Future Stars or False Hopes: a Look at North America’s Up-and-Coming Players
Last December and January, a wave of roster changes in North American esports gave rise to several unproven players being dubbed as “up-and-comers,” “young talent,” and “future stars.” In this article, we will examine seven of these players, evaluate their reputations, and assess how their potential has fared in the last five months of competitive play.
Kenneth “koosta” Suen
Known for his skills as an awper, Koosta gained significant attention in late 2015. His reputation skyrocketed after a series of impressive performances, culminating in his hard-carry performance at the first Americas Minor, where his team Enemy emerged victorious. However, despite the hype surrounding him, Koosta has failed to live up to his potential in recent months.
Henrique “Hen1” Teles
Hen1’s rise to fame began with his standout performances for Games Academy (now known as Immortals) in the RGN Pro Series Championship. While he initially struggled to replicate his online success in LAN events, Hen1 showcased his exceptional awping abilities in CEVO Gfinity Professional Season 9 and DreamHack Austin. He may not be at the level of the top awpers, but his talent has solidified his status as a top player in North America.
Jake “Stewie2k” Yip
Stewie2k’s aggressive and unconventional playstyle drew attention even before he joined Cloud9. Although his initial performances were underwhelming, his inclusion in the starting lineup coincided with an improvement in the team’s performance. Stewie2k’s recent LAN showings demonstrate his potential to become an elite player in North America.
Daniel “roca” Gustaferri
Roca gained popularity through clips of his impressive gameplay on Reddit. However, since his departure from Complexity, he has not had the opportunity to prove himself in a competitive lineup. Although his recent move to Echo Fox is a step in the right direction, Roca has yet to live up to his previous reputation as a “future star.”
Hunter “SicK” Mims
SicK’s talent became evident during his time in Denial eSports. While he has been inconsistent, his performances at LAN events, such as the Americans Minor, have validated his inclusion in a mid to upper tier North American team.
Timothy “autimatic” Ta
Autimatic has been an active player in the professional scene for a while and has not necessarily been an up-and-coming player. Although he has been a solid contributor for TSM, he has not stood out as a standout player. His value as a player remains stable, but not necessarily on the rise.
Danny “fRoD” Montaner
fRoD’s attempt at a comeback in CS:GO did not go as expected. Despite his previous success in 1.6, his performances with Complexity showed a lack of form and effectiveness. He was eventually removed from the starting roster, and his future in CS:GO remains uncertain.