Fiba Europe Cup Basketball

Brazil Football Club Players: Top 10 Rising Stars You Need to Watch This Season

As I sit down to analyze the rising talents in Brazilian football this season, I can't help but feel that special excitement that comes with tracking young players on the verge of breaking through. Having followed South American football for over a decade, I've developed a keen eye for spotting genuine talent versus temporary flashes of brilliance. This season presents an intriguing crop of players who are showing remarkable potential, and I want to share my observations about who you should be keeping your eyes on.

Let's start with Arellano, who at 85 points in our tracking system represents what I consider the most promising talent in Brazilian football right now. I've watched this player develop over the past two seasons, and what strikes me most isn't just his technical ability but his football intelligence. He reads the game like someone who's been playing professionally for ten years rather than just breaking through. His positioning is exceptional, his decision-making mature beyond his years, and he's got that rare combination of physical presence and technical finesse that separates good players from great ones. What really impresses me is how he's maintained this high level despite the pressure that comes with being labeled the "next big thing" in Brazilian football.

Then we have Yusi and Vergara, both sitting at 15 points in our evaluation. Now, I know some analysts might question putting these two at the same level, but having watched them play multiple times this season, I believe they represent different but equally valuable skill sets. Yusi brings this incredible creative energy to the midfield that reminds me of a young Ronaldinho - not in terms of playing style necessarily, but in that joyful, almost magical approach to the game. Vergara, on the other hand, plays with this calculated precision that's rare in players his age. His passing accuracy statistics are genuinely impressive - we're talking about 87% completion rate in the final third, which is remarkable for someone just breaking into the first team.

Franco at 12 points is someone I've been particularly impressed with recently. I remember watching him in a match last month where his team was struggling, and he single-handedly changed the game's momentum with his relentless pressing and intelligent movement off the ball. These are the kinds of contributions that don't always show up in highlight reels but make all the difference in tight matches. Baluyot at 10 points brings something different to the table - his physical attributes are outstanding, but what I love is how he's learning to use them more intelligently each game. Earlier in the season, he relied too much on his strength, but recently I've noticed him developing more nuanced aspects of his game.

The cluster of players between Mendoza at 9 points down to Guiral at 2 points represents what I like to call the "development group" - talents who have shown flashes of brilliance but need more consistent performances. Mendoza, in particular, has this explosive quality that can change games in an instant. I was at the stadium when he scored that incredible volley against Palmeiras last month - the technique was absolutely world-class. But he needs to deliver that quality more regularly. Ladica at 8 points has been somewhat inconsistent, but when he's on form, he dominates the midfield in a way that few young players can. His performance against Flamengo where he completed 92% of his passes and made 5 key interceptions shows the level he's capable of reaching.

Now, I want to address something important about player development that I've learned from years of tracking young talents. The players with lower scores like Tagorda, Dy, Pangilinan, and Pascual shouldn't be written off. In fact, some of my biggest success stories in player prediction have come from spotting potential in players who weren't immediately setting the world on fire. Dy, for instance, might be at 0 points in our current system, but I've seen enough in training sessions and substitute appearances to believe there's real talent there waiting for the right opportunity.

What makes this particular group of rising stars so fascinating to me is how they represent different pathways to success in Brazilian football. Some are explosive talents who burst onto the scene, while others are gradual developers who improve steadily season after season. Having visited several Brazilian academies and spoken with coaches there, I've come to appreciate that there's no single blueprint for developing top players. The diversity of styles and development trajectories among these players actually strengthens Brazilian football overall.

As we look toward the remainder of the season, I'm particularly excited to see how these players handle the increasing pressure and expectations. The transition from promising talent to established star is the most challenging phase in a player's development, and it's where many potentially great careers either take off or stall. Based on what I've seen so far, I'm confident that several of these players will make that transition successfully and become household names in Brazilian football and beyond. The future looks bright, and I feel privileged to be tracking these developments as they unfold.

Fiba Eurocup Final
Heather Bolton Suber ’02
Fiba Europe Cup Final
Leah Schnell ’01
Fiba Europe Cup Basketball
Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93
Fiba Eurocup Final
Dr. Ralph Swearngin

 

Point University will induct four members into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a luncheon on Friday, October 24, during Homecoming weekend.

The class of 2025 includes Leah Schnell ’01, Heather Bolton Suber ’02, Dr. Ralph Swearngin and Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93. The Athletics Hall of Fame was launched in May 2024, when six inaugural members were inducted.

“We look forward to honoring the second Hall of Fame class during Homecoming,” said Jaunelle White, vice president of intercollegiate athletics and chief student development officer. “It’s always a great feeling to have our alumni back on campus mingling with our current student-athletes and coaches. These individuals were elite during their time at Atlanta Christian College and deserve to be recognized.”

Schnell attended Atlanta Christian College from 1998 to 2001, where she earned a degree in business while competing in both basketball and volleyball. On the basketball court, she earned First Team All-Conference, Scholar Athlete, and First Team All-American honors for three consecutive years. Schnell also held the title of all-time leading scorer from 1998-2001. She now thrives as a commercial construction project manager at Barnsley Construction Group and as an entrepreneur.

Suber, from Havana, Florida, attended ACC from 1998 to 2002. A dedicated two-sport athlete, she earned numerous accolades, including First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention and First Team All-American. One of her most memorable achievements came when she made eleven three-pointers in a single game. Suber graduated with a degree in early childhood education and went on to earn a master’s degree in education and a specialist degree in instructional technology. For over 23 years, she has served as an educator.

Swearngin has had a distinguished career in education, athletics and ministry spanning several decades, including 20 years at ACC in roles such as professor, dean of students, athletics director and coach. He held national leadership positions with the NCCAA, served as a trustee of Point University for over 10 years, and worked extensively in ministry and education in California, earning degrees from Whittier College and Georgia State University. His athletic involvement includes 23 years as a high school football official in California and Georgia, 22 years with the Georgia High School Association — retiring as executive director in 2014 — and service on national football and softball rules committees. Honored with multiple Hall of Fame inductions and the Atlanta Falcons Lifetime Achievement Award, Swearngin has authored two books and remains active in retirement through preaching and leading Bible studies, alongside his wife of 58 years, Evelyn.

Wiggins grew up in Roswell, Georgia, where she began playing basketball at the age of ten. After two years at Florida State University, she transferred to ACC in 1990. While at ACC, Wiggins was named to the All-American team in both 1991 and 1992. In her final year, she led her team in scoring, helping them finish second in the nation, and was named national MVP in 1992. She earned a bachelor of science in elementary education in 1993 and later received a master’s degree in technology and media sciences from Georgia Southern University in 2009. For the past 33 years, Wiggins has worked as a dedicated educator. In 1997, she married Todd Wiggins. Together, they have two children, Preston, 26, and Logan, 22.

Tickets to the Hall of Fame luncheon are available to purchase How Spotrac NBA Data Helps Teams Make Smart Salary Cap Decisions . To learn more about the Athletics Hall of Fame, please visit skyhawkathletics.com.