The Development Academy best-of series is back. After starting with a profile of the top MLS U18 academy teams based entirely on its arsenal of pro prospects, it’s time to swing the attention to the MLS U16 sides. In this case, there’s a clear top two and then the rest.

Next up, we’ll explore the top non-MLS U16 and U18 sides in the academy. So without further ado, here’s a look at the top five to round out our jaunt through the MLS ranks.

1. Real Salt Lake AZ

Key prospects: F/M Sebastian Saucedo, M Adolfo Ovalle, GK Christian Hererra, F Brooks Lennon, F David Villegas

It’s incredible to think that this is the No. 1 U16 grouping even though RSL plucked out Justen Glad earlier this year. As is, the five key prospects on this list could easily be seven or eight, which illustrates how loaded RSL is at this level. The trouble will be merely holding onto the cream. Saucedo’s shown well in reserve team stints, and especially so when he’s allowed to drop a bit deeper to create. If he wants, Saucedo, who leads the U16 ranks nationally with 23 goals, is easily good enough to test the waters in Europe. The situation with all-everything speedster Brooks Lennon is similar. There are rumors he’s already as good as gone to England, which should sadden RSL supporters who would otherwise love watching one of the best American prospects out there. Hererra is a hot YNT prospect and Ovalle has joined Saucedo on the reserve team in the past. The U16s won the DA last year. If they do it for a second consecutive year, would anybody be surprised? Hopefully not.

2. LA Galaxy

Key prospects: F Haji Wright, M Alejandro Vergara, GK Abraham Romero, D Malcolm Jones, M Ethan Zubak

In any other year this has all the hallmarks of a No. 1 class, but the perfect storm is swirling around Casa Grande, Ariz. this season. The space between No. 1 and No. 2 on this list is minuscule to the point of being unrecognizable. RSL and the Galaxy split their meetings this year, and RSL’s stout front-to-back spine assured they beat the Galaxy to the Southwest Division title. But what might’ve been had Haji Wright not been in U17 residency camp, Romero not split his time between residency and the Mexican U17 national team and Vergara not been injured? Hard to fathom. In the interim, promising talents Ethan Zubak (14 goals), Dylan Smith (15 goals) and Jorge Ruiz (13 goals) picked up the scoring slack while Jones, a 2015 who was recently called into a U18 MNT camp, is proving to be one of the nation’s most prominent defensive prospects.

3. New York Red Bulls

Key prospects: F Ethan Lochner, M Kyle Zajec, D Matthew Olosunde, D Henry Martin, M Christopher Flores, M Gideon Metrikin

The Red Bulls miss some of the glitzy star power at this level that some of their U16 compatriots boast, but make no mistake – this is a typically stout developmental crop from NYRB. What they lack in name brand prospects they more than make up for in depth. The midfield trio of Metrikin, Flores and Zajec is a blast to watch, and when Arun Basuljevic and Chris Lema move on after this season, one has to believe that nucleus of 1997s will get a chance to shine at the U18 level. Rangy fullback Matthew Olosunde has thrown down a marker at right back with the U17 MNT, and Martin is a talented stand-up central defender who was a standout in the Development Academy showcase game in December playing up with the U18 group. The Red Bulls’ development factory is in good hands.

4. FC Dallas

Key prospects: M Alejandro Zendejas, M Weston McKinnie, D Eric Davies, F Christian Ramirez, M Martin Salas

At this level, it doesn’t get much better than Zendejas, who’s been away with the U17 camp as one of the guiding lights in its recent run of tournament success. He’s a definitive string-puller and as close as it gets to a superstar in the YNT realm. McKinnie joined him in residency in the fall and so FCD has had to make do without its two most promising U16 players for much of the season. The fact that they’ve lost just two games and are in pole position to take the division is a testament to the talent here. Davies was a recent call-up to the Canadian U18 camp roster for a friendly against the U.S. in April, while the relatively unheralded Christian Ramirez has been a wrecking ball this season with a team-leading 11 goals.

5. Houston Dynamo

Key prospects: F Juan Flores, M Christian Lucatero, M Juan Martinez, GK Johan Welch

Are the Dynamo closing the developmental gap that’s always existed between Houston and their generally deeper rivals in Dallas? FCD may still hold an edge, by it’s as slim as it’s ever been thanks to a fresh crop of players funneling through the Dynamo U16 system. While players like Martinez and Welch and Giandemir Jaen show promise, the Lucatero-Flores partnership is the real story here. With Lucatero providing as one of the academy’s best No. 10s and Flores finishing as well as anyone in the nation, the Dynamo are snugly behind FCD as the division’s No. 2 headed into the postseason. Flores’ 23 goals are tied with Saucedo for the national lead, and Lucatero’s history on the fringe of the YNT picture bodes well for his future. Crafty creative players like Lucatero don’t come around often, and you have to think the Homegrown tag is hovering not too far out of the picture.