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What better time to highlight Palm Beach County's soccer history than the week of the 2026 World Cup in North America.
USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time in conjunction with the United States' 250th anniversary.
Additionally, the USA TODAY Network will highlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states. This will include trailblazers and trendsetters whose influence reaches beyond championships and statistics. First, we are going to take a look at athletes in their individual sports.
This week, we're honoring the stars of boys soccer. As you can imagine, it was a difficult task to narrow this list down with so many impactful figures hailing from Palm Beach County.
Listed in alphabetical order, these players were all standouts locally before moving on to even greater heights in college and the pros.
More America 250: Palm Beach County's all-time best from baseball
More America 250: Palm Beach County's all-time best from softball
More America 250: Palm Beach County's all-time best from boys basketball
More America 250: Palm Beach County's all-time best from girls basketball
A native of Haiti, Alexandre developed into a professional soccer player in Palm Beach County. He played varsity soccer at Atlantic High in Delray Beach and club soccer with the Palm Beach Pumas before earning a collegiate opportunity with Lynn University. Alexandre was the No. 12 overall selection in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and ultimately made 52 appearances in the MLS with Real Salt Lake, San Jose and Orlando City. He also made 42 apperances with the Haitian national team.
Altidore is surely the most prominent international soccer player to rise from Palm Beach County. Raised in Boca Raton, he got his start playing club soccer locally and his potential quickly became clear. At age 17, Altidore was selected No. 17 overall in the MLS SuperDraft, beginning a long pro career in the MLS and overseas in the English, Dutch and Spanish top flights. He was a staple of U.S. men's national team from 2007-17, scoring 42 goals in 115 appearances. At the 2010 World Cup, he was part of the buildup Landon Donovan's iconic stoppage-time goal vs. Algeria.
Araujo can tout soccer achievements in Palm Beach County as a player and coach. He was a national champion with Lynn University — then the College of Boca Raton — in 1987 before playing professionally in the U.S., Europe and Africa for 12 years. A Florida Atlantic graduate, Araujo then moved into coaching with Team Boca in 2002. He remains with the club today and serves as its director of coaching, helping influence the next generation of local soccer players.
No boys soccer head coach in Palm Beach County history has won more FHSAA state championships than Castillo. An assistant coach on Olympic Heights' 2002 state championship team, Castillo took over the Boca Raton program in 2005 and built one of the state's most consistent winners. The Bobcats' four state titles (2010, 2016, 2020, 2024) were the crowning achievement in a career with more than 400 victories.
Helm climbed the Palm Beach County ranks to Major League Soccer. He got his start as a standout player at Jupiter High School before beginning his collegiate career at the University of South Florida. He later transferred to finish his college eligibility at Florida Atlantic. Helm was the top pick in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft and he made eight MLS appearances with Chivas USA. He also played professionally in Portugal and Sweden.
Few county soccer dynasties have hit higher ceilings than James' American Heritage-Delray teams. A former collegiate standout at Florida International and professional player with Fort Lauderdale Strikers, James filled up the trophy case with three FHSAA state titles (2006, 2009, 2011) and two state runner-up finishes (2007, 2010) in a nine-year span.
Alvin's son Brian was a key figure in the midfield during the Stallions' golden age, scoring 78 goals and 168 assists in his decorated varsity career. He was a two-time state champion and the 2012 Florida Gatorade Player of the Year. After a two-year collegiate career at Virginia, James was a fourth-round pick in the MLS Super Draft by Toronto FC and he went on to play professionally in multiple leagues.
Karuzas holds distinction as the first boys soccer head coach to win multiple FHSAA state championships at a Palm Beach County public high school. A standout goal scorer at Santaluces, Karuzas played collegiately at Palm Beach Atlantic and Lynn University before enjoying a five-year professional career, including a stint with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. He built Olympic Heights into a powerhouse after his playing career, winning FHSAA state titles in 1994 and 2002. Karuzas also coached girls soccer at West Boca Raton and Olympic Heights as well club soccer with Team Boca.
Who has defined Palm Beach County boys soccer the most?
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Vote on Palm Beach County's all-time best from boys soccer
Continue reading...
USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time in conjunction with the United States' 250th anniversary.
Additionally, the USA TODAY Network will highlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states. This will include trailblazers and trendsetters whose influence reaches beyond championships and statistics. First, we are going to take a look at athletes in their individual sports.
This week, we're honoring the stars of boys soccer. As you can imagine, it was a difficult task to narrow this list down with so many impactful figures hailing from Palm Beach County.
Listed in alphabetical order, these players were all standouts locally before moving on to even greater heights in college and the pros.
More America 250: Palm Beach County's all-time best from baseball
More America 250: Palm Beach County's all-time best from softball
More America 250: Palm Beach County's all-time best from boys basketball
More America 250: Palm Beach County's all-time best from girls basketball
Jean Alexandre, Atlantic
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A native of Haiti, Alexandre developed into a professional soccer player in Palm Beach County. He played varsity soccer at Atlantic High in Delray Beach and club soccer with the Palm Beach Pumas before earning a collegiate opportunity with Lynn University. Alexandre was the No. 12 overall selection in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and ultimately made 52 appearances in the MLS with Real Salt Lake, San Jose and Orlando City. He also made 42 apperances with the Haitian national team.
Jozy Altidore
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Altidore is surely the most prominent international soccer player to rise from Palm Beach County. Raised in Boca Raton, he got his start playing club soccer locally and his potential quickly became clear. At age 17, Altidore was selected No. 17 overall in the MLS SuperDraft, beginning a long pro career in the MLS and overseas in the English, Dutch and Spanish top flights. He was a staple of U.S. men's national team from 2007-17, scoring 42 goals in 115 appearances. At the 2010 World Cup, he was part of the buildup Landon Donovan's iconic stoppage-time goal vs. Algeria.
Michael Araujo
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Araujo can tout soccer achievements in Palm Beach County as a player and coach. He was a national champion with Lynn University — then the College of Boca Raton — in 1987 before playing professionally in the U.S., Europe and Africa for 12 years. A Florida Atlantic graduate, Araujo then moved into coaching with Team Boca in 2002. He remains with the club today and serves as its director of coaching, helping influence the next generation of local soccer players.
Marcelo Castillo, Boca Raton
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No boys soccer head coach in Palm Beach County history has won more FHSAA state championships than Castillo. An assistant coach on Olympic Heights' 2002 state championship team, Castillo took over the Boca Raton program in 2005 and built one of the state's most consistent winners. The Bobcats' four state titles (2010, 2016, 2020, 2024) were the crowning achievement in a career with more than 400 victories.
Drew Helm, Jupiter
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Helm climbed the Palm Beach County ranks to Major League Soccer. He got his start as a standout player at Jupiter High School before beginning his collegiate career at the University of South Florida. He later transferred to finish his college eligibility at Florida Atlantic. Helm was the top pick in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft and he made eight MLS appearances with Chivas USA. He also played professionally in Portugal and Sweden.
Alvin James, American Heritage-Delray
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Few county soccer dynasties have hit higher ceilings than James' American Heritage-Delray teams. A former collegiate standout at Florida International and professional player with Fort Lauderdale Strikers, James filled up the trophy case with three FHSAA state titles (2006, 2009, 2011) and two state runner-up finishes (2007, 2010) in a nine-year span.
Brian James, American Heritage-Delray
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Alvin's son Brian was a key figure in the midfield during the Stallions' golden age, scoring 78 goals and 168 assists in his decorated varsity career. He was a two-time state champion and the 2012 Florida Gatorade Player of the Year. After a two-year collegiate career at Virginia, James was a fourth-round pick in the MLS Super Draft by Toronto FC and he went on to play professionally in multiple leagues.
Darrin Karuzas
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Karuzas holds distinction as the first boys soccer head coach to win multiple FHSAA state championships at a Palm Beach County public high school. A standout goal scorer at Santaluces, Karuzas played collegiately at Palm Beach Atlantic and Lynn University before enjoying a five-year professional career, including a stint with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. He built Olympic Heights into a powerhouse after his playing career, winning FHSAA state titles in 1994 and 2002. Karuzas also coached girls soccer at West Boca Raton and Olympic Heights as well club soccer with Team Boca.
Who has defined Palm Beach County boys soccer the most?
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Vote on Palm Beach County's all-time best from boys soccer
Continue reading...
