SB Nation - Jesse Klug

Chris Henderson Discusses Changing Circumstances Of Former Academy Players

Dave Clark — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:02:45 -0000

On Monday to follow-up on the previous conversation with Kurt Schmid about scouting college and potential HomeGrown Player signings I talked to Chris Henderson. At that point the rumors of Caleb Porter were quite strong which could change how the Sounders approach DeAndre Yedlin 's status. There was also the shift in Darwin Jones' status at the University of Washington, as he was unable to complete a transfer due to the lack of an AA. Jones was at Sounders practice that day and is likely to be around the Sounders team for some time. Like many of the Academy forwards Jones and Eddie Johnson have developed a relationship.

My boy @darwinljones and I. #swagg!!!! twitter.com/eddie_johnson7…
— Eddie Johnson (@eddie_johnson7) August 29, 2012

Henderson spoke at length about what the organization is doing besides just looking to sign players. Because it's more than that. It's about Jamael Cox exploring opportunities in Europe, or Jones needing training while he sorts out his status, or, though unmentioned, Jesse Klug picking high school. It's a long statement in this sound bite world, but if it were summed up it could be simply said "Once and Always a Sounder."

I asked Henderson about how changing circumstances alter the Sounders approach to potential HGPs:

I think if Caleb leaves Akron we would look at it different. We know Deandre's in a good situation. He's in one of the higher level college programs in the country. We know he's getting daily training and the coaching is good.

I think we do look at the situations and circumstances. You know that Darwin's been out here and Jamael looked overseas. We want the best for all the guys that go through our Academy. Whether they make it on our team or make different life choices or go overseas. We want to assist them when they do. We want to make sure that they feel at least the support of the Sounders because they were part of the Academy.

That part is important. Following through with our commitment to them and making sure that they feel like they were part of something with the Academy. It's not just about whether they make the team or not and getting a 'thanks for coming.' That part is important.

I think monitoring the environment that these players are in and if there's a chance that a group of players has a chance to make our team we want to make sure that they are in an environment where they can grow and can make the decision to sign them as homegrown.

He also talked more about how they scout, very processy stuff about travel, budget comparisons and the amount of college TV networks. That's a lot of old ground and background data. He mentioned one last new item though. It is the addition of internal match analytics systems to the Sounders Academy. Seattle isn't the first team (New York Red Bulls probably were, Vancouver Whitecaps also do something similar), but it is an addition of greater professionalism.

We are also starting the same thing that the first team has where we start breaking down match analysis video. We are going to start doing that with the Academy players. It's going to be a great coaching tool with our Academy to go ahead and sit down with the player and break down his game, get all of his touches to another player. It's the same thing the first team does, so if a player does make it through they are used to the system.

It may be tomorrow, or next winter, or 2014 when the first HomeGrown Player signs with the Sounders. That doesn't mean that collection of players that are followed here are not Sounders. It's simple "Once and Always." They will be supported. As Darren Sawatzky says all the time; he isn't molding soccer players. He's molding good men and hopefully some of them play great soccer.

Sounders on Campus: Week 1

sidereal — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:41:51 -0000

The first week of Division I soccer is in the books and our Sounders Academy alumni, to be frank, collectively kicked ass and took names. Returning players continued to be a big part of championship caliber teams and even some Freshmen wasted no time in establishing themselves on the NCAA map.

#7 Akron - DeAndre Yedlin
(8/24 - 4-0 W v Florida Gulf Coast Assist)

Yedlin kicked off his sophomore season picking up an assist in a home trouncing of Florida Gulf Coast. His runs up the sideline from the right back position have become a key component in the Zips attack. Things may be getting a little awkward around Akron, however, as it's just been announced that head coach Caleb Porter will become the head coach of the Timbers next season.

Stanford - Aaron Kovar
(8/24 - 1-0 W @ San Francisco Goal)

In just a few games, Kovar has risen from heralded recruit to the Cardinal's most important offensive player. He scored in both of their preseason matches, including the game winner in a 1-0 victory. And in the first regular season match he proved it was no fluke. He scored the only goal in a tough 1-0 away win over the San Francisco Dons. It may prove to be a tough season for Stanford if Kovar continues to be their only scorer, but for now his college career is off to a remarkable start.

Duke - Nick Palodichuk
(8/25 - 0-1 L @ Notre Dame)

Palodichuk quickly established himself as an important player for the Blue Devils last season, and one of the top Freshmen in the ACC. But in game one of 2012 Duke was completely outclassed against Notre Dame and were barely able to maintain any offensive possession, which gave Nick few chances as a forward in his 85 minutes. It'll be interesting to see if he keeps lining up as a forward this season after switching between striker and midfielder last year.

#23 Wake Forest - Sean Okoli
(8/25 - 1-0 W v Wofford)

Across the ACC, Okoli started at forward and played 61 minutes for the Demon Deacons. Wake Forest outshot Wofford 19 to 8 but were only able to pick up a single goal for the winning margin.

Washington - Michael Gallagher, Ian Lange, Drew White, Ryan Herman
(8/24 - 2-1 W v Gonzaga Goal, 8/26 - 2-0 W v Cal Poly)

Many Sounders faithful were in attendance as the Huskies kicked off their season, and they were rewarded as they saw the Academy players have an immediate impact. They were taken to the brink by a Zags team that they've dominated in the past, but a 76th minute Washington goal tied up the game and took it to overtime where Lange headed in the sudden death winner to kick off his Huskies career. Gallagher also played big minutes in central defense where he was a solid presence (with one goal-saving slide tackle in the box) and a good distributor.

In game two, Lange and Gallagher both started and played significant minutes as the team booked a 2-0 start to the season.

That long list of names for the Huskies should be longer. Dynamic forward Darwin Jones was planning on transferring to Washington, but it sounds like there are issues with his not having picked up his AA at Highline (which shouldn't be surprising, since he was only there for a year). News sounds pessimistic and there's an open question of what he should do if he can't suit up for the Huskies. Returning to CC play, where he dominated, would seem to be a waste of his talents. It's possible the Sounders could sign him to an HGP deal. It would be unfortunate if their hand was forced by an eligibility issue like this, but Jones is definitely a player who would benefit from training with professionals and has the potential to be a dangerous attacker in MLS. Dominique Dismuke is also committed to Washington as a Freshman but he too is working through some eligibility issues.

Bucknell - Jesse Klug
(8/24 - 1-1 D @ VCU Goal, 8/26 - 1-1 D v Butler)

Klug scored 18 minutes into his college career to help secure a 1-1 away draw to open the season. And he had three shots on goal in his 88 minutes in the Bisons' second match, which also ended 1-1.

Elsewhere

Stefan Bangsund started and played 45 for Delaware as they dropped their season opener to Massachusetts 0-1. West Virginia opened their season with two wins with Nick Raskasky starting in defense. The Mountaineers are now on the edge of a Top 25 ranking. Four Sounders alums are playing for Western, who kick off their season this weekend. CC powerhouse Yavapai opened their season with three consecutive shutout victories, but I can't find any box scores yet so I'm not sure if Justin Solomon is getting minutes for the team.

All in all it was a tremendous opening week for the Sounders Academy players, especially given that they're all underclassmen and yet are making major contributions. It's another sign the Seattle has one of the best Academies in the country, and it should only get better in the future.

Sounders Academy Players Commit To Colleges

Dave Clark — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:58 -0000

Last season, Seattle Sounders Academy players seemed scattered around the country, with only a handful local. This year, there are many more in the Greater Puget Sound, with three each committed to the University of Washington (Coach Jamie Clark), Seattle University (Coach Pete Fewing) and Western Washington (Coach Travis Connell). Talking to Academy Technical Director and Sounders U-23 Coach Darren Sawatzky, that could shift, as a few players are still undecided.

There's probably about four more guys that, within the next two weeks, will announce and add them to the list. A couple of them will go out of state, as well. It seemed a little scattered last year, but in reality, once that entire senior class chooses the schools they want to attend, we'll have a pretty good scattering again this year.

At this point there are 14 commits; here they are ordered alphabetically by school:

Bucknell: Jesse Klug

Denver: Jordan Schweitzer

San Diego State: Keenan Townsend

Seattle University: Joe Mancini, Justin Solomon, Austin Sweeney

Stanford: Aaron Kovar

University of Washington: Dom Dismuke, Michael Gallagher, Ian Lange

West Virginia: Nick Raskasky

Western Washington: Austin Curtis, Kurtis Pederson, Sawyer Preston

For those interested in tracking Academy Alumni, it will be much easier this season, and not just because of the new Sounders U-23s.

Below the fold you will find the UW Women's Soccer Commits and when their Men's side is finished (they are also waiting on a few players) that will be added.

Isabel Farrell, Midfielder, Interlake HS, Bellevue, WA

McKenzie "Jammer" Karas, Defender, Arbor View HS, Las Vegas, NV

Allyson Brahs, Defender/Midfielder, Corona del Mar HS, Newport Beach, CA

Falon Miller, Forward, Arbor View HS, Las Vegas, NV

Victoria Burns, Goalkeeper, Bishop O'Dowd High School, Oakland, CA

Berkley Gamble, Defense/Midfielder, Fairview HS, Boulder, CO

Charlotte "Charlee" Garcia, Midfielder/Defender, Amador Valley HS, Pleasanton, CA

Katey Fawcett, Defender, Mission Viejo HS, Mission Viejo, CA

For more details on the UW women's team you can check their website with comments from Coach Lesle Gallimore about each player.