Jared Jeffrey, a 17-year-old from Richardson, has been selected as Parade magazine's boys soccer national high school player of the year.

"This is a huge honor," said Jeffrey, a midfielder who played club soccer for the Dallas Texans. "It's something that I'm grateful to get."

Jeffrey heads to Europe next month to begin his professional career with Club Brugge, one of the top clubs in Belgium. He signed a three-year contract with the club in February.

Jared Jeffrey

"I'm really excited about getting to go over there," said Jeffrey, who begins training June 18, four days after his 18th birthday. "I'll be living on my own and get a chance to play soccer in Europe."

It's the second year in a row Parade's boys player of the year has come from the Dallas area. Last year's selection was Corben Bone of Plano.

Jeffrey attended St. Mark's until eighth grade, then enrolled in the U.S. Soccer under-17 national team residency program in Bradenton, Fla., as a 15-year-old freshman. He played for the U.S. U-17 team for 2½ years before returning home in January.

Jeffrey is among nine area athletes recognized by the magazine, which publishes its team in Sunday's edition.

The other boys are midfielder Greg Garza of Grapevine, midfielder Kaoru Forbess of Garland Naaman Forest, Ian Kalis of Jesuit and Hunter Jumper of Greenhill.

Melissa Henderson of Richardson Berkner, Ashley Rape of Greenhill, Courtney Barg of Plano West and Kim Castleberry of Prosper were named to the girls team.