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Clemson Men’s Soccer signs one of the top classes in America

February 16, 2018
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CLEMSON, S.C. – Men’s soccer head coach Mike Noonan announced the addition of Charlie Asensio, Grayson Barber, James Brighton, George Marks, John Martin, Chris Matlashewski and Mason Visconti for the class of 2018 on Thursday afternoon. Five of the seven signees have attended Youth National Team Camps, and two of those five have been a part of the national residency program. The class as a whole is ranked second in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.

“I’m very excited about the group,” Noonan said. “They’re probably the most experienced at the higher levels of the youth game that we’ve had come into the program. I’m excited that we have four South Carolinians in the group, which is really cool. Even though a couple of them applied their trade out of state recently, that’s a neat thing. The group as a whole also addresses a wide variety of positional needs for our program, from the goalkeeper all the way up to center forward through the midfield, and in wide areas. Coach and recruiting coordinator [Phil] Jones has done a great job assimilating players that will compete to play right away when they come here, and can contribute right away when they come here. They also serve as a solid foundation for the future in conjunction with last year’s very strong freshman class.”

Charlie Asensio, Defender (MLS Academy – Atlanta United, Roswell, Ga.)

Noonan: “Charlie is a very accomplished player. He played with our US U-17 National Team for the last couple of years. Ironically, Charlie came to our Tiger Soccer Camp one of my first years here, and he fell in love with Clemson then and during the recruiting process. He is a very versatile and smart player. He can play at central midfield or left back or winger. Charlie is a soccer junkie, and he has a really good soccer brain.”

  • Member of the Atlanta United Youth Academy
  • Member of the USA U-17 National Team Residency
  • Ranked the No. 5 player in the South Atlantic region by TopDrawerSoccer
  • Four-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer

Grayson Barber, Forward (MLS Academy – Sporting Kansas City, Elgin, S.C.)

Noonan: “Grayson is from South Carolina and grew up playing soccer here, and he has been committed to us for the longest time. He came to our camp when he was in ninth grade, and he committed to us in tenth grade. Grayson is just a player who is dynamic in the attacking third of the field, and he is someone who we will look to score a lot of goals for us.”

  • In residency with the Sporting Kansas City Youth Academy
  • Member of the USA U-17 National Team Residency
  • Earned 2017 United Soccer Coaches Youth Boys All-America Team honors
  • Ranked the No. 5 player in the Heartland region by TopDrawerSoccer
  • Four-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer

James Brighton, Forward (MLS Academy – Atlanta United, Hilton Head Island, S.C.)

Noonan: “James is from a soccer-playing family. He moved in residency with Atlanta United as they began their program two years ago and has been the development academy leading scorer over the last year. He is a traditional No. 9 center forward, and he can score in a variety of ways. We’re very excited to have him.”

  • In residency with Atlanta United Youth Academy
  • Leading scorer for Atlanta United’s U18/19 team
  • Attended U-17 National Team Camp
  • Ranked the No. 8 player in the South Atlantic region by TopDrawerSoccer
  • Three-star recruit by TopDrawersSoccer

George Marks, Goalkeeper (USL Academy – North Carolina FC Youth, Raleigh, N.C.)

Noonan: “George just recently returned from the U20 National Team camp. He has a bit of a unique story. He went to a non-traditional school and has been playing as an amateur for North Carolina FC. This will be his second year of having been exposed to and training at a professional level. He is obviously a very accomplished goalkeeper who will compete with Ximo Miralles, Daniel Kuzemka and Nolan Lennon very well as we head into the fall.”

  • Member of the North Carolina FC Youth Academy
  • Attended U-17 National Team Camp
  • Ranked the No. 4 goalkeeper by TopDrawerSoccer
  • Four-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer

John Martin, Midfielder (CESA, Clemson, S.C.)

Noonan: “John is a neat story…a local product. Coach Jones coached him at a very young level when we first came here eight years ago. John has been one of the hardest-working soccer players that we have watched grow through the last few years. He currently plays for CESA, and we have had a lot of success with players coming from CESA and coaches Nick Finotti and Russell Shelley. The guys that we get from CESA are always prepared to play at this level. We are excited about John coming…not to mention that he has an affiliation with the athletic department, as his dad is our orthopedic doctor and has been since we’ve been here.”

  • Attended Daniel High School in Central, S.C.
  • Independent Mail 2017 All-Area Boys Soccer Player of the Year
  • Member of ODP Regional Team
  • Three-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer

Chris Matlashewski, Forward (South Carolina United FC, Myrtle Beach, S.C.)

Noonan: “Chris is maybe the sleeper in the group. He is an in-state product who has played a lot of club ball in the state and has been to camp, and we just fell in love with what he brought in terms of his pace and athleticism. He is wiry and can play a couple of different positions. He is one of those guys that, over the course of his four years here, people are going to turn their heads and say ‘who’s this Chris Matlashewski and where did he come from?’ We are very excited about his potential. We do not know where he is going to play, as he has that type of versatility, but he is a great in-state product who we felt was maybe the best local guy who played club and high school soccer in the state.”

  • Captain of Socastee’s varsity team last season
  • Scored 38 goals on the year en route to leading his team to a Region VI-5A title
  • Named a first team All-Region VI-5A performer and earned all-state honors and region Player of the Year

Mason Visconti, Forward (MLS Academy – Sporting Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Mo.)

Noonan: “Mason is a left-sided attacking player who can also play as a left back, which fills a need. Mason is also at the MLS Academy with Grayson Barber in Kansas City. He was highly sought-after by a number of ACC teams, and we feel very lucky and happy to get Mason. He is a player who is going to add depth, but also, at the same time, a competitive element as we look to replace Michael Melvin in the attacking left side of the team.”

  • Member of the Sporting Kansas City Youth Academy
  • Attended U-17 National Team Camp
  • Member of the Sporting KC Academy U-15 team that won the US Youth Soccer Cup in 2015
  • Three-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer
Tags: Soccer, Clemson
 
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