by Nicholas Murray

United Soccer Leagues

 

MLSSoccer.com today concluded a really great series looking at the 24 best players under the age of 24 currently playing in Major League Soccer. The Seattle Sounders’ outstanding midfielder Fredy Montero was named the cream of the crop, but did you know that nine of the 24 players on the list had at least some experience playing in the USL’s Premier Development League?


For some, like No.13 Tristian Bowen, the stay was a brief one. Bowen was sent on loan to the Hollywood United Hitmen a season ago, scoring in his only appearance for the club.

For others, though, like No.4 Steve Zakuani, the summer season was an important stepping stone towards becoming a professional player. Zakuani, now having a strong second season alongside Montero for the Sounders, scored nine goals in 11 games for the Cleveland Internationals in 2008. And to think, that strike-rate wasn’t even good enough to get him named to the All-League, or even All-Central Conference team!

Others, like No.17 Teal Bunbury, did earn honors in the PDL. Bunbury, who has scored four goals this season for the Kansas City Wizards, was named to the 2009 All-Central Conference team, while No.24 Dax McCarty of FC Dallas, who has also appeared for the U.S. Men’s National Team, was named to the All-Southern Conference team in 2005.

And while those players are already in MLS, there’s a new crop of players who competed in this summer’s PDL that appear set to join them.

 

Read the full story here . . .