Four Sporting Kansas City Academy players received U.S. Soccer Development Academy Best XI honors on Thursday during an end-of-year awards ceremony held in Carson, California.
Midfielder Cameron Duke and forward Gianluca Busio landed Central Conference Best XI recognition at the U-15/16 level, while goalkeeper Steve Tekesky and midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal were Best XI selections in the U-17/18 age group.
Duke, the younger brother of Swope Park Rangers captain Christian Duke, was a regular starter for a Sporting KC U-16 side that finished second in the 2016-17 Frontier Division standings and advanced to the Development Academy quarterfinals for the first time in team history. The 16-year-old native of Olathe, Kansas has also featured at multiple training camps with the U.S. U-16 Boys' National Team, notably competing at the 2016 Val-de-Marne Tournament in France last October.
Busio, who celebrated his 15th birthday in May, scored nine league goals for the U-16s and also earned playing time for the U-18s throughout the 2016-17 season. The dynamic attacking player (pictured above) joined the U.S. U-15 Boys' National Team for training camps in November and January before helping Sporting KC advance to the championship division of the 2017 Generation adidas Cup in April.
Tekesky started 25 Development Academy matches this season as the U-18s' first-choice goalkeeper. The 19-year-old signed an Academy contract with the USL's Swope Park Rangers in 2016 before committing to the University of West Virginia in February.
Kuzain, meanwhile, adds another accolade to an exciting week that saw him sign a full USL contract with the Swope Park Rangers on Tuesday. The Carbondale, Illinois native made 20 appearances for the U-18s during the 2016-17 Development Academy campaign, bagging four goals.
Below are the Development Academy Player of the Year and Best XI selections for all three conferences.
Central Conference
- U-15/16 Player of the Year: Brayan Padilla (FC Dallas)
- U-17/18 Player of the Year: Christian Cappis (Texans SC Houston)
Conference Best XI teams:
U-15/16
- GOALKEEPER: Damian Las (Chicago Fire)
- DEFENDERS: Nathan Toledo (FC Dallas), Eben Noverr (Colorado Rapids), Nick Stone (Crew SC Academy Wolves), Axel Alejandre (FC United Soccer Club)
- MIDFIELDERS: Milo Garvanian (Colorado Rapids), Cameron Duke (Sporting Kansas City), Isaiah Parente (Crew SC Academy)
- FORWARDS: Brayan Padilla (FC Dallas), Joshua Penn (Sockers FC), Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City)
U-17/18
- GOALKEEPER: Steve Tekesky (Sporting Kansas City)
- DEFENDERS: Jon-Talen Maples (Lonestar SC Academy), Jack Maher (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro), Samuel Vines (Colorado Rapids), Aedan Stanley (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri)
- MIDFIELDERS: Christian Cappis (Texans SC Houston), Brandon Servania (FC Dallas), Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal (Sporting Kansas City)
- FORWARDS: Daniel Wright (Crew SC Academy Wolves), Thomas Warr (Indiana Fire Academy), Derek Dodson (Sockers FC)
West Conference
- U-15/16 Player of the Year: Jorge Hernandez (LA Galaxy)
- U-17/18 Player of the Year: Trey Muse (Seattle Sounders FC)
Conference Best XI teams:
U-15/16
- GOALKEEPER: Sam Fowler (Seattle Sounders FC)
- DEFENDERS: Travian Sousa (Sacramento Republic FC), Leonardo Sepulveda (LA Galaxy), Khai Brisco (Seattle Sounders FC), Lorenzo Lopez (Portland Timbers)
- MIDFIELDERS: Cameron Harper (Pateadores), Richard Ledezma (Real Salt Lake AZ), Taylor Jacob Davila (Real So Cal)
- FORWARDS: Jorge Hernandez (LA Galaxy), Sebastian Soto (Real Salt Lake AZ), Declan McGlynn (Crossfire Premier)
U-17/18
- GOALKEEPER: Trey Muse (Seattle Sounders FC)
- DEFENDERS: Erick Gallinar (LA Galaxy), Glademir Mendoza (Real Salt Lake AZ), Christopher Grey (San Jose Earthquakes), Samual Rogers (Seattle Sounders FC)
- MIDFIELDERS: Charles Wehan (Strikers FC), Giovanni Aguilar (Sacramento Republic FC), Andrew Paoli (San Jose Earthquakes)
- FORWARDS: Wilson Harris (Real So Cal), Lucas Cini (Portland Timbers), Francis Avoce (Sacramento Republic FC)
East Conference
- U-15/16 Player of the Year: George Bello (Atlanta United FC)
- U-17/18 Player of the Year: Austin DaSilva (Beachside SC)
Conference Best XI teams:
U-15/16
- GOALKEEPER: Matt Frank (New York Red Bulls)
- DEFENDERS: George Bello (Atlanta United FC), Nico Benalcazar (New York City FC), Pablo Vargas (Weston FC), Mason Judge (Chargers Soccer Club)
- MIDFIELDERS: Kevin Vang (New England Revolution), Brenden Aaronson (Philadelphia Union), Nelson Martinez (D.C. United)
- FORWARDS: JJ Jimenez (Everton FC Westchester), Giovanni Reyna (New York City FC), Nigel Griffith (Players Development Academy)
U-17/18
- GOALKEEPER: Hunter Pinho (Players Development Academy)
- DEFENDERS: Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union), Edwin Figueroa (Atlanta United FC), Jake Dengler (Baltimore Armour), Benjamin Di Rosa (Bethesda SC)
- MIDFIELDERS: Joseph Brito (New England Revolution), Raul Aguilera (Orlando City SC), Lucas Del Rosario (Capital Area Railhawks - CASL)
- FORWARDS: Emanuel Perez (Capital Area Railhawks - CASL), Austin DaSilva (Beachside SC), Lagos Kunga (Atlanta United FC)
