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Aaron Nielsen ,

January 24, 2013 Email

Aaron Nielsen



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@ENBSports

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With the 2013 MLS SuperDraft in the books, top flight football in Canada and the United states is well underway as pre season training has either started or will begin in the next week. Below MLS there are two more leagues that serve as a viable option for professional players to either continue their careers, or use it as a ground to get noticed for the potential to elevate themselves to Major League Soccer. See also: TFC builds off, and improves on SuperDraft Names such as Mac Kandji and Johnny Steele are two recent examples of players who made a name for themselves in the division below MLS to earn them a shot into the first division. Even after this list was compiled, the number two prospect on my list has made the jump back to the top flight with Vancouver. If Toronto and Vancouver are looking to add depth in 2013, it would not hurt to search in the NASL or USL PRO. Right on the heels of the deal between MLS and USL PRO, in this two part series, I'll list my top 10 prospects from the two divisions below MLS as players to watch out for and consider going into the 2013 season. Below are my picks from the 2012 USL PRO season.



10. Troy Roberts, Rochester



An experienced Defender who played 61 games with the LA Galaxy between 2004-2008. Since then he's played 103 games at the USL level with Cleveland and Rochester, including every minute of the 2012 season. Roberts can play both centre and full-back and is known for being a stay at home defender although he has scored twice for LA in the MLS and three times for Rochester all in 2010. 9. Bilal Duckett, Harrisburg



The 22 year old defender played four MLS games with Vancouver in 2011. In 2012 Duckett joined Harrisburg playing 19 league games and scoring one goal. Duckett has good size at 6'2 but has mostly played fullback at Notre Dame in College and during his pro career. Duckett could potentially be an interesting pick up for Toronto FC as his skill set is simular to Ashtone Morgan yet he plays on the right. 8. Luke Boden, Orlando



Boden an Englishman joined Orlando in 2011 after playing 14 games with Sheffield Wednesday in the English Championship. Boden has been the defencive leader for a very successful Orlando side playing 40 games over the last two season scoring one goal and 3 assists in the process. Boden has good size at 6'1 and can play both a defender or as a defensive midfielder 7. Gibson Bardsley, Dayton



Bardsley was a pleasent surprise in 2012 playing for a Dayton team who were horrible in 2011 and were not supposed to be much better in 2012. The 23 year old, whose best position is probably on the wing, used his great speed to score 5 goals while his 26 shots on target were tied for the most in the league. Bardsley is raw but his athletisism could provide a decent spark off a MLS bench. 6. Dennis Chin, Orlando



The 6'3 forward has always shown good athletic potential but in 2012 he also showed some results as the Orlando forward was the 2012 USL Pro leading goalscorer with 11 goals. Chin prefers to score goals on the break and needs to prove he can score in traffic especially from his head for someone as tall as him. Although if can continue scoring for Orlando in 2013 he might get his MLS break. 5. Jose Cuevas, Charleston



Cuevas showed his real potential last season in the USL Pro Cup leading his Charleston Battery to a surprising league championship. A rags to riches story as year before, the 23 year old was picking peaches on a farm in California. Cuevas was named the USL Pro rookie of the year as he scored 7 goals and had 3 assists plus added an assist in the final that led to the game winning goal. 4. Jamie Watson, Orlando

The 26 year old midfielder has had a lengthy history in US professional soccer including games with both Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas. Watson was even a starter with Salt Lake playing 38 games and scoring 2 goals. Watson also scored 10 goals for the USA at the under 17 level. Now regarded more as a hard worker and team leader Watson still managed 5 goals and 3 assists and after scoring 8 goals in 2011. 3. JC Banks, Rochester



A winger who has shown the ability to make a pass was actually drafted by Toronto FC in 2011 in the first round of the Supplemental Draft but was not offered a contract. Since then Banks has been on trial in Sweden with BK Hakan and has played 46 games with Rochester scoring seven goals and recording 10 assists. Banks is also one of the top USL Pro players with the ball at his feet. 2. Corey Hertzog, Willmington (on loan from Red Bulls, now signed to Vancouver)



Corey Hertzog is a classic MLS story. Originally singed as a GA and drafted 13th overall by the New York Red Bulls. Hertzog, a 6 foot Forward was only given 5 MLS games playing behind the likes of Thierry Henry. This past season he was loaned out Wilmington where he scored nine goals, five assists, 25 shots on target in only 17 games but was cut after the season because the size of his contract. 1. Kevin Molino, Orlando



The Trinidad and Tobago International was pretty much unknown when signed by Orlando in 2011. Now the 21 year old midfielder is the league's MVP and top prospect. Molino shows similarities to MLS great Shalrie Joseph by having the size 6'0 to clog up the midfield but also some offensive skill scoring three goals and also having six assists. He should be on the radar for most MLS teams in 2013. Stay tuned for the second part of this series - the Top 10 Prospect list from the 2012 NASL season.

Aaron Nielsen has worked within the soccer/sports industry for over 15 years. His statistical analysis brings the beautiful game in a whole new light. The detailed player data and prospect lists he produces are used by many scouts, agents, and football insiders around the world.