FOXBOROUGH, MA. – Thirteen Revolution Academy players have announced their NCAA Division I college commitments, including eight players for the 2020-21 academic year. Eight of the announced commitments will see players continue their collegiate careers at New England institutions including Harvard University, Providence College, Boston University, and the University of Vermont, while others will embark on their NCAA careers at men’s soccer powerhouses such as Stanford University, Georgetown University, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Feb. 5 marked the first day that a high school senior could sign a binding National Letter of Intent for a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) member institution. The deadline for high school seniors to sign a National Letter of Intent is on August 1.

“It has been a privilege to work with this group of talented players and I am thrilled to see them all continue their academic and soccer careers at the collegiate level,” said Bryan Scales, the Revolution’s Director of Youth Development and Under-19 head coach. “We look forward to watching their continued growth and success over the next few years at an impressive array of schools.”

Midfielder Trevor Burns (Southborough, Mass. – 2001) will attend Georgetown University in the fall, where he will play under Head Coach Brian Wiese for the reigning collegiate National Champions. Burns, 18, has played seven seasons in the Revolution Academy and tallied 22 goals in 107 appearances in his Academy career. Midfielder Joseph Buck (Arlington, Mass. – 2002), a member of the 2021 class, has also verbally committed to Georgetown.

Standout Academy goalkeeper and residency player Eliot Jones (New Britain, Conn. – 2003) has completed his online high school education early to attend Stanford University next year as a 17-year-old freshman. Jones missed his final academy season recuperating from a knee injury, but finished his Revolution Academy career with 60 total appearances. Midfielder Victor Viana (South Dennis, Mass. – 2001) will also head west to continue his playing career at Loyola University-Chicago. Viana played in 37 games for the Revs’ Under-19s in his two years with the Academy, scoring ten goals and even featuring in preseason play for Revolution II.

Four members of the Academy’s 2020 class will pursue their higher education in the New England region. Forward Gevork Diarbian (Cranston, R.I. – 2001) has committed to Providence College, where he will join recent Academy alums Kevin Vang and Andy Chisholm. Defender Brian Son (Glastonbury, Conn. – 2001) will attend the University of Vermont, and defender Abdel Talabi (Brewster, Mass – 2001) has committed to Bryant University. Midfielder Kaoru Fujiwara (Lexington, Mass. – 2001) will attend Harvard University, while teammate Michael teDuits (Westwood, Mass. – 2001) will join him in the Ivy League ranks at the University of Pennsylvania.

Diarbian scored five goals in 39 games for the Revolution Academy since joining the program in 2017 and made one appearance in a Revolution II preseason match. Son started all 13 games he played for the Revolution U-19s this year and finished his two-year stint with the program having featured in 30 matches. Fujiwara was the most-capped member of the Revolution Academy graduating class, making 115 appearances since 2015, scoring 18 times and also appearing in two Revolution II preseason matches this winter. Both teDuits and Talabi had joined the Revolution U-19 team for the 2020 spring season.

Five additional Revolution Academy players have made their verbal college commitments as part of the recruiting class of 2021: Cole Dewhurst (Lancaster, Mass. – 2003) and Colby Quinones (Bedford, N.H. – 2003) will attend Providence College; Aidan Farwell (Randolph, Mass. – 2002) and Samuel White (Sterling, Mass. – 2003) have committed to Boston College; and the aforementioned Joseph Buck will attend Georgetown University. 

REVS ACADEMY COLLEGE COMMITMENTS 2020-21 by New England Revolution on Exposure