Men’s Soccer Announces the Class of 2024

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force has announced the addition of 16 freshman to roster for the 2020-21 campaign. The Falcon newcomers join the Academy from as far west as Alaska and as far east as the Atlantic seaboard. The newcomers will join 22 returners from the previous season.

MEET THE FRESHMEN

Wills Burns
Home Town: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Previous School/Club: USDA DC United

Wills Burns played three years with NC Fusion, captaining their U16 team, and three years with DC United, captaining their U19 team. He trained with DC United's first team as well as Loudoun United's USL team. Wills earned a spot on the US Soccer Southeast Regional Futsal Team in 2015 and attended National Camp in Kansas City, Missouri. He will bring a strong presence and experience to the Falcons' back line.

Ayman Bushara
Home Town: Denver, Colorado
Previous School/Club: USDA Real Colorado

Ayman was a dangerous striker and outside midfielder for Real Colorado. He is a fast and aggressive player that has a nose for the goal. He attended the USAFA Prep School last year and should compete right away for playing time and challenge for a starting position. He is a very coachable player and we look for Ayman to add a lot of power to our offensive threat.

Conner Cary
Spokane, Washington
Club: Spokane Sounders

Conner was a standout for the Spokane Sounders, leading his team to several state championships. He is a speedy and athletic outside midfielder that knows how to finish. He uses his physical attributes well and has pace to get behind the defense. He attended the USAFA Prep School last year, and with his speed, we expect him to develop into our quick attacking style of play.

Brandon Cobb
Galloway, New Jersey
Previous School/Club: USDA Shattuck-St. Mary's

Brandon was a top player for three years at Shattuck-St. Mary's before becoming a part of a very strong USAFA Prep School class last year. He is an attacking player that will put a lot of pressure on any defense. We look forward to having Brandon add to our outside midfield presence and use his quickness and skill to create many scoring opportunities.

Thaddaeus Dewing
Home Town: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Previous School/ Club: Pride Predators ECNL

Thaddaeus led his Pride Predator ECNL team to the Mountain Division Championship while earning ECNL All-American, ECNL All-Conference Player of the Year, and ECNL National All-Tournament team. A high school All-American and two-time Colorado "Gatorade Player of the Year," he steered his high school team to three straight state championships. With his strength, athleticism and craftiness in the box, Thaddaeus will be a threat who can score. He follows in the footsteps of his Grandfather ('61), Father ('93), and brother, Austin ('19), who earned All-American status in his senior season.

Michael Fey
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Club: USDA Charlotte Academy

Michael Fey was a playmaker running the midfield for three years at Charlotte Soccer Academy. He has attended the US Soccer National Training Center several times and represented the United States in July 2018, in Medellin, Colombia, with the US Futsal National Team. Michael has great vision, game IQ, first-touch, and ball-striking ability.

Gregory Hill
Home Town: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Club: USDA Real Colorado

Greg played a year up as a center midfield for the Pride Predators, helping them to become the State Cup Champions. For the past two years, he has played defensive midfielder and outside back for Real Colorado DA team. He is a highly skilled playmaker, and with his intelligence, work rate, competitive nature and versatility he will add to the Falcons system of play in many areas. He joins his brother ('23) on the team where we expect them to combine together for the next several years.

Theo Gunter
San Antonio, Texas
Club: Classics Elite club

Theo Gunter captained his Classics Elite club team to the 2018 ENPL National Championships and further led his Legacy of Educational Excellence (LEE) High School team to the 2019 Texas state finals. He is another strong USAFA Prep School graduate, and with his athleticism, we expect him to develop into a "shut down" defender at outside back.

Deric Hall
Phoenix, Arizona
Club: Real Salt Lake ECNL

Deric attended Brophy College Preparatory High School in Phoenix, Arizona, where he led his team to the Arizona 6A State Championship title. His "on field" ability garnered him the 2019 Arizona High School Soccer Regional and State Defender of the Year, along with being named the 6A Gatorade High School Soccer Player of the Year and All-American. Deric played ECNL for RSL, Sereno Soccer Club and spent three years on the Arizona ODP team. A USAFA Prep School standout last year, we expect his tremendous athleticism to bring a strong defensive presence to the back line.

Jackson Macias
San Antonio, Texas
Club: New Braunfels Ajax

Jackson was a three-sport standout in San Antonio. A two time all-state football player, three time all-state wrestler and all-state soccer player. He was named the San Antonio Athlete of the Year his senior year. Having spent his earlier years as a military "brat," he had the opportunity to play soccer in Germany early in life. He is a big, strong, hardworking back who will bring size, physicality and the ability to shut down forwards to our back line.

Alex Mercier
Boulder, Colorado
Club: FC Boulder

Alex captained his nationally ranked FC Boulder club team as well as his high school team. He led his FC Boulder team to several state championship appearances and won a state championship title. Alex is a highly skilled and very smart player who is used to taking charge and being a leader. He brings size, speed, work ethic, and an attacking mindset to the Falcons' back line.

Federico Mion
Miami, Florida
Club: USDA Kendall SC

Federico was an outstanding player at Gulliver Preparatory where he led the team to three regional finals. The first-team All-Dade County and two time MVP played DA for five years with Kendall SC, captaining the side for three of those years and leading his team to the 2018 DA Playoffs. He joins the program after a year at the USAFA Prep School. His size, ball striking ability, and presence in the back will add strength to the back line.

William Moravek II
Bethesda, Maryland
Club: USDA Bethesda Academy
William brings a wide array of international and national playing experience to the Air Force Academy. His career began in London, where he played for six years for Fulham FC Club Academy. Coming back stateside, he joined the Bethesda Academy program for four years and captained the U15s squad. He earned an invitation to the United States Soccer National Team Identification Center, before returning to Fulham FC. He returned to Bethesda for his senior year before making the journey to Colorado. A technical playmaker in the middle, we expect Will to use his experience and vision to set up our forwards for success on goal.

Nilesh Sandhu
Fairfield, California
Club: Davis Legacy

Nilesh joins the USAFA class of 2024 after spending a year studying at York St. John University in York, England where he played up a year up for their soccer academy. At Rodriguez High School, he was a multi-sport IA scholar athlete and led his team to an undefeated season and the MEL title.
He played club for Davis Legacy and was a standout goal scorer who has a great ability to take players on with pace and serve a great ball into the box. Technically sound with both feet, he will fit into our system well and be a strong contributor to the Falcons.

Remi Smith
Atlanta, Georgia
Club: USDA Atlanta United

Remi played for National Champion (2016) and captained National Runner Up (2017) Atlanta United Development Academy for the past four years. Previously, he captained UFA and Georgia United, and was a Region III ODP player. He has been called up to the National Team Futures Camp. He possesses character traits that Air Force seeks in its players and leaders at USAFA— a very skillful "bold and brave" player with a tireless engine, we expect Remi to compete right away for playing time.

Jakob Stone
Anchorage, Alaska
Club: USDA Shattuck-St. Mary's

Jake is a goalkeeper from Anchorage, Alaska, who has lived much of his soccer career outside of the "Last Frontier." He played with the Portland Timbers DA U16 Team and was called into a US Youth National Team camp. He later played with the Seattle Sounders DA U16 and U18 teams and anchored a championship at the Youdan Cup in Sheffield, England. He has spent the past two years playing at nationally ranked and DA Cup semi-finalist Shattuck-St. Mary's. Jake holds a private pilot license and is excited to begin his career in the Air Force and become a pilot.

Players Mentioned

Wills Burns

Ayman Bushara

Conner Cary

Brandon Cobb

Thaddaeus Dewing

Michael Fey

Theo Gunter

Deric Hall

Gregory Hill

Jackson Macias

Alex Mercier

Federico Mion

Will Moravek

Nilesh Sandhu

Remi Smith

Jakob Stone

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