Lucas Jones '23 Recruiting Profile

[NOTE:   In December 2021, I had to return to San Francisco and to my family due to personal family reasons.  As a result, I had to withdraw from Barca Academy in Arizona.  The training and opportunity I had at Barca was excellent and I miss my teammates and coaches.  Upon returning to San Francisco, I was accepted to the San Francisco Glens Academy MLS Next U19 program and am now playing as the starting goalie during the MLS Next winter season.]

Ever since I first touched a soccer ball, I have wanted to play professional soccer.  It all started when my older brother started playing the sport. We would go to the field and he would make me play goalkeeper.  Although I hated playing goalkeeper at the time, I quickly developed a fondness and great appreciation for the beautiful, unique position.   My older brother and his teammates trying to kick the ball past me made me tougher. Since then, I have constantly pushed myself to become a better player on the field and in the goal.  I have always been willing to do more and work harder than the people close to my level.  And for the those who are above my level, I have always treated them with respect and learned from their gameplay.  A coach once told me that the best goalkeepers watch other goalkeepers and incorporate things they learn into their style of gameplay. 

At age 10, I joined a U.S. Soccer Development Academy team.  It was extremely demanding as we had to travel all over northern California to play other DA teams.  I loved it.  It also required me to play up an age group.  Ever since then, I have played with kids older and bigger.   As I got bigger and better, I have been asked to guest play for teams that were two or three years older than me.    Unlike most goalies, I consider myself to be technically as capable as all the other players on my team.  I want the ball at my feet and I want to be able to start the attack from the back.     

My hard work and determination in soccer has also paid off academically. Though I did not realize this until recently, school is just as important, if not more important than soccer. I had to learn this through strife and numerous obstructions. Through these difficulties, I learned that failure is ok and I developed a work ethic like no other kid my age. 

My coaches tell me I have good instincts, that I am a team leader and if I continue to work hard, there's no limit to how far I can go.   One coach said that in his 30 years of coaching, he's never seen a goalie as capable and skilled as me.   I have prepared my entire life to play at the highest level and I will continue to work until I make it there.