24 Under 24: The complete 2015 Rankings

MLSsoccer staff

Who's next?

That's the question that has always been the guiding principle of MLSsoccer.com's "24 Under 24" list, our annual ranking of the top young players (under 24) and explorations into the latest in youth development in MLS, the United States, and Canada.

The 2015 "24 Under 24" rankings prove that there are more than a few players, many from home, many from abroad, who are ready to wear that mantle.

#	PLAYER	CLUB	PREVIOUS
1	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/02/24-under-24-1-fabian-castillo-fc-dallas">Fabian Castillo</a>	FC Dallas	#3 - 2014; #15 - 2013;<br> #22 - 2012; #7 - 2011
2	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/09/24-under-24-2-kekuta-manneh-vancouver-whitecaps">Kekuta Manneh</a>	Vancouver Whitecaps	#12 - 2014
3	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/09/24-under-24-3-sebastian-lletget-la-galaxy">Sebastian Lletget</a>	LA Galaxy
4	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/09/24-under-24-4-wil-trapp-columbus-crew-sc">Wil Trapp</a>	Columbus Crew SC	#9 - 2014
5	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/09/24-under-24-5-matt-miazga-new-york-red-bulls">Matt Miazga</a>	New York Red Bulls
6	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/09/24-under-24-6-harry-shipp-chicago-fire">Harry Shipp</a>	Chicago Fire	#17 - 2014
7	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/18/24-under-24-7-kwadwo-poku-new-york-city-fc">Kwadwo Poku</a>	New York City FC
8	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/18/24-under-24-8-perry-kitchen-dc-united">Perry Kitchen</a>	D.C. United	#18 - 2014; #22 - 2013;<br> #8 - 2012; #17 - 2011
9	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/18/24-under-24-9-joao-plata-real-salt-lake">Joao Plata</a>	Real Salt Lake	#7 - 2014
10	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/18/24-under-24-10-cyle-larin-orlando-city">Cyle Larin</a>	Orlando City SC
11	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/18/24-under-24-11-erick-cubo-torres-houston-dynamo">Erick "Cubo" Torres</a>	Houston Dynamo	#2 - 2014
12	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/18/24-under-24-12-matias-laba-vancouver-whitecaps">Matias Laba</a>	Vancouver Whitecaps	#15 - 2014; #21 - 2013
13	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/18/24-under-24-13-juan-agudelo-new-england-revolution">Juan Agudelo</a>	New England Revolution	#6 - 2013; #13 - 2012;<br> #2 - 2011
14	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/18/24-under-24-14-kellyn-acosta-fc-dallas">Kellyn Acosta</a>	FC Dallas
15	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/18/24-under-24-15-kemar-lawrence-new-york-red-bulls">Kemar Lawrence</a>	New York Red Bulls
16	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/18/24-under-24-16-andrew-farrell-new-england-revolution">Andrew Farrell</a>	New England Revolution	#14 - 2014; #9 - 2013
17	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/18/24-under-24-17-diego-fagundez-new-england-revolution">Diego Fagundez</a>	New England Revolution	#5 - 2014; #5 - 2013
18	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/19/24-under-24-18-octavio-rivero-vancouver-whitecaps">Octavio Rivero</a>	Vancouver Whitecaps FC
19	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/19/24-under-24-19-lucas-melano-portland-timbers">Lucas Melano</a>	Portland Timbers
20	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/19/24-under-24-20-kelyn-rowe-new-england-revolution">Kelyn Rowe</a>	New England Revolution	#15 - 2014
21	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/19/24-under-24-21-matt-polster-chicago-fire">Matt Polster</a>	Chicago Fire
22	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/19/24-under-24-22-alvas-powell-portland-timbers">Alvas Powell</a>	Portland Timbers
23	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/19/24-under-24-23-tommy-thompson-san-jose-earthquakes">Tommy Thompson</a>	San Jose Earthquakes
24	<a href="/24under24/news/article/2015/09/19/24-under-24-24-erik-palmer-brown-sporting-kc">Erik Palmer-Brown</a>	Sporting KC

HOW THE 2015 "24 UNDER 24" RANKING WAS DETERMINED

The rankings this year, as in past years, are determined by a panel of soccer media members across the US and Canada who regularly cover MLS, including from ESPN, Fox, RDS, SI.com, FoxSports.com, Goal.com, and, of course, the editorial staff at MLSsoccer.com.

Ben Baer, content researcher
Matt Doyle, senior editor
Jason Saghini, director of video
Diego Pinzon, editor, FutbolMLS.com
Alicia Rodriguez, contributing editor
Jonathan Yardley, contributor / broadcaster

Jeff Carlisle (ESPN.com)
Brian Dunseth (various)
Alexi Lalas (Fox Sports)
Kurt Larson (Toronto Sun)
Patrick Leduc (RDS)
Seth Vertelney (Goal.com)
Kyle McCarthy (FoxSoccer.com)
Todd Kingston (Opta Sports)
Katie Witham (Fox Sports)
Franco Panizo (SoccerByIves)
Alex Abnos (SI.com)
Andy Edwards (NBC ProSoccerTalk)
Will Parchman (TopDrawerSoccer)

A 75-player short list (see below) was selected by a preliminary panel of MLSsoccer.com editors and external constituents, and then the larger panel rated the 75 players based on the following criteria:

Technical (first touch, dribbling, shooting, heading, etc.)
Soccer IQ (positioning, reading game, situational understanding, tactical awareness, etc.)
Physical Attributes (balance, agility, speed, endurance, strength, vertical leap, etc.)
Personality (attitude, marketability, media savviness, charisma, intangibles, etc.)
Potential (improvability, ceiling, national team potential, potential future transfer value, etc.)

The votes were tabulated to establish the final 24 players. The cut-off date for eligibility for this year's was October 25, the final day of the 2015 MLS regular season.

2015 "24 UNDER 24" SHORT LIST