The Quakes Academy continues to draw in many of the region’s best youth players. Several exciting up-and-coming players have made their way to San Jose ahead of the 2018-19 USSDA season, including winger Cade Cowell.
Cowell, 14, joins from the Earthquakes’ Partners in Development club Ballistic United in Pleasanton, the former academy of Quakes Homegrowns Gilbert Fuentes and Jacob Akanyirige. A native of Ceres, Calif., he has emerged as one of the USSDA’s brightest prospects. He has consistently trained on a part-time basis with the Quakes Academy for the last year before recently deciding to join permanently.
According to U.S. Soccer Development Academy statistics, Cowell scored 33 goals in 32 games for Ballistic last season, co-leading the nation at the U-15 level with Luc Granitur of Orlando City SC. He was a five-time Boys’ Development Academy Weekly Standout selection, per TopDrawerSoccer, and was highlighted for his performances at national showcase events in both June and July.
A two-sport athlete, Cowell also dominated as a member of the Cesar Chavez Jr. High School track and field team. Earlier this year, he placed first in the 100-meter (11.69), 200-meter (25.07), 70-meter hurdles (10.10) and long jump (19-6.5) at the Harold Pope Junior Relays on May 5 at Modesto Junior College.
Cowell joins a very talented U-17 squad, where he’ll play alongside U.S. youth national team call-ups Israel Carrillo, Diego Luna, Leonardo ‘Wish’ Martinez and Casey Walls. The Quakes have been aggressive in placing high-potential youth players above their appropriate age group, so these five, and/or others, may look to break into the U-19s during the upcoming academy season.
Follow along on social media at @QuakesAcademy to keep up with all the Earthquakes boys’ and girls’ youth teams.
