Recruiting Insight: 2024 classes add depth
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The start of the recruiting period for the class of 2024 was only two months ago, but some coaches quickly identified prospects that fit the player profile of their program and would be a good academic fit for their school.…
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Continue ReadingThe start of the recruiting period for the class of 2024 was only two months ago, but some coaches quickly identified prospects that fit the player profile of their program and would be a good academic fit for their school. The commitments from the last week helped push the total number of verbal commitments from the class of 2024 to over 20, which is a very small percentage of the total number of commitments that will come in over the next two years. If you would like to report a commitment, please email commit@prepsoccer.com.
Some of these recent commitments are players from the PrepSoccer National Player Rankings, and others are part of our state rankings. Both rankings will be updated in the coming months as the new season kicks off.
The recent commitments for the class of 2024 feature players bound for SEC and other conferences. Check out the scouting report on a few of the recent commitments below.
The biggest recruiting news of the week was Keegan Smith Keegan Smith GK Haverling (NY) | 2024 NY . The U.S. Youth National Team goalkeeper from New York made her verbal commitment to Arkansas. Smith is a really big fish for the Razorbacks program as a number of top schools had identified her as their top target from the class. She is a five-foot-11 goalkeeper who is athletic, an almost unicorn level prospect for the position. She is excellent in her distribution. She is right-footed and comfortably can hit an accurate pass over 60 yards. She makes good decisions with her outlets – in terms of finding teammates with space or exploiting the uneven balance of the opposition’s defensive posture. She is active off her line and not afraid to dive in hands first to secure the ball in her box. She plays with a confidence that is needed for the position.
The challenge for Arkansas is a blessing of riches. The Razorbacks have two goalkeepers among the verbal commitments for the class of 2023 – both of whom are highly competitive prospects that want to fight for that starting spot in Fayetteville. However, a player like Smith is not one to wait on the bench long for a shot in goal. There is going to be a logjam in the position, but good players like to compete and Arkansas certainly found three very good ones in only two years. Unfortunately, only one of them can start.
Keegan Smith Keegan Smith GK Haverling (NY) | 2024 NY ‘s Highlight Reel
Kentucky landed the verbal commitment of Beadling standout Alexis Tylenda Alexis Tylenda F Shaler Area (PA) | 2024 PA this week, the first reported commitment for the 2024 class for Kentucky. Tylenda is a speedy forward/winger who should be a great fit with that program. She impressed in the Girls Academy this season. She possesses breakaway speed and knew how to use it to her advantage. In the past months, she has also improved in the timing of her runs – both on crosses and on direct over the top service. She is getting better at playing off the shoulder of the defender and being a difficult player to defend. She is extremely well-coached.
Tylenda often plays on the left wing, but she is right-footed. She is not scared to use her left either though. She is a poacher around the box and could be an immediate option at the next level as a super-sub.
Alexis Tylenda Alexis Tylenda F Shaler Area (PA) | 2024 PA Highlight Reel
It has been quite the summer for Heat FC’s Emma Rietz Emma Rietz F Foothill (NV) | 2024 NV . She made the ECNL National Training Camp for the 2006/2007 age group in July, and then locked in her college commitment to UNLV this week. The forward from Henderson, Nevada was a standout for Heat FC during the ECNL National Event in New Jersey. She is going to be a player to watch on the Heat 06 team this season.
Stephen F. Austin landed their first verbal commitment for 2024 with Texas standout Mack Arendall Mack Arendall null | F Boerne Champion (TX) | 2024 TX , a forward on the Classics Elite 06 ECNL team. Arendall was a Second Team All-State selection in 2022 for her contributions at the high school level. She is quick, can finish with either foot, and has this nifty inside-out move that’s very effective at the club level and should translate to the college game. Arendall is an exciting addition for the SFA program.
Mack Arendall Mack Arendall null | F Boerne Champion (TX) | 2024 TX Highlight Reel
Maggie Dutra Maggie Dutra F Issaquah (WA) | 2024 WA was actually a very early commitment to Washington, but I missed the announcement so folding her into this recruitment piece. She is the second verbal commitment for the Huskies, joining Tanner Ijams. The duo makes an exciting start for the Pac-12 program from the Northwest. Dutra, in a way, reminds me of Summer Yates. She is dynamic on the ball, good at finding pockets of space, incredibly challenging to knock off the ball given her technique and strength. Dutra could be an attacking midfielder or a false No. 9 at the college level. She has been very good at the club (ECNL) and high school level for the last two years. She was the leading scorer for Eastside FC, which earned her an invite to the U.S. Soccer Regional Talent Identification event.
One of the most impressive attributes for Dutra is her natural leadership instincts. She is the captain for every team I’ve seen her play on during her club career. She is the type of player that teammates naturally gravitate toward. It’s a pretty safe bet she will be a captain for the Huskies at some point too. It’s no surprise that Washington was eager to land the local standout as one of the first pieces in what is shaping up to be a great recruiting class.
Maggie Dutra Maggie Dutra F Issaquah (WA) | 2024 WA Highlight Reel
Natasha Stramrood Natasha Stramrood GK Tomball Memorial (TX) | 2024 State TX is another player who was an early verbal commitment to her school, Navy, but I missed the announcement so including her here. The ECNL All-Conference goalkeeper is an exciting addition for the Patriot League program. She was one of the best players in one of the best conferences in club soccer.
She was a First Team All-District player as a sophomore. She impressed even more during the Naval Academy ID camp, and earned the eagerness of a coaching staff looking to land one of the best goalkeepers in Texas.