Men's Soccer Adds 10 New Signees
6/7/2022 10:10:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Head Coach Ryan Pore will add seven freshmen and three transfers to the incoming recruiting class
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Men's Soccer and Head Coach Ryan Pore have officially the addition of 10 incoming signees to the class of 2022. The group of 10 is comprised of three transfers and seven incoming freshmen, bringing the total class to 18 incoming student-athletes.
Yahel Anderson-Gonzalez | 5'9 | F | Shawnee, Kan. | Mill Valley HS
High School/Club: Played at Mill Valley for Coach Jason Pendleton … First Team All-Conference … First Team All-State … First team All-Metro … Forward of the Year … Undefeated Sunflower League Champions … Averaged 1.8 goals per game … Also played on Scott Gallagher SC for Coaches Mike Barr and Rich Wolf … National League Champions … Three-time State Champion … Regional Champion
Personal: Born Aug. 20, 2003 in Kansas City, Kan. … Mother Elena Anderson … Has one sibling, Jared … Also participates in track, basketball, football and boxing … Favorite food is 'everything' … Also speaks Spanish … Intends to major in Business
Why Kansas City?: "It's my hometown and I want to influence and make an impact here."
Coach Pore on Anderson-Gonzalez: "Yahel is a dynamic attacking player that has consistently scored goals at every level he's played at. He led the Sunflower League in goals this past fall high school season playing under Jason Pendleton at Mill Valley. He is direct in his approach to goal and we look forward to watching him continue to score goals in Kansas City."
Camden Baker | 5'10 | D | Lenexa, Kan. | Olathe NW HS
High School/Club: Played for Sporting KC Academy and Coach Rumbani Munthali … Suited for U-19 team while still eligible for U-17
Personal: Born May 20, 2004 in Wichita, Kan. … Parents Tad and Andrea Baker … Has one sibling, Brock … Volunteers for Special Olympics … Lettered in academics … Favorite TV show is The 100 … Would like to live in Switzerland … Intends to major in Business Finance
Why Kansas City?: "It's close to home, the soccer program is good and has potential for a lot of success. I like the Bloch School for Business and I think it's a great fit for me."
Coach Pore on Baker: "Camden is a versatile outside back that is two footed and can cover ground. He has played multiple years for the Sporting KC Academy and has competed against some of the best players in this country. Once he gets used to the college game, we believe Camden can help us in multiple positions."Â
Philipp Basara | 6'1 | F | Graz, Austria | Liese Prokop Privatschule | Indiana Wesleyan | Rhode Island
2021 (Indiana Wesleyan): First Team All-Crossroads … Appeared in 19 games, starting 18 … Team advanced to Crossroads League Championship … Notched team-high 10 goals in 24 shots on goal … Also had pair of assists … Scored team-high five game-winning goals
2020 (Indiana Wesleyan): Appeared in 15 games, starting 12 … Scored team-high 11 goals, adding three assists … Fired off two game-winners
2019 (Indiana Wesleyan): Played in 16 games … Scored six goals, adding one assist
2018 (Rhode Island): Appeared in one match, playing 17 minutes
Personal: Born Feb. 22, 1998 in Graz, Austria … Parents Branislav and Amira … Finance Major
Why Kansas City?: "It's a good team at a good school in a nice city!"
Coach Pore on Basara: "Philipp played for Matt Reeb at Indiana Wesleyan and was a multiple all-conference performer. He brings great experience and maturity to the team, as well as a history of scoring goals in college. He will provide us with tremendous physicality and ability to consistently get into goal scoring areas."
Griffin Cook | 6'0 | M/D | Whitehouse, Ohio | Anthony Wayne HS | Ohio Dominican
2021 (Ohio Dominican): Second Team All-Ohio … First Team All-Great Midwest … Appeared in 20 games, making 17 starts … Scored three goals and tallied one assist … Scored game-winner in 2-0 win over Malone
2020 (Ohio Dominican): Appeared in nine games, making eight starts … Tallied one assist on the year
High School/Club: Earned First Team All-League and All-District Honors as a senior … Named Team's MVP as a senior … Second Team All-League as a junior
Personal: Son of Gary and Stacy Cook … Has two siblings, Madison and Delaney … Madison competed in triathlon at Miami (OH) University … Delaney competed on women's soccer team at Ball State University … Used to participate in 4H and ride horses … Favorite movie is Superbad … Finance Major
Why Kansas City?: "I was looking for a school to challenge me at the next level as a student, an athlete and most importantly a person as a whole. The coaching staff is extremely welcoming and were willing to take a chance on me, and that was something that was important to me in my school search."
Coach Pore on Cook: "Griffin is a kid we stumbled upon during the recruiting process this spring. After getting to know him better, we believe he has the personality and characteristics to excel here. He has experience playing at the collegiate level, is a tremendous competitor and has ideal size and athleticism that will translate to our level. We are excited to get to work with Griffin and utilize his versatility."
Jack Dean | 5'8 | MF | Blue Springs, Mo. | Rockhurst HS
High School/Club: Played for Sporting KC Academy and Coach Rumbani Munthali … Started as a U-14 and played through U-19
Personal: Born Dec. 3, 2003 in Blue Springs, Mo … Parents Chris and Marquelle Dean … Father Chris played soccer at Columbia College and is Director of Coaching for Sporting Missouri Valley … Has three siblings, Liam, Finn and Isla … Favorite musician is Lil Baby … Can throw a baseball with both hands … Intends to major in Business
Why Kansas City?: "I felt like Coach Pore and the staff valued me. I liked the direction they are trying to take the university in, and I wanted to be a part of it. I am also from KC, so I wanted to represent my city and stay close to my family."
Coach Pore on Dean: "Jack has been a part of the Sporting KC Academy for multiple years and is really connected to our city. He is a midfield player that plays with great awareness and game understanding. He's the son of a coach and we believe he has great leadership qualities. We look forward to seeing Jack stay home and compete in our program."
Manolo Ferreres | 6'2 | D | Deltebre, Spain | IES Miralcamp
High School/Club: Played in Villarreal CF system on U-19 team
Personal: Born Mar. 13, 2003 in Tortosa, Spain … Parents Manuel Ferreres Gimeno and Ana Juan Alboil … Has one sibling, Ana Ferreres Juan … During summers, coached a youth team in his hometown … Favorite food is pasta … Idol is Julio Iglesias … Speaks Spanish and Catalan … Plans to major in Business
Why Kansas City?: "I like their interest in me. I think that it's a good university and club to improve my English and my level of football."
Coach Pore on Ferreres: "Manolo has played at an extremely high level for Villarreal CF in Spain. He was built to play the center back position and offers tremendous size and physicality with proper technique to help us immediately. He comes from a great family who are excited about the direction of Kansas City men's soccer and we are excited to have him join our program."
Eliott Labeth | 5'9 | F | Mulhouse, France | Lycée Sainte-Anne
High School/Club: Played for Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace and Coach Regis Arnould … Made two appearances in Championnat National U-19
Personal: Born Mar. 22, 2004 in Mulhouse, France … Parents Jacob and Elisabeth Labeth … Has four siblings, Jessye, Wendy, Jason and Diego … Favorite color is purple … Would like to be friends with Denzel Washington … Nicknamed 'Labetinho' … Intends to major in Political Science
Why Kansas City?: "I chose Kansas City because I thought I could have a great experience there, both on the pitch and at the university. I had a really good contact with the coaches and I felt that living in Kansas City would be very nice. Moreover, I definitely liked the vision of the coaches about the team. Then, the people there seemed to be very welcoming and I don't think I was wrong."
Coach Pore on Labeth: "My assistant coach, Rafa Martinez, was able to watch Eliott play in December. We identified him as another dynamic, attacking player that has had a great soccer education at RC Strasbourg in France. Eliott offers a great combination of pace and technique and we think his best years are still to come. We are excited about the future of Eliott in our program."
Samuel Nagy | 5'10 | MF | Budapest, Hungary | Egressy Gábor Két Tanításí Nyelvu Szakgimnázium
High School/Club: Played for Budapest Honvéd FC and Coaches Mate Pinezits and Mark Martz … Earned Hungarian Championship … On Academy Dream Team … Suited for Hungarian National Team … Named Top Talents of Honved
Personal: Born May 23, 2003 in Székesfehérvár, Hungary … Parents Petra Toth and Zsolt Nagy … Has four siblings, Bercel, Merse, Janos and Maria … Loves hip-hop, favorite artists are Drake, Playboi Carti, Shordie Shordie, Lil Uzi Vert, Kanye West and Future … Intends to major in Business
Why Kansas City?: "I believe in this program, and that this will be a successful era of my life."
Coach Pore on Nagy: "We are excited about Sámuel's potential in our program. He has been consistently called into the Hungarian Youth National Team throughout his career and has made numerous appearances with the II team at Honvéd, which will help him with the physicality in college soccer. He's comfortable playing in midfield and on the left side and has the overall profile to have a great career in Kansas City."  Â
Asier Olano | 5'9 | D | Errenteria, Guipuzcoa, Spain | St. Patrick's English School
High School/Club: Played for Real Sociedad U-19 … Scored one goal in 20 appearances
Personal: Born July 28, 2004 in San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain … Parents Ignacio Olano and Ana Belen Moran … Has one sibling, Eneko … Would like to be friends with David Beckham … Speaks Spanish and Basque … Intends to major in Business
Why Kansas City?: "I want to play at Kansas City because of the good athletic and academic programs."
Coach Pore on Olano: "Asier is an attack minded left sided player that has had a great soccer education at Real Sociedad in Spain. He will provide great width on the left side and serves in a tremendous ball with consistency. He is a great student and we expect him to get better every day in our environment."
Manaka Sato | 6'1 | D/MF | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan | Toin HS | Barton CC
2021 (Barton CC): First Team All-KJCCC West … All-Region VI Team … Played in 13 games, making eight starts … Notched one goal on six shots
2020 (Barton CC): First Team All-KJCCC West … Played in 17 games, making 13 starts … Tallied two assists on the year
Personal: Born Oct. 10, 2001 in Yokohama, Japan … Parents Yoshihiro and Ikumi Sato … Business Major
Why Kansas City?: "Because they play organized soccer, I thought I could grow as a soccer player and as a person. It's a great environment for learning and I like the human nature of the coaches."Â
Coach Pore on Sato: "We were made aware of Manaka from former UMKC men's soccer standout, Jordan Rideout, who coached him at Barton Community College. Manaka is an extremely technical player who I believe will be one of our better passers of the ball from the first day he steps foot on campus. We were fortunate to work with him at our ID Camp in March and believe his skill set will translate well with how we like to play."