Sporting Kansas City Academy defender Ian James and goalkeeper Jack Kortkamp have each earned a call-up to the United States U-16 Youth National Team for its upcoming training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As a part of the camp, the USYNT will face Uruguay on May 27 and Argentina on May 30 in a pair of friendlies against the famous South American footballing nations at the AFA National Training Center.
Gonzalo Segares has selected 20 players for the training camp as this age group will transition to become the U-17 MYNT later this year and attempt to qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar at the 2025 Concacaf U-17 Championship.
U.S. U-16 MYNT ROSTER – MAY TRAINING CAMP – BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jack Kortkamp (Sporting Kansas City; Olathe, Kan.), Owen Pratt (LA Galaxy; San Clemente, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (7): Christopher Cupps (Chicago Fire FC; Chicago, Ill.), Pedro Guimaraes (LAFC; Aliso Viejo, Calif.), Ramiz Hamouda (Birmingham Legion FC; Lincoln, Neb.), Ian James (Sporting Kansas City; St. Paul, Minn.), Adrian Sanders (LAFC; Claremont, Calif.), Oliver Tan (San Jose Earthquakes; Piedmont, Calif.), Gio Villa (Real Salt Lake; Chicago, Ill.)
MIDFIELDERS (4): Maximo Carrizo (New York City FC; Greenwich, Conn.), Evan Lim (New York City FC; Cedar Grove, N.J.), Jack Mize (Borussia Dortmund/GER; New York City, N.Y.), Luca Moisa (Real Salt Lake; Las Vegas, Nev.)
FORWARDS (6): Chase Adams (Columbus Crew; Naperville, Ill.), Mathis Albert (LA Galaxy; El Segundo, Calif.), Vitaliy Hlyut (Chicago Fire FC; Roselle, Ill.), Jamir Johnson (Philadelphia Union; Huntsville, Ala.), Omar Marquez (Real Salt Lake; Woodland, Calif.), Tanner Rosborough (New York Red Bulls; McDonald, Pa.)
James and Kortkamp represent the Sporting KC U-17s and have each earned an MLS NEXT Pro amateur contract with Sporting Kansas City II. The duo helped guide Sporting's U-17s to the Generation adidas Cup Quarterfinals in April and James steered the team to a spot in the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs with a perfect showing at MLS NEXT Flex earlier this month. In April the two teenagers participated in the USYNT Training Camp in West Palm Beach, Florida.
James, a 15-year-old native of St. Paul, Minnesota, joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2021 and has represented the club at the U-14, U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels, captaining the U-15s for most of the 2022-23 MLS NEXT season. The centerback has played a sizeable role in the U-17s' success this season, leading from the backline at both GA Cup and MLS NEXT Flex. He scored against Atlanta United on the final day of the GA Cup Showcase and appeared in all three Flex matches with a U-17 side that posted a 3-0-0 record to punch their spot in the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs.
The towering defender has accumulated two starts and three appearances for Sporting KC II in MLS NEXT Pro this season, making his pro debut on March 17 in a 2-1 win at Houston Dynamo 2. His most recent start came on April 28 in a 4-1 triumph over MNUFC 2 at Rock Chalk Park.
Kortkamp is a 16-year-old goalkeeper who has taken part in four USYNT camps, including his first camp with the USYNT at Compass Minerals National Performance Center in Kansas City, Kansas, in October 2022 where he has trained with the Sporting Kansas City first team on several occasions. His other camps came back in January and March 2023 and most recently in April 2024.
The goalkeeper joined the Sporting Kansas City Academy in the summer of 2021 and has since represented club and country as one of the most talented American goalkeepers in his age group. He has represented the Academy at the U-14, U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels, playing with the eldest age group in the USPL in their two most recent wins. He started four matches at GA Cup and has competed at prestigious events such as MLS NEXT Fest, MLS NEXT Flex and the MLS NEXT Cup Showcase. He inked his first amateur contract ahead of SKC II's match against North Texas SC but is still looking to make his pro debut.
When James and Kortkamp return to Kansas City, they will rejoin the SKC Academy as they prepare for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs in Nashville, Tennesse from June 15-23. Fans can track everything happening in the Sporting KC Academy by following @SKCAcademy on X or visiting SportingKCAcademy.com.
