Zakari Smith '23 Recruiting Profile

I grew up in a soccer house.  Dad played in college and coached the local high school team and made time to coach my friends and me too. My pathway is unique as I spent my first 12 years in a small town without a lot of soccer opportunities. Eventually I had to travel 3 hours round trip 4 or 5 times a week for training and games.  At 14 years of age I spent six months in Barcelona, Spain at TOVO academy. That expanded my understanding of the game and put me on track to reach higher.  After two years at Barca Academy in Arizona playing in the MLS Next league, I spent my senior year with Phoenix Rising U19 MLS Next and USL team.  I made one appearance for the USL team on an academy contract getting a taste for professional soccer, a dream come true.

I'm a gym rat and work on my game year round. I've lived away from my family in order to play at a higher level than what is available where I'm from. I'm very comfortable being away from home and being in charge of my schedule.  I'm proud of the work ethic I've had in order to reach the goals I've continued to set for myself.

I've dedicated this gap year to improving my body and game to withstand the rigors of either D1 or professional soccer.  I'm looking for a school that will challenge me and allow me to set new goals that will surely include helping a college program achieve theirs.  I'm a willing defender that can play all positions in defense. I have experience as a younger player in the midfield, I think that has helped me be very calm on the backline and can pick out a pass that puts playmakers in positions of success.

Most of all, I love this game and I'm positive I'm the type of player a coach loves to have in their side.  I train hard, and I play hard. I'd love to put my game to the test at the highest level available to me.  Thank you for any opportunity I'm offered to show what I'm made of.