For the second time in three years, a Ghanaian exchange student from Dunn School in Los Olivos, Calif., is the Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
After Ema Boateng in 2011-12, UCLA-bound Abu Danladi is the 2013-14 recipient.
Danladi, a 5-foot-10 forward, scored 25 goals and made 15 assists this past season, leading the Earwigs to the Southern Section Division VI Tournament.
A three-time team MVP, Danladi is a two-time Southern Section Division VI first-team selection. Danladi also competed for the Santa Barbara Soccer Club.
He served as a guest player for the South Coast Strikers at the 2012 Milk Cup in Northern Ireland., where he was the second-leading scorer, scoring seven goals, including four against Tottenham’s academy team.
He is a graduate of Ghana’s Right to Dream program, which helps young men from Ghana further their education with opportunities in the United States and other countries.
This is the third time that an incoming UCLA freshman has earned the award in soccer after Jordan Harvey (2001-02) and Chris Henderson (1988-89).
It is also the third straight year a player from Southern California won the award. Cristian Roldan, now at Washington, was the 2012-13 winner.