Jack Hammele '16 Recruiting Profile

My name is John Hammele but I go by "Jack." I am half way through my senior year at Bayside Academy, a college prep school in lower Alabama.  I don't know what I'd like to do professionally so I am looking at liberal arts colleges with business major opportunities and a very good academic reputation.  What I do know is that I'd like to play college soccer and am truly happiest when I am playing the game.  

Starting as a Freshman and through my Junior HS seasons, I started in every game.   My High School coach, Jamie Ferguson played college soccer and professional soccer in England  for the Newcastle organization and has been an excellent coach and mentor to me and to our team.  He played professionally as a defender, which has been incredibly beneficial to me with his level of coaching.  He feels, as do my club coaches, that I can play soccer at any level in college.  I'm a natural Center Back but I can play any defensive position.  This past spring, our HS team went to the Alabama State HS Semifinals and lost to the subsequent state winning team in the semi final game.  My biggest highlight of high school soccer so far was being named to the AHSAA North-South roster.  I played in July 2015 for the South team.  This team has won the match 2 times in about 15 years.  We played to a tie.  I started in this game.

Club season Highlights:  

Fall 2015:  Gulf Coast Rangers U18D1 - State Championship runner up.  Defeated Regional Premier League and top notch teams to get to the final game.  Scored 2 goals in regular season.  Our club coach was college head coach of University of Mobile, Daniel Whelan.  He feels strongly, I can play at any level in college.  My Director of Coaching is Gerardo Flores, UMobile Asst. coach.

Fall 2014:  Daphne Strike U17D2 - Team Captain.  Won Alabama State Cup,  State Champions.  Went on to Region 3 President's Cup Play in the summer.  Event was canceled due to rain.  Director of Coaching was Gerardo Flores.  Head Club Coach:  Joe Barber.  (Coach Joe is a former semi professional player and current coach for Eastern Florida State Junior College. ) In 10 games of fall 2014 state league play, our club defense allowed only 8 goals -- the lowest goal to game ratio of any in our league.  We allowed 5 of those goals in one game alone when we were testing a new keeper.  I also scored two game winning goals off headers this season from corners.

Daniel Whelan, Jamie Ferguson and Gerardo Flores have brought an extremely high level of coaching to our small area.  Coach Whelan and Ferguson are English trained players, who have played at some of the highest levels in England and feel this is my style of play as well. 

At 6'1" I try to win everything in the air, make accurate passes and smart plays which keep possession and start runs.  I am a tactical, smart, basic and non-flashy yet effective player.  In my position, you can not be a selfish player -- you have to make good decisions.  Good positioning is key to great defense, and good defense is what wins championships.  I am constantly working a great deal on strength, speed and agility training with my trainer to help me with my 1v1 defending and also on my tackles. 

I am truly blessed to go to Bayside Academy, a college prep school, and also to have found the level of play and coaching in this small part of the world that is top-notch. I am seeking a 4-year college that has a good variety of academic choices with a solid and selective academic reputation.  A college that has these, and a reputable, established soccer program would be a perfect fit for me.