Big Finisher

There was no hype, no Freddy Adu circus. Josmer Altidore simply arrived. After spending most of 2006 at the IMG Soccer Academy in Florida, the 16-year-old rookie joined the Red Bulls down the MLS stretch and scored three huge goals— including a 30-yard blast in his second pro game— to carry them into the playoffs. Once there, he became the league's youngest player ever to find a postseason net. "What he showed is mind-boggling" says coach Bruce Arena. Altidore, a native of New Jersey and the son of Haitian immigrants, scored 19 goals in 25 games with the U.S. under-17 squad in 2005 but flew under the radar as a second-rounder in last January's MLS draft. One year and four inches later (he's 6'2" and still growing), Jozy is considered a natural to become America's next scoring weapon. Now that's hype. "I tip my hat to Freddy," he says. "It's tough when people put so much on your shoulders. But I haven't done anything yet." Except get people talking.

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