He plays the game fearlessly, stretching and laying out his body to make big stops. Laying out players -- from Brazil to Japan -- who get in his way. And Edwards is only going to get bigger: He's projected to grow to be 6-5.

"More than his presence, is the personality and leadership Earl brings to the team," U.S. U-17 coach Wilmer Cabrera says. "He is a great player, a great athlete, but his leadership is what puts him on another level. Earl reads the game very well and communicates well. It's clear, on the field, he's a leader. That's why he's one of the top players at this age in the country, no doubt about it."