Bryce Jamison: Meet the Orange County SC talent already scouted by a Dutch giant

It is the 30th minute against Indy Eleven in the USL Championship; Orange County SC forward Bryce Jamison sees the opening, powers past a defender, and is ultimately brought down inside the box. Milan Iloski stepped up and converted the penalty moments later. It turned out to be the only goal of the game (1-0). For Jamison, it was the first assist in the USL Championship season but likely just the first of many for the 17-year-old wunderkind, who might soon be headed to Europe. 

“I always like to break through lines or go one-v-one with my opponent to create dangerous moments like that,” Jamison said to Transfermarkt after the game. “I would say that I am a fast player; I like creating one-v-one situations and get up and down the field.” All that was visible in the 56 minutes he was on the field against Indy Eleven. Jamison was relentless working up and down the wing, creating opportunities, and taking on players one-v-one. The penalty situation, in fact, was just one of many opportunities the U17 US men’s national team player created that evening. 

“It was a very impressive performance in respect to his understanding of what we want from him,” Orange County SC head coach Richard Chaplow said to Transfermarkt. “I thought he showed his threat going forward and his speed; I think it’s there for everyone to see. He is a very intelligent player, and when you tell him something the very next moment, he gets it right. His ability to retain information is so very impressive.” 

Bryce Jamison: Underlying stats are "mind-blowing"

Just a look at his stats this season underlines Jamison’s talent. According to Wyscout, Jamison has won 51.1% of his 19.85 duels per 90 minutes, 55% of his 4.51 dribbles per 90 minutes, and 47.4% of his 43.31 actions per 90 minutes. In pure attacking stats, Jamison has had 2.48 touches inside the box per 90 minutes this season and completed 0.9 progressive runs per 90 minutes. 

Beyond the obvious stats, there are also underlying numbers that further highlight Jamison’s potential. “His sprint distance figures are just mind-blowing,” Chaplow said. “I don’t think I have ever seen that before, even at the levels that I was playing in England. And the most impressive part about it is that he can do it over and over again.”

Overall, the stats have been strong for a 17-year-old in his first professional season. But both Jamison and his coach Chaplow believe that the forward is currently just scratching the surface of his potential. “I still need to improve my positioning, my decision-making, timing my runs a bit better,” Jamison said. “Just be a bit calmer on the ball and be more composed overall.”

Jamison trained with Feyenoord - Move to Europe only a question of time?

Chaplow seems to agree with his player’s assessment. “The final piece for him really is to keep doing what he is doing between the boxes,” Chaplow said. “I think he can be a bit cleverer with his runs, vary them more; he is a straightforward player and at times still stays out wide a bit too much. I would like to see him do more various runs into the box at times like he did when he ran into the box today.” 

For Chaplow, the biggest missing piece is adding goals and assists to his game. But beyond that, the 38-year-old English-born head coach believes that the sky is the limit for Jamison. In fact, Chaplow laughs when he is asked about Jamison’s potential. “That is an unbelievable question,” Chaplow said. “I think if he was in England right now, he would be pushing and training with a first team in the Premier League,” Chaplow said. “I think he would be doing that if this was England, he is that good. And he won’t be with us for very long; he is that good. We have to enjoy him while we have him.”

Chaplow alluded to it; it will be unlikely that Jamison will be with Orange County SC, for long. Transfermarkt understands that Jamison has already trained with Orange County SC’s partner club Feyenoord and has left quite a favorable impression.