Perry Van Der Beck was the first American player chosen directly from high school in the North American Soccer League draft. In 1978, the Tampa Bay Rowdies selected the midfielder from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Missouri, with the 48th overall pick. He became the youngest native-born American to play in the league that […] The post A Champions League that connects high schools for games that matter — and counters pay-to-play appeared first on Soccer America.