A number of men’s soccer players from North Carolina High School Athletic Association member schools have been recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

One player— Ade Taiwo of Cardinal Gibbons High School– was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American team as a junior forward. Two midfielders, including Aaron Sparks of Jacksonville and Jacob LaFrancis of Newton-Conover, earned Scholar All-American honors for the NSCAA.

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America also picks various all-region teams, and North Carolina is in Region III which includes a number of the mid-Atlantic states.

Besides Taiwo, who was named to the All-American team, there were eight other players from NCHSAA schools who were named to the all-Region III unit. They includes senior goalkeeper Justin Savinon of Wilmington Ashley; four midfielders, including senior Hussein Ali of Myers Park, sophomore Brendan McDonough of Charlotte Catholic, senior Carlos Sevilla of Hickory and senior Aaron Sparks of Jacksonville; and four forwards, including junior Connor Francis of Raleigh Sanderson, senior Ben Grossfuss of Lee Senior, junior Austin Stamey of Asheville T.C. Roberson, along with Taiwo.

Congratulations to all these student-athletes recognized by the NSCAA.