Tyler Adams: “The U.S. Open Cup was a brawl, for sure, to say the least.” (Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

NEW YORK — For Tyler Adams, it was no contest.

Graduating from high school might be a once in a lifetime experience, but playing in the Hudson River Derby is an experience of a lifetime.

So, when he had to choose between wearing a gown for graduation from  Roy C. Ketcham High School in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. or wearing Red Bulls red for the match vs. New York City FC Saturday, the 18-year-old midfielder picked the latter.

“The game is more important for sure,” he said with a laugh.

Graduation ceremonies begin at 11 a.m., the soccer game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.

While Adams attended his prom will miss ceremonies in his New York village, but he figured he would be well-represented at graduation. His step brother is graduating from the high school.

“My whole family will be there with him,” he said during MLS Rivalry Week media day at the league offices Tuesday. “Obviously it’s important to them to be attending that. There will be a lot of people there.”

Still, Adams found time to attend his prom, which did not bump up against a game.

“He still needs to be a kid,” Red Bulls assistant coach Chris Armas said. “He’s been fast-tracked to this thing, but this is the life of top football.”

Then again, Adams isn’t your typical high school senior or graduate to be. He recently returned from Korea after helping the United States to a quarterfinal finish at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. He also has earned a spot in the Red Bulls’ Starting XI as an 18-year-old.

“It’s crazy when you look across the locker room and your teammate is 18-years-old, especially since I’m the second oldest on the team,” goalkeeper Luis Robles said. “But what’s even crazier is how important he is to us. I don’t think this just speaks to the roster of our team, it speaks to the quality of Tyler Adams. When we were able to make the trade, we did in the offseason [Dax McCarty to Chicago], I think most of it had to do with the fact that, you look at this guy, not only does he have technical ability, but there is a certain tenacity to him that in a way mimics what Dax brought in.

“Now, if you look at last year’s performances, Dax was huge for us. I believe he scored two goals in the 7-0 game and he continued to be the anchor to the midfield. And he has big shoes to fill. It also speaks to the confidence of this organization and his teammates of his ability to dictate, be a pivotal player in these games.”

Adams’ demeanor and maturity belies his years. During a nine-minute interview, he sounded more like a grizzled veteran than a wide-eyed teenager trying to make his mark on the game. He is just as calm on the field.

“That’s something that since I was young I always found very easy,” he said. “No matter what stage I am at there is more to accomplish, to say the least. For myself, I think there’s just bigger goals. No matter the stage, I just want to keep performing well and stay level headed.”

Since McCarty’s trade to the Fire, much has been placed on the 5-9, 150-lb. Adams’ shoulders. First, he became a regular with his club team and then performed admirably in the U-20 world championship.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” Adams said. “Dax was a great role model to me when I was started training with the team since I was 16-years-old. He’s done a lot to help me on and off the field. I saw his professionalism and help me mature throughout the years. I just want to keep performing to the best of my ability and continue to get better and learn from the guys who are here now. So obviously we have guys like Sacha [Kljestan] and Felipe who are veterans through the league and have done so much.”

Armas, who is running the show this week while head coach Jesse Marsch is pursuing his UEFA Coaching License in Poland, was a world-class holding midfielder during his playing days. So perhaps he can understand Adams a little more than your average teenage player.

“Many times you have a hard time not smiling when you watch him play, the energy and the fearlessness he has in his game and the rapid growth as a soccer player,” he said. “That has been fun to watch. You watch him recently with the national team and how confident and what a leader he was in that tournament. He grew in every game. So, he comes back to us, more of a leader, more of a man. You forget that he has graduation coming up in a few days.”

With the Red Bulls, Adams has learned to do another type of homework, which helps him prepare for the next game.

“I guess every so often you see a young guy looking like a seasoned veteran,” Armas said. “After the game he’s already watching his film. He messages that next day. He’s giving me minutes of what he watched, what he did right, what he did wrong. It’s incredible, his mentality. We’re lucky to see it first hand and we get to work with a guy [who] is so open and willing to work every day and improve and go after it. That’s what we can see that is very special about Tyler.”

Adams is expected to be in the Red Bulls Starting XI as he was in the 1-0 win over City in the Lamar Hunt/U.S. Open Cup last Wednesday.

“The U.S. Open Cup was a brawl, for sure to say the least,” he said. “I know that every game we play against them will be like that now. It was an exciting game. I was happy to be part of it.”

Given the Red Bulls’ success last week, Adams liked his side’s chances again Saturday.

“It was a hot night,” he said. “We feel our team has gotten fitter over the last couple of weeks now and I think as the game went on we tired them out a little bit. The high press started to take over. We created a lot of chances.”

He might be at an age where he would put posters up on his wall of some of the greatest soccer stars, but Adams is not star struck at all.

“When I’m on the field it’s about being competitive and winning the match no matter who I am playing against,” he said.

So, don’t expect Adams to be in awe of NYCFC striker David Villa, who is 17 years his senior.

“No, not at all,” he said. “It’s an exciting opportunity. He is a world-class player. He has played in so many different stages in the world, winning a World Cup. So many things I want to accomplish myself. To be on the same field with him will be great to play against him again.”

Who knows? The way Tyler Adams is going, someone soon just might be saying similar things about him.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.