Saddleback's David Zepeda

Well, those kinds of comments undercut everything that these players, who are loyal to their schools, have been doing this month.

True there are gifted players in academy soccer, but there is a lot of talent left on the high school field as well.

I covered the sport when kids such as Danny Califf and Tomas Serna were on the field, and I have seen some kids this year who would have been able to keep up with them.

(Which brings up something else. Califf always seemed to make some time for his high school team before heading off to play in Egypt or some other exotic place.)

Playing high school sports just seems to make the four years you spend in a school mean a bit more. OK, that's my two cents worth, now onto what this post is really about.

The top 11 players in December that I HAVE SEEN (notice those words that are capitalized. I haven't seen La Habra, Troy or JSerra, among others).

Here is the list, and please let me know who I might have forgotten. Oh, and the list is no particular order:

1. Edward Zepeda, Saddleback

2. Duncan Capriotti, Santa Margarita

3. Chris Zamarippa, Mater Dei

4. Carlos Vasquez, Santa Ana Valley

5. David Perez, Saddleback

6. Alex Cannas, El Toro

7. Auston Smyth, Esperanza

8. Stephen Donnelly, Servite

9. Eric Brunter, Servite

10. Chris Violas, Servite

11. Juan Pablo Ocegueda, Saddleback