Meet Noahkai Banks, 19, the outside pick to make USMNT's World Cup squad

"The goal of such a trip wasn't just to gauge what a player was in that moment, but where he could end up, and there was plenty that Mitrovic liked about the young defender. He was impressed by how Banks could hit a pass, as well as the way the defender thought the game. Banks had an exceptional soccer brain. That boded well for the future."

"He was impressed by how Banks could hit a pass, as well as the way the defender thought the game. Banks had an exceptional soccer brain. That boded well for the future. "Everything that [Banks] did in that game was maybe not executed well because his body didn't support his decisions in that moment, but all his decisions were the right decision on and off the ball," Mitrovic said."

Marko Mitrovic first saw Noahkai Banks play in August 2022 when Banks represented FC Augsburg's under-17s against Bayern Munich. Banks displayed awkward physical coordination at 15, lacking the frame that later reached 6-foot-4. Despite the physical immaturity, Banks consistently made sound decisions, demonstrated passing ability, and exhibited an exceptional soccer brain. Mitrovic recommended Banks for the U.S. U17s. By age 19, Banks became a regular with Augsburg, received a USMNT camp call in September, earned praise as a massive talent, and sits on the cusp of a first cap and potential World Cup inclusion.

Read at ESPN.com