Watch list: 20 Massachusetts boys high school players to track



HIGH SCHOOLWatch list: 20 Massachusetts boys high school players to trackBy?Jonathan Sigal May 27, 2020Colin Milliken of Oliver Ames has proven his place in the Hockomock League. (Courtesy of Oliver Ames High School)Our series on the top up-and-coming high school players in New England continues with Massachusetts, where there’s no shortage of talent to be found.As prevalent as the academy and prep school spaces have become across the Bay State, plenty of players still opt for the high school-club route. After playing key roles in the MIAA, most progress onto quality club teams at Boston Bolts, NEFC, GPS Massachusetts and more.So, we’ve highlighted 20 players from the MIAA who have promising futures. They’ve impressed locally and project as solid contributors at the next level. This story is designed to be comprehensive, though its subjective nature allows for plenty of debate (contact us!).Sorted in alphabetical order, here’s our breakdown of these up-and-comers. You can also check out our previous posts on who to watch for in?Connecticut,?New Hampshire?and?Rhode Island.ADVERTISEMENTJosh Andrews?–?Lexington | 2022 | M/F | Lexington, Mass.?– A left-footed winger who also plays for GPS Massachusetts, Andrews has turned plenty of heads in the Middlesex League. He scored a title-clinching goal last year, and finished with five goals and three assists. At current rate, Andrews should generate plenty of recruiting interest.Dominek Borden?–?Greater New Bedford | 2021 | D/M | New Bedford, Mass.?– Capable of playing in defense or in midfield, Borden had 11 goals and 13 assists as a junior. The left-footed dynamo has also played for GPS Massachusetts, using his speed and technical ability to make defenses pay.Colby Campos?–?Joseph Case | 2021 | M | Swansea, Mass.?– Already verbally committed to Providence College, Campos plays for Bayside FC and is regarded as the South Coast Conference’s top player. He had six goals and 12 assists as a junior, and also stars for Joseph Case’s track and field team. All signs point to him being a great addition for the Friars.Leonardo Coelho?–?Milford | 2021 | D/M/F | Milford, Mass.?– Coelho is one of the most versatile players in the MIAA, as he featured at outside back, defensive midfielder and striker for last year’s Division II runner-up. Coelho managed seven goals and 11 assists as a junior, earning Hockomock League MVP honors along the way. He’s also played club soccer for the Boston Bolts, with Cambridge Rindge & Latin midfielder Will Bavier another standout from the same club.Jackson Dresens?–?Wayland | 2022 | F | Wayland, Mass. –?The younger brother of Tufts defender Zack Dresens, Jackson plays up top for GPS Massachusetts and Wayland, the 2018 Division III state champions. He’s a quick, athletic forward who causes problems when dropping deep or finding space in the 18-yard box.Luke Fagerson?–?Medway | 2021 | M | Medway, Mass.?– Fagerson was the star of Medway’s Division III state championship run last fall, as he amassed 19 goals and nine assists. A standout for NEFC on the club circuit, he can quickly turn defense into offense and thrives when driving play forward on the dribble.ADVERTISEMENTMatthew Fordham?–?Groton-Dunstable | 2021 | M | Groton, Mass.?– A former Revolution Academy player, Fordham’s back playing high school and for NEFC. He’s a central midfielder who plays defense-splitting passes from deep-lying or advanced positions. He carries Division I potential, but a local NEWMAC or NESCAC program could be his landing spot as well.Rodrigo Freitas?–?Watertown | 2021 | M | Watertown, Mass.?– Freitas earned Middlesex League MVP honors last year, and projects most as an attacking midfielder or false No. 9 who can drift into soft spots and pull the strings. He has Brazilian roots and enough on-ball skill to play academy soccer, but prefers the high school route.Ben LaBranche?–?Nauset Regional | 2021 | M | Eastham, Mass.?– LaBranche, a holding midfielder, serves as captain for both his high school and club (Liverpool FC 03 NPL) teams. He’ll be a four-year starter for the Warriors, a Division II program that won state championships in 2016 and ’18. Another key Nauset player to watch for is Class of 2021 center back Ethan Boyle.Degefe McCracken-Bradley. (Courtesy photo)Connor Lovely?–?Weymouth | 2022 | D | Weymouth, Mass.?– A longtime GPS Massachusetts player, Lovely is an exciting prospect along the backline. He has a strong left foot and picks out passes from range, giving this Division I South program a long-term building block.Degefe McCracken-Bradley?–?Wellesley | 2021 | D | Wellesley, Mass.?– McCracken’s played for the Boston Bolts and Revolution Academy in the Development Academy, but now competes for NEFC. He’s a commanding center back whose an enticing recruit for local Division I and III programs. His strength, quickness and aerially ability all stand out.Colin Milliken?–?Oliver Ames | 2021 | M | North Easton, Mass. – Milliken verbally committed to Division II side Southern New Hampshire this past winter, having earned All-State and Eastern Mass. All-Star honors. He’s a central midfielder who can dictate the tempo with his passing and dribbling abilities. Other standouts at the 2015 Division II state champions are defender Brady deVos and midfielder Kevin Louhis.ADVERTISEMENTWill Neuenhaus?–?Masconomet Regional | 2021 | D | Boxford, Mass.– A two-year captain for this North Division II program, Neuenhaus also plays club soccer for GPS North Shore. He’s an aerial threat on set pieces and relies on his athleticism to make plays, but also reads the game well to thwart advances from the opposition.Tarekegn O’Neill?–?Melrose | 2021 | M | Melrose, Mass.?– A former Revolution Academy player, O’Neill also has roots at GPS Massachusetts. His Melrose team had a so-so season in 2019, but O’Neill is still an all-around difference-maker in the Middlesex League.Andrew Ortiz won a Massachusetts Division I state title with Longmeadow High School in 2019. (Courtesy photo)Andrew Ortiz?–?Longmeadow | 2021 | M | Longmeadow, Mass.?– A box-to-box or holding midfielder, Ortiz has already?verbally committed to UMass. He helped Longmeadow win a Division I state championship last year, and previously told?New England Soccer Journal, “I like doing the dirty work that might get overlooked.”Christian Perugini?–?Medway | 2021 | M | Medway, Mass.?– Perugini used to play in the Development Academy for the Boston Bolts, and now competes for NEFC in the club space. An attacking center mid or winger, he’s deceptively quick on the dribble and has an eye for the final pass. He played a key role on Medway’s Division III state title team in 2019.Evan Perry?–?Amherst Regional | 2021 | D | Amherst, Mass.?– Perry’s a 6-foot-3 center back who projects into a NESCAC program, though could get some Ivy League looks as well. Perry, who plays for NEFC West, passes well out of the back and puts himself in the right spots to make defensive interventions. He boasts a long throw-in, too.Alec Pettit?–?Norwell | 2022 | GK | Norwell, Mass.?– Pettit turned plenty of heads as an underclassmen for Norwell, a Division III South program that nearly made the state championship game in 2019. He’s also impressed for the Boston Bolts ECNL program, both through his size and instincts. One other Class of 2022 goalkeeper to keep an eye on is Pentucket’s Tyler Correnti (FC Stars ECNL).Colin Waltsak?–?East Longmeadow | 2021 | GK | East Longmeadow, Mass.?– There are few better shot-stoppers in all of Massachusetts than Waltsak, whose best comparison could be Trey Miller (Monson, Mass.), the former Revolution Academy and Louisville/UMass goalkeeper. Waltsak’s great with the ball at his feet and brave off his line, though his size means presents some aerial challenges.Zach Vlachos?–?St. John’s Prep | 2021 | F | Peabody, Mass.?– Vlachos, a former Revolution Academy and Boston Bolts forward, is a standout striker for Catholic Conference champions St. John’s Prep. He’s flown under the radar some due to a back injury, but is now generating strong recruiting interest from serious Division I schools. Three other forwards to keep tabs on are Thalles Albino of Saint John’s, Diego Diaz of Winchester and Johann Fraser of Cambridge Rindge & Latin. ................
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