Eighth in a sequence of tales profiling high highschool soccer gamers by place. In the present day, Jalen Flowers, Palos Verdes defensive again.
Jalen Flowers made a spectacular one-handed interception in a one-on-one drill in the course of the spring. He didn’t run off the sphere waving his arms wildly or proclaim he’s the best lock-down cornerback since Deion Sanders.
“I’m not really a talker,” he stated. “I let my game show it.”
He offers Palos Verdes Excessive a 6-foot-2, 175-pound sophomore defensive again with the uncommon talent of having the ability to stick to any and all receivers. They will make strikes, they’ll run their greatest patterns, however escaping Flowers doesn’t occur fairly often.
His instincts, lanky body and data from enjoying receiver come into play at a place during which misjudgments or a failure to respect an opponent can go away the defender getting burned for a landing.
“He’s got a knack,” coach Man Gardner stated of Flowers’ potential to cowl receivers. “We coach him the best we can, but most of the things he does we didn’t coach. The way he carries himself, covering guys, running routes, things came naturally.”
He confirmed up in the course of the summer time of his freshman season and instantly acquired seen as somebody with expertise. “It was pretty obvious,” Gardner stated.
A 16-week season that led to a Division 2-A state championship noticed Flowers catch 4 passes for 58 yards and one landing within the remaining. He completed the season with 26 tackles and one interception in his first full season enjoying defensive again and was actually rising taller each month.
“We didn’t think about him being a freshman from the midpoint of the season,” Garner stated.
Flowers has performed soccer since he was 6, so nothing an opponent tries to do on a soccer area ever surprises him.
“He really enjoys playing,” Gardner stated. “You can see it when he plays. And he has some God-given ability.”
There are such a lot of defensive backs with faculty soccer scholarship provides this season in Southern California that you simply’ll get a distinct reply each time you ask, “Who’s best?”
Madden Riordan, a USC commit from Sierra Canyon, had 11 interceptions final season. Isala Wily-Ava of St. John Bosco had 72 tackles as a sophomore security together with seven interceptions. Aaryn Washington, a junior at Mater Dei, had 23 tackles and three interceptions throughout a 13-0 season. Gardena Serra has a trio of defensive backs headed to the school ranks in Wesley Ace, Marcellous Ryan and Duvay Williams.
There are colleges with a number of high defensive backs, together with St. John Bosco, Serra, Sierra Canyon, Mater Dei and Santa Margarita. Nobody is ideal. Even the very best surrender a landing once in a while.
However take note of what Flowers accomplishes in his sophomore season. Put together for the bandwagon impact when folks notice his present for sticking near receivers and begin determining he’s no fluke.
And Flowers warns he’s not achieved rising.
“I might have an inch or more in me,” he stated.
Mentioned Gardner: “He’s putting in the work ethic with that ability and keeps getting better.”
Wednesday: San Pedro kicker Dylan Moreno.
Defensive backs to observe
Davon Benjamin, Oaks Christian, 6-0, 170, Sr.: Oregon commit returned three interceptions for touchdowns final season
Havon Finney Jr., Sierra Canyon, 6-3, 170, Sr.: LSU commit is terrific cornerback
Jalen Flowers, Palos Verdes, 6-2, 175, So.: He covers receivers so shut he is aware of what gum they’re chewing
Josh Holland, St. John Bosco, 6-2, 175, Sr.: USC commit with lengthy arms and deceiving energy
Derrick Johnson, Murrieta Valley, 6-2, 170, Sr.: Oklahoma commit is tall, aggressive cornerback
Jeron Jones, Mission Viejo, 6-0, 195, Sr.: Washington commit makes massive performs and large tackles
DeVohn Moutra Jr., Gardena Serra, 5-9, 190, Sr. Defensive participant of the 12 months from Mission League
Madden Riordan, Sierra Canyon, 5-11, 164, Sr.: USC commit had 11 interceptions
Aaryn Washington, Mater Dei, 6-0, 160, Jr:. Able to make a leap in manufacturing
Isala Wiley-Ava, St. John Bosco, 6-3, 195, Jr.: Had seven interceptions as a sophomore
Donte Wright, Lengthy Seaside Poly, 6-2, 170, Jr. Georgia commit is quick, powerful and good
