2019 Boys Soccer Verbal Commitments

[Unregistered]

Can we get a consensus on "Top D1?"

What does top refer to, just the soccer, just the academics, or a blend of both?

Off the top of my head I'd have:

Wake Forest
UNC
Duke
UVA
Stanford
Georgetown

I based my list off of admissions selectivity and soccer ranking.

Yes, this list above is the top D1 and top academic. Unlikely a player from Mass will get in and play (a few do but unlikely, and don't count kids from Berkshire).

I would list any of the NCAA D1 rankings from 1-50, then go back and look at the admissions criteria.

Then look at the rosters and see if your kid fits into the demographic.

If not then extend the search down till you find some likely schools. Also look at previous players from Massachusetts that went to a school like Michigan State and then see: did they play, did they transfer,...

[Unregistered]

Yes, this list above is the top D1 and top academic. Unlikely a player from Mass will get in and play (a few do but unlikely, and don't count kids from Berkshire).

I would list any of the NCAA D1 rankings from 1-50, then go back and look at the admissions criteria.

Then look at the rosters and see if your kid fits into the demographic.

If not then extend the search down till you find some likely schools. Also look at previous players from Massachusetts that went to a school like Michigan State and then see: did they play, did they transfer,...

Step that back. Start first with academics. Make a list of best academic fits first. Then overlap soccer fit on top of that. Be realistic in your kids' ability to get in AND land a spot AND play.

These annual threads are an excellent reality check for prospective recruits. The data shows that 1) not many players from the area make top soccer programs 2) playing all four years isn't very common.

[Unregistered]

Step that back. Start first with academics. Make a list of best academic fits first. Then overlap soccer fit on top of that. Be realistic in your kids' ability to get in AND land a spot AND play.

These annual threads are an excellent reality check for prospective recruits. The data shows that 1) not many players from the area make top soccer programs 2) playing all four years isn't very common.

completely agree. If your kid really thinks he has a good shot at going pro and that's his goal then he should be in Europe.

[Unregistered]

Yes, this list above is the top D1 and top academic. Unlikely a player from Mass will get in and play (a few do but unlikely, and don't count kids from Berkshire).

I would list any of the NCAA D1 rankings from 1-50, then go back and look at the admissions criteria.

Then look at the rosters and see if your kid fits into the demographic.

If not then extend the search down till you find some likely schools. Also look at previous players from Massachusetts that went to a school like Michigan State and then see: did they play, did they transfer,...

First of all, Berkshire produced Jack Harrison and that is why there is so much hype around Berkshire. There won't be another Jack Harrison for years. So I would include Berkshire in your list of "unlikelys".

Second, if he does make the roster (starter or bench), his first semester will all be about soccer- academics will suffer even with peer and faculty assistance. I would argue his academics will suffer more than at top D3 because with top D3 academic and soccer schools the standards on acceptance are much higher than top D1 academic and soccer schools.

[Unregistered]

First of all, Berkshire produced Jack Harrison and that is why there is so much hype around Berkshire. There won't be another Jack Harrison for years. So I would include Berkshire in your list of "unlikelys".

Second, if he does make the roster (starter or bench), his first semester will all be about soccer- academics will suffer even with peer and faculty assistance. I would argue his academics will suffer more than at top D3 because with top D3 academic and soccer schools the standards on acceptance are much higher than top D1 academic and soccer schools.

by "first semester" I meant Fall semester

[Unregistered]

I am enjoying this discussion. A couple of points of clarification. One, the Ivy AI counts test scores double and GPA once (to account for the wide variation in high schools).

Second, Berkshire didn't produce Jack Harrison, Manchester United did. I love Berkshire, but they recruit heavily and so absolutely will have kids going to top D1 programs every year.

Other good (academically) D3 schools that have good soccer: University of Rochester, Kenyon, University of Chicago and Emory. I'm sure there are others.

[Unregistered]

by "first semester" I meant Fall semester

For most of the readers here the situation is
1. Student has between a 3.0 and 3.5 GPA (out of 4.0)
2. SATs are around 1300
3. Parents are upper middle class (ie no free tuition type aid)
4. No minority status
5. Kid is a good player (Academy to top NPL team)

What should the kid do?
Not an impact player for a top D1 school
Scores are not good enough to get into Ivy or top academic D3

A good D3 school is probably the way to go

[Unregistered]

I am enjoying this discussion. A couple of points of clarification. One, the Ivy AI counts test scores double and GPA once (to account for the wide variation in high schools).

Second, Berkshire didn't produce Jack Harrison, Manchester United did. I love Berkshire, but they recruit heavily and so absolutely will have kids going to top D1 programs every year.

Other good (academically) D3 schools that have good soccer: University of Rochester, Kenyon, University of Chicago and Emory. I'm sure there are others.

wrong about Ivy in the case of HYP- they require subject tests and use the top two subj test scores in thh AI. Other Ivys - yes

Also Jack Harrison came to Berkshire when he was 13 or 14 so it can be argued that Berkshire had a role in his development. in any case, Berkshire has been put on a pedestal every since Jack Harrison went pro.

[Unregistered]

typo

wrong about Ivy in the case of HYP- they require subject tests and use the top two subj test scores in thh AI. Other Ivys - yes

Also Jack Harrison came to Berkshire when he was 13 or 14 so it can be argued that Berkshire had a role in his development. in any case, Berkshire has been put on a pedestal every since Jack Harrison went pro.

ever since

[Unregistered]

For most of the readers here the situation is
1. Student has between a 3.0 and 3.5 GPA (out of 4.0)
2. SATs are around 1300
3. Parents are upper middle class (ie no free tuition type aid)
4. No minority status
5. Kid is a good player (Academy to top NPL team)

What should the kid do?
Not an impact player for a top D1 school
Scores are not good enough to get into Ivy or top academic D3

A good D3 school is probably the way to go

that;s true. Good point.

[Unregistered]

wrong about Ivy in the case of HYP- they require subject tests and use the top two subj test scores in thh AI. Other Ivys - yes

Also Jack Harrison came to Berkshire when he was 13 or 14 so it can be argued that Berkshire had a role in his development. in any case, Berkshire has been put on a pedestal every since Jack Harrison went pro.

Agree Berkshire had a role; so did the club he played for (Manhattan?) Etc etc. Definitely having Jack Harrison burnished Berkshire's reputation. (Nb he was there 2 coaches ago).

[Unregistered]

Agree Berkshire had a role; so did the club he played for (Manhattan?) Etc etc. Definitely having Jack Harrison burnished Berkshire's reputation. (Nb he was there 2 coaches ago).

speaking of Berkshire, Jacob Shaffelburg just signed for Toronto FC second team. Multi year contract with chance of MLS deal. Hope he knows what he's doing. Giving up a great UVA education.

So OP, you can take him off the list.

[Unregistered]

wrong about Ivy in the case of HYP- they require subject tests and use the top two subj test scores in thh AI. Other Ivys - yes

Also Jack Harrison came to Berkshire when he was 13 or 14 so it can be argued that Berkshire had a role in his development. in any case, Berkshire has been put on a pedestal every since Jack Harrison went pro.

Zeiko Lewis and Achara aren't too shabby as Berkshire graduates as well.

[Unregistered]

Zeiko Lewis and Achara aren't too shabby as Berkshire graduates as well.

agreed. Achara the Georgetown player. Little brother is not as good.

[Unregistered]

D1

Owen Schwartz, ?, Worcester Academy, Brown
Nick Awada, Bolts, Westford, Bryant
John Muckstadt, GPS, Dover Sherborn, Colgate
Eli Gould, Black Rock, NMH, Colgate
Nick Steed, Black Rock, Berkshire, Colgate
Jack Ostrosky, Bolts, Rutland, Holy Cross
Andrew White, Revs, Boxborough, Lehigh
Camden Blackburn, Revs, Ludlow, UMass*
Christian Pulselli, Bolts, Pembroke, Michigan
Jacques Baldwin, GPS, Brookline, Northeastern
Colby Hegarty, Bolts, Nipmuc, Northeastern
Deng Deng Kur, ?, Berkshire, Northwestern
Tyler Freitas, Revs, N Attleboro, UVM
Jeremy Verley, ?, Milton, UVA
Nicholas Berghold, Black Rock, Berkshire, UVA


D3

Declan Sung, Bolts, Newton, Amherst
Michael Webber, NEFC, Rivers, Bowdoin
Jack Marvel, Liverpool FC, Tabor, Conn College
Justin D’Alessandro, FCStars, Middlesex, Hamilton
Minka Soumah, South Bronx, NMH, Kenyon
David McCrory, Black Rock, Berkshire, Kenyon
Jonah Johnson, Exeter, Milton, Swarthmore
Bryce Visnick, NEFC, Beverley, Tufts