visitRaleigh.com Boys College Showcase: U15-U19 Top Brackets Preview

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With the visitRaleigh.com Boys College Showcase Series set to kick off this weekend, 358 of the top boys U15-U19 teams will be heading down to the Tar Heel state to play in front of over 200 of the top college coaches from across the country (View College Coaches List)

Each bracket will be in a three game Showcase format, with teams playing one game per day.

Below are some of the top teams to keep an eye on over the weekend. For a list a of individual players to track, check out our Players to Watch page.

U15 Elite Gold (2009)

Bracket A

NASA Tophat NTH enter the Showcase in fine fashion, sporting a 10-2-1 record on 31 points in the ECNL Boys Regional League Southeast Conference. South Carolina Surf (8-3-2, 26 points) will be joining them in Bracket A, after dominating league so far in the ECNL Southeast Conference. Charlotte Independence Academy (0-2-3, 3 points) just started ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference play, but are coming off of a strong team performance in their 2-2 draw with Richmond United. Rounding out the bracket are the Wilmington Hammerheads, who play in the US Youth Soccer National League.

Bracket B

West Florida Flames Elite Brandon are coming off of a strong fall campaign in which they placed first in their flight at the Tampa Players Cup, having outscored their opponents 16-0. They will be matched up with another strong attacking side in Bracket B in South Carolina United FC, who have scored 31 goals in ECNL Southeast Conference play en route to a 7-5-1 record on 31 points. Charlotte Soccer Academy and North Carolina FC Youth are just starting out their seasons in the ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference but should bring plenty of goals to match their high-scoring opponents.

U16 Showcase (2008)

Bracket A

Woodbridge SC from Ontario, Canada are one of the major dark horses at this Showcase, but are coming off of a spring in which they made the Quarterfinals at the Dallas Cup and placed first in their flight at the Umbro Top-Rated Showcase. They will face from the ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference Skyline Elite SC (4-2-1, 13 points), Charlotte SA, and NCFC Youth. Both Charlotte and NCFC will be starting their seasons at this year’s Showcase and currently play in the ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference alongside Skyline.

Bracket B

Although they have only played two Mid-Atlantic Conference matches this season, NCFC Youth Academy have already made their presence felt, winning both games by a combined score of 10-0. Looking to prove their mettle against their in-state rivals is the Charlotte Independence Academy , who have also gotten out to a solid in Mid-Atlantic Conference play (3-1-1, 10 points). Joining them from outside of their ECNL Conference are Florida West FC  (4-2-2, 14 points), who are coming off back-to-back 3-2 wins over Palm Beach Gardens and FC Prime in Florida Conference play, and South Carolina Surf SC (5-5-3, 18 points), who are currently in third place in the ECNL Southeast Conference-East Division.

Bracket C

South Carolina United FC 08 are finding their form at the perfect time, having just earned a big 5-1 win over Atlanta Fire United  and a strong 2-2 draw against CESA Triumph in ECNL Southeast Conference play (5-5-3, 18 points). They are joined in Bracket C by Charlotte SA, making their 2023-2024 season debut, and Beach FC of Virginia, who just defeated NC Fusion 4-0 in the ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference. Clay County SC United Soccer Alliance 08 USA Boys Academy placed second in US Youth Soccer’s National League P.R.O. Sunshine Conference last season.

U17 Showcase (2007)

Bracket A

Charlotte Independence Academy started the ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference season strong, winning their first three matches by a combined score of 5-1. On matchday one they will face a familiar foe in NCFC Youth Academy , who have given up just three goals this season. Both sides will feel the heat from Atlanta Fire United 07s, who have scored two goals or more in each of their last three matches. Rounding out the bracket are Charleston SC of US Club Soccer’s National Premier League, who were Quarterfinalists in last year’s NPL National Playoffs.

Bracket B

South Carolina Surf SC (6-4-3, 23 points in the ECNL Southeast Conference) lead a packed Bracket B, having just scored eleven goals over the weekend in two big wins over Atlanta Fire United (8-3) and CESA Triumph (1-0). They will have a tall task in their first game against NCFC Youth  and ECNL All Mid-Atlantic Conference Second Team Defender Adam Granai. Alabama FC will also be bringing their high-powered offense to Raleigh, having scored 25 goals in 12 ECNL Southeast Conference matches this season. Keep an eye on Charlotte Soccer Academy, who have grinded out two consecutive draws against Richmond United (2-2) and Arlington Soccer Association (0-0) to start their season.

U18/U19 Showcase (2006/2005)

Bracket A

Leg AZ World FC out of Florida enter this year’s Showcase having previously finished first in their flight at the Florida Elite Boys Invitational and at last winter’s Weston FC Showcase. Houston FC , as a club, are entering their fifth year of existence, but have steadily improved over the past few years, including a 2-0-1 record at the recent Austin Labor Day Cup. They will face some tough competition on matchday one in the form of Charlotte SA, who earned their first win in league play against Northern Virginia Alliance in late October 3-1. NCFC Youth Academy‘s 2006s last season qualified for the ECNL National Playoffs and combined with their 2005s have started their season on a high note, going undefeated through their first two matches (1-0-1, 4 points).

Bracket B

Space Coast United 06/05s have had a strong start to the NPL season, going 6-1-1 on 19 points in a tough Florida Conference. South Carolina Surf FC had a strong start to their season, winning all three of their matches to Southeast Conference play. NCFC Youth  is a strong attacking side that features 2022-2023 ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference Second Team midfielder/forward Adam Trusky. Beach FC of Virginia currently lead the 2006/2005 Mid-Atlantic Conference table, having gone undefeated through their first eight matches (6-0-2, 20 points).

Bracket C

Atlanta Fire United ‘s defense have put a lockdown on the opposition all season, earning four clean sheets and limiting opponents to just 25 goals this season. An intriguing first match awaits them in the form Charleston SC, who are in first place in the NPL and have outscored their opponents 41-13. Charlotte Independence Academy are also a strong contender in this bracket, with both of their 06 and 05s having made the National Playoffs last year Orlando City Soccer School Lake Nona  are a bit of a dark horse, but they just earned a major win in the NPL over Jacksonville FC (2-1) .

Bracket D

Jacksonville FC NEXT II have a strong track record of in Showcase competition this season, having just placed second in the Jacksonville FC Labor Day Shootout and winning their flight at the Florida Elite Invitational. Concorde Fire Premier’s defense will look to continue to stifle opponents in Bracket D, having allowed just ten goals in ECNL Southeast Conference play. NC Fusion are a notoriously difficult team to breakdown, particularly in the midfield where they are led by All Mid-Atlantic Conference First Team player Oscar Tonidandel. Charlotte Soccer Academy‘s 06/05 NPL team are currently in second place in the South Atlantic Conference thanks in part to their balance on attack (49 goals-most in the conference) and in defense (10 goals allowed-second lowest in the conference).