SAN FRANCISCO -- Academy of Art men's soccer Head Coach Danny Kirkland and his staff have announced the addition of four student-athletes within the 2023 recruiting class. Joining ART U in the fall semester will be Abraham Valencia (San Jose, Calif./Evergreen Valley College), Tristen Banquil (Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain High School), Heath Nager (Eagle, Colo./Eagle Valley High School), and Xander Cleaves (Brantford, Ontario, Canada/Collége Bourget). 

Abraham Valencia (San Jose, Calif./Evergreen Valley College)
Entering ART U as an athletic junior, Valencia spent the previous two seasons with Evergreen Valley College appearing in 19 matches with 18 starts last season, finishing the year at a 10-6-4 record with the Hawks. Valencia went on to tally up three goals and seven assists in that time which included his score to help lead the team to a win in the first round of last year's Regional Playoffs versus Napa Valley. Valencia was named the team's Most Improved Player for the 2022 season and was awarded a spot on the All-Conference Second Team. Prior to his collegiate career, the defender attended Ace Charter High School where he played soccer all four years, earning the PSAL Offensive Player of the Year award. 

"We are very excited to be adding Abraham Valencia to our incoming class." Kirkland said. "As a transfer, he brings with him experience of playing at a high level in a successful program and a desire to improve himself and those around him. He is technically very strong and is ferocious with his defending. We are pleased to be adding him to our roster."

Valencia will enroll in the School of Communications & Media Technologies upon his arrival at Academy of Art. 

Xander Cleaves (Brantford, Ontario, Canada/Collége Bourget)
Cleaves comes to ART U as a true freshman coming out of Collége Bourget in Ontario, Canada. Cleaves played for multiple organizations during this time such as Toronto FC Academy, Sigma FC C1, Brantford Galaxy SC, Paris FC, Hamilton United Elite, and most recently Valencia CF Canada. In 2021, Cleaves was named in the Tournament XI of FTF Canada Combine, receiving two Man Of The Match awards, and was announced as the newest captain of VCF Canada U19 at just 16 years old. Last year, Cleaves had the opportunity to take part in the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, helping the team make it through the group stages going undefeated.

Through FTF, Cleaves won the MVP award at the Ottawa Winter 2022 combine, and went on to participate in the Toronto Summer 2022 and Montreal Winter 2023 combines. 

"We are delighted to be adding Xander Cleaves to our incoming class." Kirkland said. "As an incoming freshman, Xander possesses exceptional leadership and communication qualities to go hand in hand with his technical and physical abilities. He can play in numerous positions, and we are excited by his signing and what he will bring to the program."

Cleaves will enroll in the School of Communications & Media Technologies upon his arrival at Academy of Art. 

Tristen Banquil (Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain High School)
Banquil enters Academy of Art after most recently graduating from Desert Mountain High School where he was a dual-sport athlete, playing varsity soccer his junior and senior seasons in the midfield while concurrently playing on the varsity football team. As a football player, Banquil was listed to the First Team All-Region team as a punter, was the Special Teams Player of the Year, and received an honorable mention to the 5A Conference Team. On the soccer pitch, Banquil was a First Team All-Region Midfielder, First Team All-District, varsity team captain, varsity MVP, and received the varsity GoldenBoot award.

"We are really pleased with the addition of Tristen Banquil to this year's incoming class." Kirkland said. "Tristen has experience playing both here in the US and abroad in Spain which will be vital to his development and what he brings to the team. He is an excellent athlete, possesses great technical ability and has the flexibility and understanding to play in multiple positions. We are looking forward to what he will add to the group."

Banquil scored seven goals in seven matches in his senior season at Desert Mountain, earning the Player of the Game award four times throughout his career.

Upon his arrival to ART U, Banquil will enroll in the School of Architecture with a future goal of one day becoming an architect. 

Heath Nager (Eagle, Colo./Eagle Valley High School)
Nager enters Academy of Art as a freshman after recently graduating from Eagle Valley High School where he played varsity soccer all four years and served as the squad's team captain as an upperclassman. In his senior season, Nager helped his team win 11 out of 12 matches he played in while scoring eight goals and seven assists (23 points), and recording 48 steals in the process. When not on the high school pitch, the six-foot-one wing could also be found donning the kit of Vail Valley Soccer Club (VVSC), a soccer club in Vail, Colo., a team that Nager was a part of for seven years and was team captain for the U17 Boys Navy side. 

"Heath Nager is someone we have kept an eye on for a long time and are really pleased by his signing." Kirkland said. "He has great technical ability, a superb work rate and an excellent left foot, which allows him to play both on the right and left side of the field comfortably. We are looking forward to seeing his development with the group and how he will contribute to the program."

Upon his arrival to ART U, Nager will enroll in the School of Fashion with a future goal of one day becoming a head fashion designer as he simultaneously plans to play professional soccer.