Dean Chong '20 Recruiting Profile

    My goal is to compete at the highest collegiate level possible, irrespective of division 1, 2, or 3. I would like to earn the opportunity to play, to contribute and to be part of the team. I aspire to be the best student-athlete I can be, maintaining strong grades with a high GPA and exceeding my potential.

    What makes me a good candidate for your team is that I already play a high level of soccer, but am willing to work hard, learn and grow with every new experience. I have been playing soccer year round for over 12 years at all levels in many states and countries around the world. I have the dedication it takes to win.

    I am a versatile player. I can play offense, midfield, or defense. And if you need me to play in a position I am not comfortable in, I won't hesitate to try and help the team there. The team and the job that the team needs me to do always comes first. Sometimes that means hanging back to defend and other times that means carrying further than you should. While I am naturally a 6 or a 2, I am comfortable on the wing or in the 10 or in the center back. Knowing these positions helps me anticipate how positions shift as the game flows.

    I have natural speed, endurance, and agility. I was never the the tallest or biggest kid on the pitch. When I was young, I had to work harder, be faster, have better touch, be more predictive, be more aggressive and move in and out of open spaces better than others to compensate for my size. My early coach told me that he could not train speed, but could teach me to play soccer before he recruited me for his team. As I grew, I never quite, caught up in height at 5'6", but am now at a weight that I find "optimal" for the pitch and my speed, has stayed fast.

    But, what makes me different from other "fast" candidates you may meet is my work ethic, my academics, and my positive mentality. I am a person who hates to lose and always puts 100% effort into everything I do. Whether it is something I like or not. This applies to my athletics and academics. This work ethic reflects in my grades and GPA. I approach everything with a positive mental attitude because I believe that in the end, positivity helps me to succeed in places I struggle or have difficulty.

    I have been training for my whole life, preparing myself mentally and physically to embark on this amazing journey to attend a great college and play the sport that I love. I sincerely hope I get to meet you in person to see if I am a good fit for your program.

Best Regards,

Dean K. Chong