlebury
Jacob LaBranche-Liverpool-Nauset-Middlebury
Connor Edwards-Western-NMH-Roger Williams*
Josh Polakiewicz-Aztecs-Masconomet-Roger Williams
James Nicholas-FSA-NMH-St Lawrence*
Spenser Nagi-?-Westborough-St Josephs College
Jamie Marden-Aztec-Marblehead-Trinity College (CT)
Quentin van der Lee-Black Rock-Berkshire-Trinity(TX)
Omar al-Homsi Hernandez-FC Blazers-Bromfield-Union
Poom Mera-?-Swansea-Union
Nicholas Ranieri-GPS-Nobles&Greenough-Williams

[Unregistered]

BBN was middle/below middle of the pack in the ISL this year, but still would have been a tough out for any of those teams. The top half of the ISL is generally a lot better than the public schools, and the bottom half (with 1-2 exceptions) remains pretty good, largely due to depth, as the schools (esp. the boarding ones) can draw from all over (including out of state and international), have better facilities and coaching, and there is a lot more flexibility to coordinate with clubs. Add in the facts that many of the kids are repeating a year so are older, plus the apparent greater willingness of academies to grant waivers to private school kids, and you end up with a very competitive, high quality high school league. Of course, there are excellent (often just as good or better) players in the public schools, but the teams are not as consistently deep.

How would the top ISL teams (Brooks or Milton), do against a DA team? Let's put them up against a middle of the pack Northeast team, Everton Westchester, which is right in between Bolts & Seacoast in the U17/18 standings currently. The ISL teams can use any DA waivered players they might have.

[Unregistered]

How would the top ISL teams (Brooks or Milton), do against a DA team? Let's put them up against a middle of the pack Northeast team, Everton Westchester, which is right in between Bolts & Seacoast in the U17/18 standings currently. The ISL teams can use any DA waivered players they might have.

Who said any ISL would be able to compete against a DA team? The prior discussion was private vs public high school teams. The very top ISL teams, which include kids w waivers, may have 4-5 DA level players some years, so they might not get totally buried, but just as private school teams generally have far better depth than public, the DA teams are obviously far deeper than anything you can find in the private schools. Maybe the Berkshires or South Kents of the world could do a bit better, given the number of int'l kids and the level of soccer they play, but even those teams are likely a cut below what a DA team can field.

[Unregistered]

Who said any ISL would be able to compete against a DA team? The prior discussion was private vs public high school teams. The very top ISL teams, which include kids w waivers, may have 4-5 DA level players some years, so they might not get totally buried, but just as private school teams generally have far better depth than public, the DA teams are obviously far deeper than anything you can find in the private schools. Maybe the Berkshires or South Kents of the world could do a bit better, given the number of int'l kids and the level of soccer they play, but even those teams are likely a cut below what a DA team can field.

Perhaps this conversation should be how much better the DAP teams would be if they had kept the ISL kids rather than cut them because of academic opportunities. But clearly the USSF know what they are doing.

[Unregistered]

Seems like one clear (an possibly obvious point) is that the private schools are improved by the PG students and others who are older (having likely repeated a grade) than their public school peers.

So, a way to D1 is to start in public school and finish in private. As long as grades are ok, will get better colleges, wither academic or soccer-wise, to notice you.

I's still like to see BBN take on the undefeated Nauset team from this past year!

[Unregistered]

Who said any ISL would be able to compete against a DA team? The prior discussion was private vs public high school teams. The very top ISL teams, which include kids w waivers, may have 4-5 DA level players some years, so they might not get totally buried, but just as private school teams generally have far better depth than public, the DA teams are obviously far deeper than anything you can find in the private schools. Maybe the Berkshires or South Kents of the world could do a bit better, given the number of int'l kids and the level of soccer they play, but even those teams are likely a cut below what a DA team can field.

The caliber of the top notch Prep schools are as good if not better than local DA teams. South Kent has beaten Oakwood the last several years. Berkshire could beat the DA clubs too.

[Unregistered]

Seems like one clear (an possibly obvious point) is that the private schools are improved by the PG students and others who are older (having likely repeated a grade) than their public school peers.

So, a way to D1 is to start in public school and finish in private. As long as grades are ok, will get better colleges, wither academic or soccer-wise, to notice you.

I's still like to see BBN take on the undefeated Nauset team from this past year!

BBN was primarily freshmen and sophomores this year. One healthy senior and no repeats. Careful what you ask for. They will be a great team in the coming years.

[Unregistered]

The caliber of the top notch Prep schools are as good if not better than local DA teams. South Kent has beaten Oakwood the last several years. Berkshire could beat the DA clubs too.

Agree. Having been involved with both DAP and prep boys soccer it's safe to say that too NEPSAC teams like Berkshire, South Kent, 2015 Milton, Worcester Academy, Loomis, 2014 Lawrence were all playing DAP level soccer.

As has been mentioned here in the past there is really no comparison to these top prep teams versus the top Mass HS teams. Older players, recruiting and international players separate NEPSAC from high school soccer. Just like basketball and hockey NEPSAC is the best pre college school soccer league in the country.

[Unregistered]

Agree. Having been involved with both DAP and prep boys soccer it's safe to say that too NEPSAC teams like Berkshire, South Kent, 2015 Milton, Worcester Academy, Loomis, 2014 Lawrence were all playing DAP level soccer.

As has been mentioned here in the past there is really no comparison to these top prep teams versus the top Mass HS teams. Older players, recruiting and international players separate NEPSAC from high school soccer. Just like basketball and hockey NEPSAC is the best pre college school soccer league in the country.

Black Rock will be playing some friendlies with some DA clubs in March. Should be a fun but not "statistically significant" chance to see how it works in real life. Did pretty well at IMG in similar stratosphere.

[Unregistered]

Blackrock

FACT CHECK about Blackrock - how many W's did they post at IMG in December - ZERO. Manhattan Soccer club is no longer coaching the club and senior Berkshire players refuse to play for JM!

[Unregistered]

FACT CHECK about Blackrock - how many W's did they post at IMG in December - ZERO. Manhattan Soccer club is no longer coaching the club and senior Berkshire players refuse to play for JM!

Supergroup I think lost or tied all three games. U19 (mix of freshmen through juniors) won all games and tied one, but got 0-4 judgements since player cards were not ready for the tournament. I, personally, could give a sh!t about Berkshire seniors, thanks.

[Unregistered]

Blackrock

40 year old man still living his D3 soccer days..prep gone...club with all those fabricated All Americans, the true lack of coaching shines through and through!

[Unregistered]

When you get home tonight, (who am I kidding, when you come up from Mom's basement), please give your puppy an extra kick for me, mkay?