when they tell you a small % of boys make it to D1 that's is a real statistic.
Even less will go pro. Maybe 1 kid out of a 500 (USL2, USL, IITeam)
The bullshit lies your club team feed you are real.
And well if you have a high school (private school ) coach telling you he'll get you into D1 school , shame on you for listening to him.
I know multiple kids at different ELITE schools and no one in that class has signed yet.
It's not the disadvantage of birth year , its the serial lies by these clubs and coaches in America, their only goal is to fund their club, they know very early who they will push forward.
Just pay attention to social media PATS used to post the most commits, they barely do know , same with the other team in that area, forget about so cal reds....