Jacob Raphan '23 Recruiting Profile

I believe that I am an ideal recruit due to the “3 dimensional” aspect of my game as a goalkeeper. Although I am very strong with my hands and my dives, I am also very confident and poised when playing with the ball at my feet. I make quick reads, but I do not rush as I go through my progressions in order to avoid creating dangerous opportunities for the opposition.  

I am also a strong leader and communicate extremely well with my teammates.   I am always providing my teammates with instructions and encouragement during the game to help put them and the team in the best position to succeed.  I do not hesitate to provide my teammates with constructive criticism, but I also make sure to pick them up when they are down or make a mistake.  I also am quick to praise my teammates when they do something well.

The above skills helped me become the starting goalie of my high school's varsity team during my sophomore year.  After I became the starter, our team went 7-1-1 and we had three shutouts including a double overtime 1-0 victory in our conference quarterfinals.  We made it to the conference semi-finals for the first time in over a decade where we lost 1-0. 

I worked very hard during my club season and during the summer to put myself in the best position possible to have an even stronger Junior season. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with mononucleosis after our first game and was prohibited from playing in games for almost the entire season.  Even though I was not able to contribute on the field because of my diagnosis, I continued to contribute to the team as much as I could.  As soon as I was cleared to attend practices, I did everything I could to help the team. 

As a result, I was named a Captain for our 2022 varsity season.  In that role, I am helping to coordinate team activities and am in constant contact with our coach about ideas for the upcoming season.

In addition to soccer, I am an avid basketball player and have been the starting point guard on my high school varsity team since my Sophomore season.  I also spend a lot of time at the gym in order to stay in the best shape possible.

I also give my best effort in the classroom.  I have made the High Honor Roll every quarter of my Freshman, and Sophomore and Junior years, with the exception of the first quarter of my Sophomore and Junior year when I made Honor Roll.  I have taken and am currently enrolled in many AP and Honors classes.  My weighted GPA is a 101.808 and my unweighted GPA is a 96.645. I am undecided about what I want to study in college, but I know that I will try my hardest to succeed in whatever field I choose.

I am also very proud of my community and give back as much as I can.  I spend a lot of time at our town's local JCC and volunteer at its basketball clinics for elementary school children and those with special needs.  At these clinics, we teach these children the game of basketball and how to be a good teammate. 

I am a founding member of the SASO (Student Athlete Service to Others) Club. Our mission is to provide service and support to student athletes who may be struggling in school. This includes providing around the clock tutoring to struggling student athletes, establishing homework centers for athletes prior to 3 PM practice, and holding workshops regarding different ways student athletes can successfully budget their time while keeping a healthy balance between sports and school.

I also worked on a project through my school's DECA club that focused on how the JCC could maintain and increase enrollment in its basketball clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our project, which incorporated social media marketing and outreach and traditional marketing methods, provided the JCC with a roadmap that it used to increase enrollment.  Our project finished 5th in the New York State DECA competition. 

I believe that my dedication, leadership and willingness to try my hardest on the soccer field and in the classroom and desire to be a contributing member of my community make me the ideal candidate for any collegiate soccer program.