Men's Soccer Announces Talented Incoming Class for 2016

CINCINNATI – Xavier men's soccer head coach Andy Fleming has officially announced his recruiting class for the upcoming 2016 season. The class is among the largest and deepest in school history, featuring 12 decorated newcomers.

THE CLASS

Name	Hometown/High School/Last School	Club
Samuel Buzzas	Bend, Ore./Sunset HS	Portland Timbers Academy
Bryce Curran	Cincinnati, Ohio/Mason HS	Cincinnati United Premier
Grant Dumler	Eagan, Minn./St. Thomas Academy	TwinStars Academy
Brahan Gamarra	Snellville, Ga./Brookwood HS/Tyler JC	Alianza de Futbol
Colin Hanley	Melville, La./St. Paul's HS	Hilmar Milan FC
Curtis Hansford	Weymouth, England/Budmouth Tech	Yeovil FC
Cole McKinney	Palm Harbor, Fla./East Lake HS	Chargers SC
Payton Miller	The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands HS	Texas Rush
Zachary Nelson	West Linn, Ore./West Linn HS	Portland Timbers Academy
Derrick Otim	Nottingham, England/Gedling School	Nottingham Forest FC
James Scasserra	Miami Shores, Fla./Westminster Academy	Fort Lauderdale Select
Alex Schupp	Knoxville, Tenn./Farragut HS	FC Alliance

CLASS NOTES

· The class includes players from nine different states and two more from overseas.
· Xavier now has a total of six international players.
· Seven incoming players spent time with U.S. development academies.
· Five incoming players were identified at Xavier ID camps.
· Brahan Gamarra becomes XU's first JUCO transfer under Fleming.
· Samuel Buzzas (Bend, Ore.) and Zachary Nelson (West Linn, Ore.) become XU's first Pacific Northwest recruits under Fleming.
· Bryce Curran (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mason HS) joins former high school teammate Josh Grant on the roster.
· XU now has three players from local pipeline Cincinnati United Premier (Bryce Curran, Josh Grant, Jake Ciricillo).
· The class includes seven prospects ranked nationally by Top Drawer Soccer.

COACH ON THE GROUP

"As always, I'd like to thank these young men and their families for their trust in myself, our program and Xavier over the next four years. I'd also like to thank our players and assistant coaches for their efforts in identifying, pursuing and engaging these players. I usually will say that I like the potential of a class and am cautious with my remarks. However, with this group, I can say that it's as good as we've had and is the most multi-dimensional as far as age, experiences and skill set. Without a question, it has a ton of character and is filled with Xavier players." – Andy Fleming

"A large senior class, coupled with a few other openings, led to a bigger-than-normal recruiting group. This group includes our first-ever JUCO transfer, as well as our first recruits from the Pacific Northwest. Add in two Englishmen, a local guy, three left-footers, two Floridians, a Texan, five former camp attendees and a rare player from Louisiana and you have a unique, balanced and capable class which I expect a lot from." – Andy Fleming

PLAYER RESUMES

Cole McKinney – Forward
Hometown: Palm Harbor, Fla.
High School: East Lake HS
Club: Chargers SC
Highlights

· Joins Xavier from the same Chargers SC program that produced current Musketeer Jacob Goodall.
· Four-year U.S. Olympic Development Academy player.
· ODP State and Region III International Player from 2011-13.
· A three-star recruit and national top 150 player by Top Drawer Soccer.
· McKinney was a College Soccer 101 camper at Xavier.
· He was also recruited by Northwestern, SMU and Bucknell.

Coach Fleming on McKinney:
"Cole is one of the most athletic players that we saw and is college-ready in that area. His height, leaping ability, fitness and especially his pace make him BIG EAST ready. I think once he plays as a target full-time, cleans up his passing and ability to time runs as well as create space for others he will be heard from as a nice compliment to some of the attacking pieces in our program. A top student and well-rounded young man, his upside is very high."

Bryce Curran – Midfielder
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
High School: Mason HS
Club: Cincinnati United Premier

· Three-year varsity player at local Mason High School, where he accumulated a record of 56-3-6.
· High school teammate of current Musketeer midfielder Josh Grant.
· Led Mason to 2013 OHSAA Division I State Championship and a No. 1 national ranking by the NSCAA.
· Named to 2015 NSCAA All-Region First Team, 2015 All-Ohio First Team and was the MVP of the 2015 All-Southwest Ohio All-Star Game.
· Named 2015 Cincinnati Enquirer Player of the Year.
· Participated in the 2015 NSCAA High School All-American game in North Carolina.
· Curran was a College Soccer 101 camper at Xavier.
· Also visited Dayton, Cincinnati, Kentucky and Michigan State.

Coach Fleming on Curran:
"Bryce is a local product and continues our history of success with players from Cincinnati United Premier. He's someone we identified, connected with and signed early. To me, he was the best player in Ohio this past year as evidenced by his appearance in the NSCAA All-American game. His bag of tricks in one-on-one situations is deep. He is two-footed, finishes very well and is tricky in combination as well. He's a guy who will push some of our returnees right away and will certainly be a mainstay in our attack for years to come. He played in and won some big games for perennial power Mason High School and proves once again we have been able to keep the top local players at home."

Grant Dumler – Midfielder
Hometown: Eagan, Minn.
High School: St. Thomas Academy
Club: TwinStars Academy
Highlights

· Finalist for Minnesota Mr. Soccer Award in 2015.
· Two-time all-state player, three-time all-conference player.
· A three-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer.
· Dumler was a College Soccer 101 camper at Xavier.
· Also recruited by Notre Dame and Wisconsin.

Coach Fleming on Dumler:
"A Xavier player is often described as honest, steady, hard-nosed and well-rounded with a solid soccer IQ. I'd say that each of these apply to Grant – to the point where a fellow coach called me last week to tell me that he's such a Xavier player. Equally comfortable as a tucked in left midfielder or left back, Grant's bite, vision, consistency and left foot are all assets. I see him as a future captain here down the road and a great role model within our program."

James Scasserra – Defender
Hometown: Miami Shores, Fla.
High School: Westminster Academy
Club: Fort Lauderdale Select
Highlights

· Broward County Player of the Year in 2015.
· Two-year ODP player for state and regional team, traveling to Italy and Colombia for competition.
· A three-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer.
· Dumler was a one-day camper at Xavier.
· Also recruited by Northeastern and Gardner-Webb.

Coach Fleming on Scasserra:
"We saw James with the Region III team late in the process in December. His athletic build, balance and pace stood out to us from the right back position. After learning that he played forward for his high school team, we realized that we had an athletic guy with the ability to go forward and a lot of untapped potential. James has a big upside and is very eager to learn and grow, especially from a tactical standpoint. We expect him to really take off later down the line."

Zachary Nelson – Goalkeeper
Hometown: West Linn, Ore.
High School: West Linn HS
Club: Portland Timbers Academy
Highlights

· Starting goalkeeper for Portland Timbers MLS Academy Team from 2015-16.
· Ranked as a top-20 player in the Northwest Region by Top Drawer Soccer.
· ODP regional and state goalkeeper.
· Named to ESP Generation Adidas All-Star Game in 2015.
· Possesses a Level 2 National Goalkeeping Coaching License
· Everybodysoccer.com listed Nelson and the No. 9 goalkeeper prospect in the country.

Coach Fleming on Nelson:
"A few things stand out about Zach. First, he committed to us after just one phone call and sight unseen – knowing that XU was the place for him. Second, he is a great leader and very dedicated to his craft. He is brave, vocal and extremely springy with his reactions. Last summer he was identified by Adidas as one of the top goalies in the USSDA and has been in discussions for the United States U-18 team. This past spring he was brought in to train with the Portland Timbers first team and will take that experience into preseason as he competes to be next in a program that's produced back-to-back reigning BIG EAST Goalkeepers of the Year."

Samuel Buzzas – Defender
Hometown: Bend, Ore.
High School: Sunset HS
Club: Portland Timbers Academy

· Member of Portland Timbers Development Academy.
· Spent two years in Florida, competing for the Florida Rush.
· Part of Rush National Team.
· Also recruited by Indiana, Stanford and Clemson.

Coach Fleming on Buzzas:
"Samuel was a national name and drew interest from most of the giants in college soccer. At 6-4, his reach and timing on tackles is very good. He recovers very well for a guy his size and, of course, is very strong in the air. He stays within himself with his passing choices and is a strong leader. Sam sacrificed his high school years for soccer, moving to Florida for two years and then lived with his aunt and uncle in Portland to compete for the Timbers. He is very driven to make soccer his craft. He will begin as an understudy to Cory Brown and Tood Pratzner, and then will look to become next in the line of great center backs here at Xavier."

Payton Miller – Midfielder
Hometown: The Woodlands, Texas
High School: The Woodlands HS
Club: Texas Rush

· Three-year team captain for Texas Rush.
· Selected for Texas Rush National Select training at Real Madrid Academy in Madrid, Spain.
· Participant in Texas region U.S. Soccer marketplace training.
· Helped Texas Rush U-18 to a No. 9 overall ranking in the USDA for 2015.
· Also recruited by Dayton, Marshall, New Mexico and Belmont.

Coach Fleming on Miller:
"I enjoy discoveries like Payton. We were between games at a summer event and met as a staff between fields only to notice this guy who was all over the field, dynamic on the ball and a real bulldog of a player. We dropped everything and followed up on Peyton and couldn't be happier that he's coming to Xavier. He arrives from the Rush program that sent us Garrett Halfhill a few years back. Payton has a strong trunk, plays at a college-level tempo and is honest and versatile. I'd label him as the dark horse of the group to possibly crack the rotation in the fall."

Alex Schupp – Midfielder/Forward
Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn.
High School: Farragut HS
Club: FC Alliance

· Named to 2015 Class AAA All-State Team in Tennessee.
· 2014-15 All-Region, All-District Team.
· Tennessee ODP First Team from 2010-12.

Coach Fleming on Schupp:
"Alex came to a winter I.D. camp last year and quickly became the talk of the camp. A left-sided player, he's very dynamic in combination and has a great engine that allows him to get up and down the flank. He tends to play in spurts and will need to grow there and shore up some things on the defensive side of the ball – which are all teachable. His change of gears and left foot can't be taught and are a great baseline for a strong career here."

Derrick Otim – Midfielder
Hometown: Nottingham, England
High School: Gedling School
Club: Nottingham Forest FC
Highlights

· Played for prestigious Nottingham Forest FC, making 32 appearances and scoring 15 goals for the youth team.

Coach Fleming on Otim:
"Derrick enrolled in January and hit the ground running, with a wonderful spring on the field and fitting into the fabric of our team. His story as a refugee of the Sudan, followed by a long tenure with Nottingham Forrest make him a worldly, mature and mentally-tough kid. Comfortable as a two-way midfielder, underneath and out wide, Derrick's IQ is off the charts as is his movement and ability to use his body. I expect him to be amongst the top newcomers in the BIG EAST and to hit the ground running come August."

Brahan Gamarra – Midfielder
Hometown: Snellville, Ga.
High School: Brookwood HS
Last School: Tyler JC
Club: Alianza de Futbol

· Led Tyler Junior College to a 19-4 record and a NJCAA National Championship in 2015.
· NJCAA First Team All-American in 2015.
· Georgia 6A Player of the Year in 2014.
· Led Brookwood High School to 2014 Georgia 6A State Championship.

Coach Fleming on Gamarra:
"Tyler Junior College is the JUCO standard for culture, accountability and team success. They also do a great job of developing accountable young men, as evidenced by the 17 captains they had in NCAA Division I programs last year. Brahan certainly fits that mold. A left-footed attacker with great range to his passing and vision, Brahan is a native of Peru and is an extremely talented and bright player. To a 'T,' he reminds me of former Xavier great Gino de Paoli. Brahan's last three years read: high school state champion, NJCAA National Champion and NJCAA Final IV – with a 72-8 record. He's a winner, is seasoned and will be in the midfield mix from day one."

Colin Hanley – Goalkeeper
Hometown: Mandeville, La.
High School: St. Paul's HS
Last School: Niagara
Club: Hilmar Milan FC
Highlights

· 2015 Gatorade Player of the Year in Louisiana.
· Two-time state champion in Louisiana.
· Named a Second Team All-American, four-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer.
· Named to ODP Region III travel team, competing in Costa Rica.
· Also visited Yale and San Diego State University before committing to Niagara.

Coach Fleming on Hanley:
"Colin had some momentum at Niagara before an injury cut short his fall. After a coaching change, he became available and enrolled in January. His feet are very good – maybe the best we've had here – as is his quickness, which aids in his shot-stopping range. Colin continues to adapt to the demands of our program and will gain game experience, which will bode well for him in the near future."

Curtis Hansford – Defender
Hometown: Weymouth, England
High School: Budmouth Technology College
Last School: Charlotte
Club: Yeovil FC
Highlights

· Captained Budmouth Technology College team, which won its county championship.
· In 2014, played for Nike Academy and gained experience playing against the youth teams for FC Barcelona and Inter Milan, as well as several EPL Academy teams.
· Played for AFC Bournemouth youth side.

Coach Fleming on Hansford:
"Curtis ran into a traffic jam at his position at Charlotte and became available in the winter. We've had some great games with Charlotte over the years and it's a program and culture that's known to be demanding and a developer of great players. His year at Charlotte, coupled with stints at Bournemouth and the Nike Academy of London, give Curtis an extensive background with games against the likes of Barcelona and Inter Milan youth teams. A sound one-on-one defender and gifted passer, Curtis will immediately be in the discussion at our right back spot."

AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE

· Xavier men's soccer has reached the NCAA Tournament in four of the last six seasons and is poised for another strong run in 2016.
· The Musketeers finished 2015 at 12-6-1 overall, marking a sixth straight season with at least 10 wins – one of just 12 programs that can claim the feat.
· Last fall also marked Xavier's third straight finish in the top-four of the BIG EAST.
· XU was ranked in the nation's top-10 by the NSCAA for the third time in four years, while knocking of the national No. 1 (Creighton) and No. 2 (Notre Dame) on the road last season. The Musketeers are widely believed to be the first program to ever knock off both a No. 1 and a No. 2 on the road in the same season.

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