Men's Soccer Announces 2014 Freshmen Class
3/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
MACON, Ga. – Mercer men's soccer head coach Brad Ruzzo is bringing in plenty of new talent in anticipation of the 2014 season by announcing his 11-member 2014 recruiting class on Thursday afternoon.
All 11 student-athletes (Andrew McKeever, Desmond Toal, Chandler Klemm, Nicholas Klemm, William Bagrou, Priest Blackstock, Gabriel Tucker, Thomas Glenn, Carson Brooks, John Mattessich and Trenton Whitely) will join 13 returning letterwinners from last year's team on campus in August for preseason workouts.
Ruzzo is not done with his recruiting efforts, however, as he looks to add more signees later this spring.
Here is an inside look at the recruits that comprise the Bears' 2014 recruiting class:
Andrew McKeever
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Germantown, Tenn.
High School: Christian Brothers High School
High School Coach: Rogerio Lima
Club Team: Collierville Soccer Club Lobos
Club Coach: Robert Nicholson
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 155 lbs.
Bio:
Four-year varsity letterwinner … Voted team captain as a junior and senior … Helped lead CBHS to a State Championship runner-up finish in 2011 … Four-year honor roll student … Member of the 2014 National Honors Society.
Desmond Toal
Position: Forward/Midfielder
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
High School: Charlotte Catholic
High School Coach: Oscar Delphino
Club Team: CSA Predators/Charlotte Soccer Academy
Club Coach: Phil Hufstader/Richard Butler
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 165 lbs.
Bio:
Scored 13 goals and added 18 assists in helping Catholic to a 20-4-2 overall record and a third-place finish in the 3A state tournament as a senior … Was rewarded for his play by being named a 4A All-Conference and 4A All-Region selection.
Chandler Klemm
Position: Forward/Midfielder
Hometown: Ballwin, Mo.
High School: Parkway West High School
High School Coach: Michael Skordos
Club Team: Lou Fusz Mannion-Premier
Club Coach: Marty Mannion
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 175 lbs.
Bio:
Helped the Longhorns to a 19-9 overall record and a District Championship by scoring 35 goals as a senior … Was a four-time Suburban South All-Conference first team selection … Racked up several honors after a stellar senior campaign including being named to the Class 2 All-State first team and the St. Louis All-Metro third team while winning Class 2 St. Louis Region Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Nicholas Klemm
Position: Defender
Hometown: Ballwin, Mo.
High School: Parkway West High School
High School Coach: Michael Skordos
Club Team: Lou Fusz Mannion-Premier
Club Coach: Marty Mannion
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 170 lbs.
Bio:
Helped the Longhorns to a 19-9 overall record and a District Championship by scoring nine goals and tallying nine assists as a senior … Garnered Suburban South All-Conference first team, St. Louis All-Metro third team and Class 2 All-State second team honors as a senior.
William Bagrou
Position: Forward/Midfielder
Hometown: Dacula, Ga.
High School: Dacula High School
Club Team: Georgia United
Club Coach: Tony Annan
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 165 lbs.
Bio:
Played for three years at Juan Diego High School in Utah before moving to Georgia … Scored four goals and tallied three assists in five games played for Juan Diego … Was one of just 30 players selected to the Real Salt Lake Under-17 Youth Academy team.
Priest Blackstock
Position: Defender
Hometown: Marietta, Ga.
High School: Marietta High School
High School Coach: Brian Kane
Club Team: Georgia United
Club Coach: Ray Tomlin
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 165 lbs.
Bio:
Ranked as a four-star recruit and the 20th-best prospect in the South Atlantic region according to TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Gabriel Tucker
Position: Defender
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.
High School: First Colonial High School
High School Coach: Kevin Denson
Club Team: Virginia Rush USSDA
Club Coach: Jay Hoffman
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 175 lbs.
Bio:
Started on his high school team as a freshman and sophomore before playing exclusively for his club team … Helped First Colonial to a Beach District Championship as a sophomore.
Thomas Glenn
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Avondale Estates, Ga.
High School: St. Pius X
High School Coach: David O'Shea
Club Team: Concorde Fire
Club Coach: Gregg Blasingame
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 155 lbs.
Bio:
Led St. Pius to a 19-0-2 record and a State Championship as a junior by scoring 13 goals and handing out 10 assists … Was also named the conference Midfielder of the Year as a junior.
Carson Brooks
Position: Forward
Hometown: Peachtree City, Ga.
High School: McIntosh High School
High School Coach: Bunky Colvin
Club Team: SSA Chelsea
Club Coach: Bill Rucker
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 210 lbs.
Bio:
Helped guide McIntosh to a No. 1 national ranking, a perfect 23-0 record and a State Championship as a senior by scoring 19 goals and tallying 24 assists … Was named to the Region 3-AAAA second team and was an All-State honorable mention selection as a junior.
John Mattessich
Position: Defender
Hometown: Wellington, Fla.
High School: Kings Academy
High School Coach: Jerry Barrantes
Club Team: FC Florida
Club Coach: Victor Sanchez
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 180 lbs.
Bio:
Four-year varsity letterwinner … Led the Lions to a 14-3-5 record and a District Championship as a senior … Member of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica.
Trenton Whitely
Position: Defender
Hometown: Lawrenceville, Ga.
High School: Archer High School
High School Coach: Jamie Wellington
Club Team: Georgia United
Club Coach: Tony Annan
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 140 lbs.
Bio:
Started on his high school team as a freshman and sophomore before playing exclusively for his club team … Was named an All-County second team selection as a sophomore … Also a member of the Georgia ODP team and the ODP Region III team.
