Players To Watch: ECNL Boys Winter 2024 Florida National Event

(Pictured Above: Class of 2026 Match Fit Academy defender and SoccerWire Featured Player Kyle Harvey.)

The first ECNL Boys National Event of 2024 is set to begin, with ECNL Florida taking place from February 3-5 in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.

ECNL Florida will feature 230 teams from across the league’s U15-U18/U19 age groups. To view the schedule for ECNL Florida, click here.

Ahead of the weekend’s action, here are some players to know from this year’s event. Players are listed according to their graduation year.

You can nominate also nominate a player who has stood out this season that will be attending the event through the following link.

2027

Sullivan Carter | Midfielder-Winger-Defender
Northern Virginia Alliance 08 (VA)

Serves as NVA’s Swiss Army knife, using has a wide array of skills to solve problems in NVA’s attack, midfield, and in defense. His ability to see what the opposition is planning, make small adjustments on the fly, and provide a countermove make him highly dangerous anywhere on the pitch. The reigning Mid-Atlantic Player of the Year and member of the All-American team last season, Carter has ked the team to a 6-1-3 record thus far in conference play.

2026

Hudson Jacobs | Forward
Oklahoma Energy FC 08 (OK)

Dominates the attacking third for Oklahoma in the Texas Conference, leading an Energy attack that has scored 40 goals this season. Off the ball, Jacobs can be seen on the pitch always moving, looking for gaps in the defense to exploit. Oklahoma have won the Texas the last two seasons and will look for more scoring heroics from Jacobs as they pursue a third straight title.

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Nathaniel Blahnik | Midfielder
Concorde Fire Platinum 08 (GA)

Runs the highly organized Fire Platinum midfield that has run through opponents in the ECNL Southeast Conference West Division this season (13-0-5, 44 points). Depending upon the situation, Blahnik is equally comfortable at slowing down the speed of play or speeding it up finding teammates in open space with a variety of passes. He is also a leader on the pitch, taking what he sees and providing tactical information that his teammates can use immediately. For his efforts last season, Blahnik earned the Southeast Player of the Year award and was a member of the All-American team.

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Tanner Drought | Midfielder-Defender
Gretna Elite Academy 08 (NE)

Playing in either the midfield or the defense, Drought is a playmaker for Gretna. His ability to make a key defensive stop and then pick out a teammate in open space is integral to the team holding their shape. His work at maintaining possession has helped Gretna get out to a 7-3-0 record in Heartland Conference play. He was also named to the All-Conference First Team last season.

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Miguel Solano | Forward
Sporting Nebraska 08 (NE)

Provided the attacking spark once again for Sporting last fall, leading a Nebraska offense that scored 34 goals in the Heartland Conference- North Division. Solano makes smart, precise runs off of the ball and has a controlled first touch that defenders struggle to keep up with. Last season was a breakout year for the 2026 attacker, earning U15 Heartland Conference Player of the Year honors as well as a spot on the All-American Team after leading Sporting to a Round of 16 appearance in last year’s playoffs. Their ambitions seem to be higher this season and if their form in conference is any indication (8-1-1, 25 points) they are going to be a tough opponent for any club.

Some goals for the @SNFC_ECNL 08 boys to be proud of from their September run of @ecnlboys games. Let's keep it going into Nov/Dec starting this weekend.

@sportingnebraskafc @sportingkcyouth pic.twitter.com/pPmseUADeA

— Nathan May (@NathanAMay) November 11, 2023

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Malachi ‘MJ’ Winn | Midfielder
Maryland United 08 (MD)

Currently the leading scorer on his team, Winn is an explosive, attacking playmaker that makes a difference on both sides of the ball. He scored three goals during the 2023 ECNL South Carolina Showcase last month.

2025

Griffin Garnett | Midfielder
Richmond United 06/05 (VA)

Last season’s U17 Player 4of the Year, Garnett has led Richmond to another strong start in 2023-2024 using his pace and nose for goal to help United score 25 goals in league play (most among all Mid-Atlantic teams). On the ball, he can drive directly at opponents and either place a precise pass in open space for a teammate or hammer a shot from anywhere on the pitch. At 6’2″ he is also more than capable of creating goalscoring opportunities from the air.

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Ryan Andrews | Defender
Pipeline SC 07 (MD)

Named to the ECNL All-American team last season after leading Pipeline’s 07s to a semifinal appearance in the National Playoffs. A strong, imposing player Andrews can box out attackers and make decisive clears in sticky situations. For his high school Loyola Blakefield this fall he led the team to an MIAA State Championship.

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Jack Saladin | Forward
SLSG 07 (MO)

Scored a critical goal lift SLSG’s over Sporting Nebraska 2-1 last month, giving them extra momentum heading into Showcase play. Saladin possesses endless speed and can immediately put on the gas after connecting on a pass. The 2022-2023 All-American team member and U16 Heartland Conference Player of the Year has SLSG riding high, having both of their league games thus far and a perfect record at last month’s ECNL South Carolina National Event.

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Luke Ponciroli | Midfielder
SLSG 06/05 (MO)

An attacking midfielder and playmaker, Ponciroli possesses superb field vision and can finish goal-scoring opportunities with both his feet and head. On the pitch, he puts everything he can into giving his team the best chance to succeed, as evidenced by him winning over 250 50/50 balls in his fall season. With his high school Chaminade Prep, he led the team with 17 goals and 11 assists, also winning the conference scoring title. For his efforts, he earned the United Soccer Coaches US All-Central Region team and the Missouri All-State First Team honors. He is also a three sport athlete, excelling in not just soccer but also lacrosse and golf.

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LaRue Hedges | Midfielder-Defender
South Carolina United 07 (SC)

Slotting in at outside back through midfield and wing to fulfill the team’s needs, Hedges is a dynamic player at multiple positions whose hallmark is on defense. A fast, pacey player (he is also a member of his high school track and field and cross country teams, where he is a two-time qualifier for the state finals in the 800 meters) he can also pick out his teammates with pinpoint accuracy, starting the counter-attack. In addition to his exploits on the pitch and the track, he is also the varsity kicker which given his control and ability to think quickly makes sense. He was a key addition to his club team and helped them to an improved record in a challenging ECNL Southeast Conference. Hedges was also an integral part of helping his previous club win an NPL title and shift to the ECNL in 2021.

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Jaxon Stokes | Midfielder
Eclipse Select 09 (IL)

Rejoined Eclipse after playing for RSL Academy (Utah) and immediately made an impact, leading them to a second place finish in the U16 ECNL National Playoffs. Coming off a strong high school season, where Stokes lead his team to a third place finish, he will be looking to add to his goal-scoring haul from the fall. He contributed 30 goals and 12 assists, earning All Region and First Team IHSSCA All-State honors. Stokes is primed to lead Eclipse on another deep playoff run.

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Luke Myers | Defender
DKSC 05/06 (TX)

A leader in the defense for many years, Myers has become a co-captain for DKSC and his high school. John Paul II. For JPII, he was one of the top goalscorers and assist makers on high school team.
Though he is strong at the centerback position, he can play pretty much anywhere in the defense or in the midfield and thrive.

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Michael Taliano | Defender
STA 05/06 (NJ)

A shifty left-foot defender/wing back, Taliano can read what opponents are planning on doing and make the small adjustments necessary to halt their advances. At the recent ECNL Boys South Carolina event in December, Taliano played a key role in STA (2-0-1, 5 points) going undefeated. He was also a key contributor to their US Club Soccer National Finals run last season, scoring two of the teams three goals, including the lone goal in a 2-1 loss to eventual National Cup Champions Sporting Springfield.

2024

Jack Bilyeu | Forward
FC PRIDE 06/05 (IN)

A Xavier 2024 commit, Bilyeu is coming off of a strong fall high school season for Lawrence Central, where he scored 16 goals. For his efforts, he earned All-Marion County honors and was named to the Indianapolis Star’s ALL-USA Central Indiana Super Second Team. For Pride last season his standout work up led to him being named to the ECNL’s Midwest All-Conference First Team.

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Mason Wakefield | Midfielder
Pipeline SC 06/05 (MD)

Operating as Pipeline’s number seven, Wakefield orchestrates Pipeline’s work in the midfield using his control and field vision to spot teammates all throughout the pitch. On the attack, he is unafraid to take a crack at goal and has the ability to place his shot in the corners of the goal even from distance. Wakefield is coming off a strong four year career with Calvert Hall where he won three MIAA Championships and a National Championship.

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Aaron Sullivan | Fairfax Brave
Pipeline SC 05/06 (VA)

Holds the back line with poise and control, closing down open spaces in Fairfax’s defensive third. As a 6’6″ left-footed centerback, Sullivan can make a difference in the air and on the ground finding his teammates with highly accurate passes. He is also a threat on set pieces, using his height to frame shots on target.