Ten Best: Academy graduates (update)
December 26, 2023
We last took a look at the best academy graduates back in 2018, so it's pretty clear that this list needs revisiting, especially after the departure of Omir Fernandez. Note that for official purposes, Kyle Duncan DOES NOT count as an academy graduate, because he left the academy before signing with Metro... and yet, Caden Clark, who did not spend a minute in Metro's academy, does?
10) Caden Clark
Oh, what could have been! A magical goal on his debut, a magical goal a week after, four goals early in 2021, and then... an appendectomy that somehow completely derailed his career. Perhaps a victim of the hype: eight goals and seven assists in 50 games. It ended with a lackluster 2022 season on loan back from Leipzig that wasted $675K in allocation money and should have never happened. Thanks, Red Bull!
9) Derrick Etienne
Talk about someone who shows up for big games. Etienne scored in the USL Cup final in 2016 and then the Shield-clinching goal in 2018 (after missing a penalty!). He has since scored in MLS Cup... for Columbus, after Denis Hamlett decided to let him leave as a free agent. Thanks, Denis!
8) Daniel Edelman
We will not be surprised if Edelman climbs up these rankings. The now-20-year-old has become pretty much an automatic starter in defensive midfield the last season and a half. He's just been rewarded with a new contract, and Europe is sniffing already.
7) Alex Muyl
No, he wasn't exactly stellar in front of goal, but 13 goals and 20 assists in 140 games is not exactly chump change for a winger. He was relentless on the flanks, and helped create numerous opportunities with his never-say-die attitude. Dealing Muyl to Nashville for chump change was one of the worst trades in Metro history. Thanks, Denis!
6) Connor Lade
Eight years with the team, 153 games, and now continues to work for the club in the front office. What Lade lacked in height, he made up in tenacity, and was ready to fill wherever needed (even in central defense!). Heck, Titi Henry was a fan.
5) Omir Fernandez
This seems about right for Fernandez, whose 19 goals are the most for an academy graduate. It all started with a surprise start and surprise early goal at the eventually-failed second leg at Mexico's Santos, but it took a while to settle. Initially mostly a bench option, Fernandez became a key contributor the last two years. He finished his Metro career with his best season, tallying eight goals and five assists in all competitions.
4) Matt Miazga
14 minutes in 2013, seven games in 2014... and then an amazing 2015. As he was turning 20, Miazga was perhaps the best defender in MLS as Metro won its second Shield. Off to Chelsea he went, and then back to MLS... just not Metro. (And here we note once again that Hamlett gave Cincinnati allocation money to sign Miazga. Thank God he is gone.)
3) Sean Davis
Early on, it was not clear where Davis' best spot on the field was, but he started 30 games for the the 2018 Shield winner, and then became almost-ever-present for the next three seasons. In 2021, he captained the team, played every minute in every competition, and was named MetroFantic Hero of the Year. After that, it was off to Nashville. No academy graduate has played more games than Davis' 208.
2) John Tolkin
Ever since claiming a starting spot in 2021, JMi has become the heart and soul of Metro. Last year, he won Team MVP and was MetroFanatic Player of the Year, while scoring four goals and ten assists from the left back spot. One of those goals was the most clutch penalty kick in team history, in injury time in Nashville to clinch Metro a playoff berth. The only question is when he goes to Europe, not if.
1) Tyler Adams
It has to be Adams, doesn't it? From bring the first player signed by the nascent RBNY II to running the midfield for the record-setting Shield-winning 2018 Metro. Even if you don't talk about his post-Metro contributions: a goal in the Champions League quarterfinal and captaining the US at the 2022 World Cup, he is the gold standard of the Metro academy.
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