May 23, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - First-year head coach Bryan Cunningham announced on Wednesday that Sean Johnson (Lilburn, Ga./Brookwood HS), Nathaniel Jocelyn (West Palm Beach, Fla./American Heritage HS), Dustin McCarty (Maitland, Fla./Winter Park HS) and Matt Luzanaris (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./West Boca Raton HS) signed National Letters of Intent (NLI) to join the UCF men's soccer team in Fall 2007.
"I feel as though we addressed every concern we had going into the 2007 season and beyond with this class," said Cunningham. "We were able to secure some of the top players in the country at critical positions. All four players are excited about the future here at UCF."
Nathaniel Jocelyn
6-0 * Center Back
Wellington, Fla./American Heritage HS
A four-year letterwinner for Coach Alvin James at American Heritage High School...earned first-team all-conference honors as a junior and senior...collected 21 goals and 22 assists in his senior season...helped the team capture three consecutive district and regional titles from 2004-06 and won the state championship in 2006...was the state runner-up in 2004 and advanced to the state final four in 2005...also a member of the Boca Juniors squad that won the Under-14 FYSA and Super Y League state championship in 2003...earned a spot on the 2006 U.S. Youth Soccer Region 3 Olympic Development Program team...a two-year member of the FYSA State ODP team
Coach Cunningham on Jocelyn:
"Nathaniel is highly recruited center back from one of the top clubs in Florida. His high school and club coach Alvin James has done a great job helping him develop. He will be relied on to help solidify our defense."
Sean Johnson
6-4 * Goalkeeper
Lilburn, Ga./Brookwood HS
A three-year letterwinner in soccer at Brookwood High School in Snellville, Ga....posted a .000 goals-against-average in 11 matches as a freshman...moved to the forward position as a junior, scoring five goals and adding eight assists for 18 points...named Gwinnett Prep Rally Player of the Week...helped the Broncos earn consecutive Region 8 5A titles and advance to the 2006 State 5A Quarterfinals...also played for the Atlanta Fire club team that was a semifinalist at the 2006 Score at the Shore Tournament and at the 2006 Tampa Bay Sun Bowl...made the Under-17 Jamaican National Team pool...also earned three letters as a power forward for the BHS basketball squad...led the team in scoring and rebounding...selected Gwinnett County Team of the Month...brother Jarrett played professional basketball in Greece.
Coach Cunningham on Johnson:
"Sean is considered one of the top goalkeepers in the nation. He has tremendous size and athletic ability and has grown in the last year with the Atlanta Fire. Sean will be able to come in and compete with our goalkeepers right away."
Matt Luzanaris
6-1 * Forward
Fort Lauderdale, Fla./West Boca Raton HS
A two-sport athlete at West Boca Raton High School...played soccer under head coach Chad Liddle...won the state cup as a member of the Boca Juniors in 2003...also played with the U.S. youth team and the Weston Fury...trained with the Newcastle United Football Club's youth team in England.
Coach Cunningham on Luzanaris:
"Matt is a competitor and a leader, who knows how to score goals. His tremendous work ethic combined with his technical ability will help him become a player to watch in Conference USA."
Dustin McCarty
5-10 * Midfielder
Maitland, Fla./Winter Park HS
A four-year letterwinner at Winter Park High School...named the team's most valuable offensive player his first three seasons... earned All-Metro, All-Orange County and All-Central Florida honors three times...helped the WPHS team advance to the state final four in 2006...also played for Central Florida United 801 that was the state runner-up in 2006.
Coach Cunningham on McCarty:
"Dustin is one of the premier central midfielders in the region. He has an excellent playing background and edge that we needed in this recruiting class. I expect him to come in and have an immediate impact."
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