Fansided

Every MLS teams’ best player aged 20 or under

By Harrison Hamm

May 20, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta United forward Andrew Carleton (30) runs on the field against the Houston Dynamo in the second half at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta United forward Andrew Carleton (30) runs on the field against the Houston Dynamo in the second half at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 14, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; during the first half at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; during the first half at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

LA Galaxy: Bradford Jameison IV

The Galaxy sit in an area buzzing with young soccer talent. Southern California has produced a large number of quality MLS players, and LA are in prime position to take advantage of the many to come. They’ve produced more than a few Homegrown players — most notably USMNT forward Gyasi Zardes — but too many of them have struggled to break into the first team, and are still playing for their USL reserve team.

The Villarreal brothers (Jose and Jaime), Jack McBean, Ariel Lassiter and Raul Mendiola are in that group. Former manager Bruce Arena wasn’t willing enough to integrate them early (a flaw of his), and while Arena’s replacement Curt Onalfo has been slightly more willing to play the young guns (mainly 22-year-old Homegrown Nathan Smith, as well as McBean, at times), the Galaxy as a whole should be better about doing this.

Striker Bradford Jameison IV is 20, and he’s a core member of the group mentioned above. He’s a serious talent with potential to be a very, very good player, but he hasn’t been able to crack the first team very often, playing just 53 minutes this season and 39 last year. There’s plenty of time, though, for Jameison to vault himself into consistent first team discussions. He’s a talented forward who consistently gets time in the USL, so hopefully he gets the opportunity to show it at the first team level, along with his Galaxy II counterparts.

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