Men’s Soccer Adds Six to 2019 Signing Class
12/14/2018 1:23:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Wolfpack’s current class is ranked eighth in the nation
December 14, 2018
RALEIGH – The NC State men's soccer team added six players to its 2019 signing class, head coach George Kiefer announced Friday.
Joining NC State for the 2019 season will be George Asomani, Sheldon China (IMG Academy No. 123 in the class of 2019), Kendall Edwards (IMG Academy No. 27), Jamie Smith, Tonny Temple (IMG Academy No. 43), and Roberto "Beto" Ydrach. This group of players is currently ranked as the eighth best class in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.
"When you look at each player in this class individually from a character and values standpoint, we feel they will be great additions to our team culture," NC State head coach George Kiefer said. "We place a great deal of importance on keeping a high standard with our program's culture academically, socially, and athletically."
"We are finally at a point in recruiting where we can be really specific from a standpoint of what the team needs, and I'm excited with how each of these players fits in. I will also say the only way to put together a class as talented as this is by having a coaching staff that gets after it. Our associate head coach Jeff Negalha is the best in the business and assistant coach Kyle Nicholls really helped navigate getting commitments from each of the players. Lindsey Krakower also plays a vital role in the logistics and arrangement of smooth on-campus visits."
George Asomani | Midfielder | Monroe College
Native of Accra, Ghana … Played two seasons at Monroe College … 2018 NJCAA Division I All-Region XV Team … 2018 First Team All-American … 2018 Regional Championship Player of the Year as his team won Regional and District championships … Played in 15 matches and started 13 during the 2018 season at Monroe, scoring two goals and contributing two assists … Played in eight matches (all starts) during the 2017 season at Monroe, scoring two goals … Played with current Wolfpack player Gabriel Machado during the 2017 season … 2017 NJCAA All-American as his team won Regional and District Championships … Goes by the nickname "Maestro."
Sheldon China | Forward | North Carolina FC Academy
Native of Clayton, N.C. … Spent the last three seasons at North Carolina FC Academy under coaches John Bradford and Greg Shields … Rated by TopDrawerSoccer as a three-star forward and a top-40 forward in the nation … Ranked No. 123 in the IMG Academy rankings … Played 23 matches for the North Carolina FC U-18/19 squad during the 2017-18 season, making 13 starts and scoring seven goals … Made 27 appearances for the then-named Capital Area RailHawks U-15/16 side during the 2016-17 season, making 14 starts and scoring five goals … Chose NC State because he said it is the best place for him to become a better soccer player … Goes by the nickname "Shel."
Kendall Edwards | Defender | Atlanta United Academy
Native of Lilburn, Ga. … 2018 United Soccer Coaches Youth Boys All-America Team selection … Rated by TopDrawerSoccer as a four-star defender and the No. 4 defender in the nation … Ranked No. 27 in the IMG Academy rankings … Became the first active Atlanta United Academy player to debut with USL side Atlanta United II … Has made appearances for both the United States and Jamaican youth national teams … 2016 state champion with Parkview High School.
Jamie Smith | Defender | Limestone College
Native of Sutton Coldfield, England … Spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C., starting 37 matches while scoring five goals and recording two assists from a defensive role … Limestone posted an impressive 28-7-3 record and qualified for two NCAA Tournaments during his career with the Saints … 2018 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team and Second Team All-Conference Carolinas … Earned one Conference Carolinas Player of the Week honor during the 2018 season … 2017 Second Team United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region … 2017 Second Team D2CCA All-Southeast Region … 2017 First Team All-Conference Carolinas … Father is a professional soccer manager in England's Second Division following a professional playing career.
Tonny Temple | Midfielder | Philadelphia Union Academy
Native of Millville, Pa. … 2018 United Soccer Coaches Youth Boys All-East Region Team selection … Rated by TopDrawerSoccer as a four-star forward and the No. 17 forward in the nation … Ranked No. 43 in the IMG Academy rankings … Scored seven goals in 12 appearances with the Philadelphia Union U-18/19 squad during the 2018-19 season … Finished second on the Philadelphia Union U-18/19s with 20 goals during the 2017-18 season … Spent time with the U.S. National Team's residency program in Bradenton, Fla. … Spent the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons with IMG Academy.
Roberto Ydrach | Midfielder | New York Red Bulls Academy
Native of Orlando, Fla. … Played for the New York Red Bulls Academy (2017-19) and Orlando City SC Academy (2015-18) … Has made five appearances for the New York Red Bulls Academy U-18/19s during the current 2018-19 season … Made 17 appearances for the New York Red Bulls Academy during the 2017-18 season … Goes by the nickname "Beto."
Additional signings will follow in the 2019 spring semester.
#GoPack | @PackMensSoccer
RALEIGH – The NC State men's soccer team added six players to its 2019 signing class, head coach George Kiefer announced Friday.
Joining NC State for the 2019 season will be George Asomani, Sheldon China (IMG Academy No. 123 in the class of 2019), Kendall Edwards (IMG Academy No. 27), Jamie Smith, Tonny Temple (IMG Academy No. 43), and Roberto "Beto" Ydrach. This group of players is currently ranked as the eighth best class in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.
"When you look at each player in this class individually from a character and values standpoint, we feel they will be great additions to our team culture," NC State head coach George Kiefer said. "We place a great deal of importance on keeping a high standard with our program's culture academically, socially, and athletically."
"We are finally at a point in recruiting where we can be really specific from a standpoint of what the team needs, and I'm excited with how each of these players fits in. I will also say the only way to put together a class as talented as this is by having a coaching staff that gets after it. Our associate head coach Jeff Negalha is the best in the business and assistant coach Kyle Nicholls really helped navigate getting commitments from each of the players. Lindsey Krakower also plays a vital role in the logistics and arrangement of smooth on-campus visits."
George Asomani | Midfielder | Monroe College
Native of Accra, Ghana … Played two seasons at Monroe College … 2018 NJCAA Division I All-Region XV Team … 2018 First Team All-American … 2018 Regional Championship Player of the Year as his team won Regional and District championships … Played in 15 matches and started 13 during the 2018 season at Monroe, scoring two goals and contributing two assists … Played in eight matches (all starts) during the 2017 season at Monroe, scoring two goals … Played with current Wolfpack player Gabriel Machado during the 2017 season … 2017 NJCAA All-American as his team won Regional and District Championships … Goes by the nickname "Maestro."
Sheldon China | Forward | North Carolina FC Academy
Native of Clayton, N.C. … Spent the last three seasons at North Carolina FC Academy under coaches John Bradford and Greg Shields … Rated by TopDrawerSoccer as a three-star forward and a top-40 forward in the nation … Ranked No. 123 in the IMG Academy rankings … Played 23 matches for the North Carolina FC U-18/19 squad during the 2017-18 season, making 13 starts and scoring seven goals … Made 27 appearances for the then-named Capital Area RailHawks U-15/16 side during the 2016-17 season, making 14 starts and scoring five goals … Chose NC State because he said it is the best place for him to become a better soccer player … Goes by the nickname "Shel."
Kendall Edwards | Defender | Atlanta United Academy
Native of Lilburn, Ga. … 2018 United Soccer Coaches Youth Boys All-America Team selection … Rated by TopDrawerSoccer as a four-star defender and the No. 4 defender in the nation … Ranked No. 27 in the IMG Academy rankings … Became the first active Atlanta United Academy player to debut with USL side Atlanta United II … Has made appearances for both the United States and Jamaican youth national teams … 2016 state champion with Parkview High School.
Jamie Smith | Defender | Limestone College
Native of Sutton Coldfield, England … Spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C., starting 37 matches while scoring five goals and recording two assists from a defensive role … Limestone posted an impressive 28-7-3 record and qualified for two NCAA Tournaments during his career with the Saints … 2018 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team and Second Team All-Conference Carolinas … Earned one Conference Carolinas Player of the Week honor during the 2018 season … 2017 Second Team United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region … 2017 Second Team D2CCA All-Southeast Region … 2017 First Team All-Conference Carolinas … Father is a professional soccer manager in England's Second Division following a professional playing career.
Tonny Temple | Midfielder | Philadelphia Union Academy
Native of Millville, Pa. … 2018 United Soccer Coaches Youth Boys All-East Region Team selection … Rated by TopDrawerSoccer as a four-star forward and the No. 17 forward in the nation … Ranked No. 43 in the IMG Academy rankings … Scored seven goals in 12 appearances with the Philadelphia Union U-18/19 squad during the 2018-19 season … Finished second on the Philadelphia Union U-18/19s with 20 goals during the 2017-18 season … Spent time with the U.S. National Team's residency program in Bradenton, Fla. … Spent the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons with IMG Academy.
Roberto Ydrach | Midfielder | New York Red Bulls Academy
Native of Orlando, Fla. … Played for the New York Red Bulls Academy (2017-19) and Orlando City SC Academy (2015-18) … Has made five appearances for the New York Red Bulls Academy U-18/19s during the current 2018-19 season … Made 17 appearances for the New York Red Bulls Academy during the 2017-18 season … Goes by the nickname "Beto."
Additional signings will follow in the 2019 spring semester.
#GoPack | @PackMensSoccer
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