UCLA Soccer Signs Five Players to National Letters of Intent
It is an exciting time for High School seniors whose dreams of playing on a top collegiate team are coming true. UCLA Men’s Soccer is one of the best programs in the country and has produced an enormous number of MLS Super Draft picks. Here are highlight on the recent Letter of Intent signing at UCLA.
College Soccer News From UCLA – The UCLA Men’s Soccer program signed five players to National Letters of Intent during the signing period. The group includes four incoming freshman and one junior college transfer.
“Each year signing day is exciting to welcome new student-athletes to the UCLA soccer family,” said UCLA Head Coach Jorge Salcedo. “I am thrilled to have these five players join our program. They all possess the most important tangible we look for; a strong desire to reach their full potential in the class room and on the field.”
Of the five incoming players, two are currently competing for the U.S. U-19 Men’s National Team. Those two players, Reggie Cannon, a defender, and McKinze Gaines, a forward, each rank inside the Top-25 players in the country (as ranked by Top Drawer Soccer).
Joining Cannon and Gaines is Pima Community College transfer forward Jason Romero, who scored a school-record 32 goals for Pima CC last season. Additionally, 2016 First Team All-State defender Ethan Shacknai and Minnesota Thunder Academy goalkeeper Duncan Werling signed to join the class.
“As far as the attributes on the field, we are bringing a group that will add quality in all facets of the game,” continued Salcedo.
“Above all is the competitive greatness each one will bring to our program. This incoming class is fantastic and over the next few months we will be adding to the quality, which will ensure that the 2016 class is one of the best in the country,” said Salcedo.
Overall, the Bruins 2016 Recruiting Class was ranked number two in the country by Top Drawer Soccer. This is UCLA’s fourth consecutive top-two recruiting class, after finishing with the top class in each of the previous three seasons.
Reggie Cannon
Grapevine, Texas (Grapevine Faith Christian HS/FC Dallas Academy)
Defender – 5-11, 185
Ranked as a four-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer … ranked No. 5 in the O When the Yanks Top 100 … ranked No. 21 in the Top Drawer Soccer IMG 150 … ranked No. 37 in the College Soccer News Top 150 … ranked as the fifth best defender in the country by Top Drawer Soccer … 2015 NSCAA Youth Boys All-American … consistent starter for the U.S. U-19 and U-17 Men’s National Teams … currently competes for FC Dallas Academy.
McKinze Gaines
Austin, Texas (Round Rock HS/Lonestar SC)
Forward – 5-11, 165
Ranked as a four-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer … ranked No. 6 in the O When the Yanks Top 100 … ranked No. 7 in the College Soccer News Top 150 … ranked No. 11 in the Top Drawer Soccer IMG 150 … ranked as the seventh best forward in the country by Top Drawer Soccer … 2015 and 2014 NSCAA Youth Boys All-American … consistent starter for the U.S. U-19, U-17 and U-15 Men’s National Teams … currently competes for Lonestar Soccer Club.
Jason Romero
San Jose, Calif. (Evergreen Valley HS/Pima Community College)
Forward – 5-11, 175
ACCAC Division I Player of the Year … NJCAA Division I first team All-American … appeared in 23 games (20 starts) last season for Pima Community College, scoring a school-record 32 goals and 12 assists … led Pima CC to a 21-4-2 record and a third place finish in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament … appeared in 23 games (22 starts) as a freshman for Yavapai College, scoring an ACCAC-high 22 goals and 17 assists … led Yavapai College to a 20-1-2 record.
Ethan Shacknai
Paradise Valley, Ariz. (Brophy Prep/Real Salt Lake Academy)
Defender – 5-10, 165
Currently competes for Real Salt Lake Academy … four-year team captain of RSL Academy … 2015 Arizona State Champions … 2016 First Team All-State at Brophy Prep … started all 20 games, contributing to 14 shutouts while logging over 1,200 minutes this season.
Duncan Werling
Minneapolis, Minn. (The Blake School/Minnesota Thunder Academy)
Goalkeeper – 6-3, 200
Ranked as a three-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer … currently competes for the Minnesota Thunder Academy … starting goalkeeper for the Minnesota Thunder Academy U-18 and U-16 teams … back-to-back Minnesota State Cup Champion … member of the U.S. Olympic Development program from 2010-12 … team captain of the Minnesota State Team in 2012.
Source: UCLA Press Office – more on UCLA
