Sounders Academy product Jalen Markey called into United States U-20 camp

It has been a strange year for Sounders Academy product Jalen Markey. Once considered a top prospect and a regular call-up to the United States U-18 team, Markey has fought injury and spent his first season at North Carolina as a red-shirt freshman. Apparently, he still managed enough promise to get the attention of Tab Ramos, as the 18-year-old was among 36 players called into the United States U-20 camp from Jan. 3-12.

Washington midfielder Christian Roldan was the only other player connected to the Seattle area brought into the camp. Roldan is coming off a season in which he scored seven goals and had five assists.

Markey is currently listed as a defender, likely meaning Ramos sees him as a center back where he spent most of his time with the Sounders. He has also spent some time as a holding midfielder, though, and Sounders academy director Darren Sawatzky said that might be his better position.

Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (4): Jeff Caldwell (N.C. Fusion; Todd, N.C.), Santiago Castano (New York Red Bulls; Union City, N.J.), Ethan Horvath (Molde FK; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Zack Steffen (Maryland; Downington, Pa.)

DEFENDERS (10): Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake; Rochester, N.Y.), Michael Amick (UCLA; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Sulaiman Dainkeh (Maryland; Reston, Va.), Conor Donovan (Capital Area RailHawks Academy; Fuquay Varina, N.C.), Trevor Haberkorn (Furman; Roanoke, Texas), Grant Lillard (Chicago Fire Academy; Hinsdale, Ill.), Jalen Markey (North Carolina; Renton, Wash.), Matthew Miazga (New York Red Bulls; Clifton, N.J.), Shaquell Moore (IMG Academy; Powder Springs, Ga.), John Requejo Jr. (Real So Cal; Carpinteria, Calif.

MIDFIELDERS (14): Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake AZ; Escondido, Calif.), Arun Basuljevic (New York Red Bulls; Mahopac, N.Y.), Marco Delgado (Chivas USA; Glendora, Calif.), Luis Felipe (Cruzeiro Esporte Clube; Ouro Branco, Minas Gerais), Ian Harkes (Wake Forest; Fairfax, Va.), Jacori Hayes (Wake Forest; Bowie, Md.), Brian Iloski (UCLA; Escondido, Calif.), Eric Lickert (SC Freiburg; Glotteral, Germany), Saalih Muhammad (Dinamo GNK), Adam Najem (Akron; Clifton, N.J.), Cristian Roldan (Washington; Pico Rivera, Calif.), Herbert Robinson (Club Santos Laguna; Monclova, Coahuila), Joel Sonora (Boca Juniors; Buenos Aires, Argentina), Omar Thompson (Unattached; Miami, Fla.)

FORWARDS (8): Andrew Brody (Louisville; Orlando, Fla.), Benji Lopez (Real Salt Lake; San Diego, Calif.), Ricardo Lopez-Espin (Shattuck-St Mary's; Miami, Fla.), Amando Moreno (NY Red Bulls; Morganville, N.J.), Alex Muyl (Georgetown; New York, N.Y.), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union; Dresher, Pa.), Rubio Rubin (Unattached; Beaverton, Ore.), Travis Wannemuehler (NC State; Evansville, Ind.)