Daily Pilot High School Athlete of the Week:

Jack McBean describes himself as a target forward, meaning the intended receiver of passes into the attacking zone.

But, lately, observers might take the term one step further and call the Corona del Mar High freshman an on-target forward.

He has certainly been both for the Sea Kings this season, particularly in the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs.

McBean, who had four goals in the regular season, has matched that total in the postseason, scoring the first goal of each of the top-seeded Sea Kings’ playoff wins.

McBean’s offensive surge has helped CdM (23-1-1), ranked No. 9 nationally by ESPN RISE, roll into tonight’s Division IV title game with La Mirada (23-0-4) at Mission Viejo High at 7.

“Jack has had a heck of a year and he keeps getting better day by day,” first-year CdM Coach George Larsen said. “He has done some pretty amazing things lately, scoring in all four playoff games. I don’t know if there is another freshman that has had that big of an impact on a team.”

Larsen, who has also coached McBean in the Newport Beach-based Slammers club program, said McBean’s on-field maturity transcends his status as a varsity newcomer.

“He’s a very, very smart player,” Larsen said of the 6-foot, 170-pounder, who is a member of the Southern California Olympic Development Program under-15 team and has been invited to join the youth national team. “Though he just turned 15, he understands the game more so than most kids out there. His dad [Scotty] did a great job of teaching him soccer when he was young. [Jack] watches tons of soccer on TV and he is a real student of the game. He knows things other players are not even aware of.”

Jack McBean said his father, born and raised in Scotland before coming to America at age 21, helped give him an appreciation for the game.

“He sort of started me off, watching games with him when I was younger,” said Jack McBean, who noted he began playing AYSO before he attended school. “He also played the game with me in the backyard. Just watching games made me smarter on the field.”

Among the subtleties that sets McBean apart, Larsen said, is his ability to seal off defenders to gain and maintain possession in the box.

“He plays with his back to the goal and posts up better than any forward,” Larsen said. “He has the ability to use his body and hold off defenders and make a play. These are usually 17- and 18-year-old kids he has to hold off, set them up, then make them pay with a pass, dribble or shot.”

McBean’s scoring chances have increased of late, largely due to greater defensive attention on fellow forward Reed Williams, a UCLA-bound senior who has 28 goals and 12 assists.

“Everybody has been keying in on Reed in the playoffs and Jack is holding teams accountable for the attention they are paying to Reed,” Larsen said.

McBean also acknowledges that Williams’ ability to attract defenders, has helped open up opportunities for him.

“[Williams] has helped my game a lot,” McBean said. “He’s such a good finisher, he draws so many defenders, and that leaves me more space. And when I get the ball, I look to try to play it through to him, because he’s usually making a run. It’s easy to play with him.”

The unselfishness that has helped McBean amass 11 assists is another of his strengths, Larsen said.

“He’s a real humble kid and, because he understands the game so well and is such a good kid, he always does what the team needs,” Larsen said. “If that means getting someone else the ball, he does it. If it means stepping up and finishing, he does that too. His teammates trust him and it has been pretty cool to watch.”

McBean said the support of his teammates has helped make his transition to high school soccer seamless.

“Being out there with my teammates helps me feel like it’s not only me out there,” the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week said. “We have a really good team, so the guys around me help take the pressure off.”

And, with the pressure off, McBean has increasingly been on target.