VOTE for Who's South Jersey's all-time best men's soccer player

Who is the best men's soccer player from South Jersey? Let the debate begin. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time.

Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states. In July, we will showcase our list of the top 250 overall athletes in South Jersey history. But first we are going to take a look at athletes in their individual sports.

First up, we're honoring the stars of the pitch. Here are our selections for the men's soccer players who defined the South Jersey region. The 10 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standout players at the high school level before moving on to even greater heights at the collegiate and professional levels.

Brenden Aaronson, Shawnee The “Medford Messi” attended Shawnee High School for a year before moving onto the Philadelphia Union’s YSC Academy. He played 51 games for the Union, scoring seven goals, including his first professional goal in his debut. Aarsonson would play overseas with Red Bull Salzburg and is now with Leeds United.