TAMPA, Fla. — During an unbeaten start to the season for Reading United AC, midfielder Aaron Molloy has shined and now rises to the No. 1 spot in the Third Edition of the 2018 Top Prospects list.

Reading has started its campaign in red-hot fashion – posting a 7-0-1 record through eight matches – and Molloy has been a key component of that success. The rising junior at Penn State leads the team in both goals and assists, with four and three respectively. The 21-year-old’s play has earned effusive praise from the USL Scouting Network, with one scout saying, “He is a leader on the field” and “is at an MLS level now.”

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Michigan Bucks midfielder Brad Dunwell slips into the No. 2 slot, with his play helping turn around the Bucks’ early-season struggles in recent weeks. FC Tucson forward Tate Schmitt made his return from injury for FC Tucson, who are in strong playoff position, and sits at No. 3. Portland Timbers U23 forward Benji Michel comes in at No. 4 and has been hot of late, scoring five goals in the club’s last three matches. Rounding out the top five is Sounders FC U23 forward Santiago Patino, who leads his team in goals and assists with five and two respectively.

One player enters the top 20 and one leaves. Rising into the top group is Lansing United defender John Freitag, who has tallied three assists in addition to his defensive duties that have helped the club to an unbeaten 4-0-4 start to the season, allowing just six goals.

Four players enter the list in this edition, three from the Southern Conference and one from the Western. Debuting at No. 37 is TSS FC Rovers midfielder Matteo Polisi, whose midfield play has led to two goals and two assists while keeping the Rovers in playoff contention. Back-to-back at No. 42 and No. 43 are Tri-Cities Otters forward Guillermo Segovia – with seven goals and one assist – and Birmingham Hammers defender Mathieu Laurent – with two goals in addition to defensive responsibilities. Finally, Mississippi Brilla FC defender Rich Bryan enters at No. 46 – with a team-leading four goals, one assist and two shutouts this season.

The USL Scouting Network consists of scouts from across North America, including coaching directors, technical directors and head coaches and provide the PDL with valuable insight on the top Under-23 performers in the league throughout the season. The Top Prospects list, which serves as a resource for professional clubs who are interested in identifying and scouting high-level players, ranks players based on their performance within the PDL, their technical and tactical qualities and their potential to play at the professional level.

Since its creation in 2015, the USL Scouting Network has identified numerous standout performers within the league before they made their first professional debuts. Philadelphia Union defender Keegan Rosenberry finished the 2015 PDL season ranked No. 1 on the Top Prospects list, while standout forward Christian Chaney finished the 2016 PDL season ranked No. 1 before signing a professional contract with the United Soccer League’s Sacramento Republic FC – Chaney now competes for the USL’s Fresno FC. In 2017, New York Red Bulls U23 forward and PDL MVP Brian White finished the season ranked No. 1 before being selected in the first round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by the Red Bulls. White currently competes with the USL’s Red Bulls II. More than 320 PDL alumni are registered in the USL, while more than 195 players are on 2018 MLS rosters.

1. Aaron Molloy - Midfielder - Penn State - Reading United AC
2. Brad Dunwell - Midfielder - Wake Forest - Michigan Bucks
3. Tate Schmitt - Forward - Louisville - FC Tucson
4. Benji Michel - Forward - University of Portland - Portland Timbers U23
5. Santiago Patino - Forward - Florida International University - Sounders FC U23
6. Jordan Skelton - Defender - Lander - Mississippi Brilla FC
7. Daniel Krutzen - Defender - Albany - Reading United AC
8. Janos Loebe - Midfielder - Fordham - New York Red Bulls U23
9. Ryan Sierakowski - Forward - Michigan State - Chicago FC United
10. Rey Ortiz - Midfielder - University of Portland - Portland Timbers U23
11. Nikola Fimic - Forward - Oklahoma Wesleyan - OKC Energy U23
12. DeJuan Jones - Forward - Michigan State - Lansing United
13. Sam Raben - Defender - Wake Forest - Colorado Rapids U23
14. Dayne St. Clair - Goalkeeper - Maryland - New York Red Bulls U23
15. Garrett McLaughlin - Forward - SMU - OKC Energy U23
16. Alex Comsia - Defender - UNC - Tobacco Road FC
17. Alec Smir - Goalkeeper - UNC - Ocean City Nor'easters
18. John Freitag - Defender - Michigan State - Lansing United
19. Callum Montgomery - Midfielder - UNC Charlotte - Victoria Highlanders FC
20. Griffin Dorsey - Forward - Indiana - Colorado Rapids U23

Top 50 PDL Prospects - Full List