
Commitment Wave: Youth Soccer Players Choose College Destinations
Recent commitments from elite youth clubs highlight a national trend of top‑rated players selecting colleges that match their athletic and academic goals.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Owen Anderson across Soccer, Baseball, Football.

Recent commitments from elite youth clubs highlight a national trend of top‑rated players selecting colleges that match their athletic and academic goals.

Salt Lake City will serve as the hub for the 2026 MLS NEXT Cup, a youth soccer showcase that brings together 384 teams and more than 7,500 young athletes from across the country. The event is projected to generate an economic impact ranging from $19.63 million to $24 million for the local community, while Real Salt Lake’s academy continues to be a premier development pipeline.

Nineteen student‑athletes from Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals FC and Salt Lake Academy were honored in a 2026 graduation ceremony that highlighted achievements in academics, citizenship and soccer, while outlining their next steps in education and sport.
With the OHSAA baseball postseason opening on May 21, central Ohio programs such as Olentangy, Licking Valley, and Newark Catholic are among the squads eyeing state titles, while seeded districts set the stage for potential showdowns.

High School Football America and scoutSMART have announced the 2025 Minnesota Academic All‑America team, honoring varsity players who maintain a 3.7 GPA or higher while contributing to their teams.