Most MLS NEXT players can reach Division III college soccer, many Division II, some Division I. The academies focus on pro development, but that elite competition actually showcases players perfectly for college scouts. Lepley played UCLA before joining LA Galaxy, and top NCAA programs are full of MLS NEXT alumni.
If you're playing MLS NEXT, part of an academy affiliated with an MLS NEXT team, or part of a residency like Barca Academy, are you good enough to play college soccer? The bottom line answer is yes, you are probably good enough to play college soccer at some Division III school, at some Division II school, and maybe Division I, but it's unknown. The difficult part you have to navigate is the MLS NEXT teams at the pro level who are directly affiliated with pro teams don't have an interest in you playing college soccer as much as they do in you signing a contract with their first team or their second team. Their job is to make professional players. Their job is not to help you play college. Now, as it happens, that is probably the best platform to play college soccer because you are playing with the best players, you're playing against the best players, the college coaches all know the coaches at the pro level because they used to be there or they've worked with them before, and you have events where college coaches attend. So while the club's directive is to make pros and to help the first team win, It's one of the best places to play college soccer. And if you don't sign a pro contract, the MLS NEXT academies want you to go to college 'cause they know you can develop, become better, and eventually sign as a pro. Lepley, who played at UCLA, was a Sporting Kansas City youth player, went to UCLA, killed it, and now he's playing for the Galaxy and won an MLS NEXT Cup. So college is a great avenue for you if you don't make it to the pro level right away. Most players who are playing at the top 25 schools are coming from MLS Next teams that are directly affiliated with pro teams or high-level residency programs. If you're playing on one of these teams and you're not getting the recognition you think you deserve, give me a call. Links in the bio.
