Benjamin Smith '26 Recruiting Profile

My name is Ben Smith, winner of the 2022 USYS WV State Cup, second place winner of the 2023 and 2024 USYS WV State Cup, top student in terms of my GPA, grades and test scores. (see transcript and PSAT attached scores) Additionally, I play starting left back for my travel team, tournaments and GWHS soccer. As a result of playing basketball also for years,  I developed outstanding ball skills, speed, strength, and endurance which help make me an excellent soccer defensive player.  I am left handed which makes me able to play sports with strong dominance in both my hands and feet. Training for sports and playing sports all year long is something that I have been doing for a long time.  My commitment extends beyond practices, trainings, and games. I will practice and train myself for hours on my driveway basketball court and on local turf soccer fields throughout the school year.  During my 8th grade year at John Adams Middle School, my coach asked me to switch from forward to defense because he needed me to play that position. We won every single game, against 12 county middle schools and some private schools, and went on to play and win as County Champions for the 2021 season.  With me playing right defense, only two goals were scored against my team and me all season, they were a penalty kick and a corner kick. In March of 2022,  I joined FC Alliance South travel team and played outside back as a starter.  My 2008 Boys FC Alliance North travel team won the WV State Cup in the summer with me playing outside back as a starter and then we went on to play in the Eastern Regional Championships in Barboursville, WV.  Over a year ago, my FC Alliance 2008 Boys South travel team placed second in the 2023 WV State Cup, and we went on to play in the Eastern President's Cup in Philadephia, PA winning 2 out of 3 games against top ranked teams.  I started and played defense in basically the entire games for the State Cup and the Eastern President's Cup.  My sophomore year, I tried out and made the GWHS Boy's Soccer team.  I played JV soccer and lead my team to an undefeated season in WV, blocking and diverting several attempts on my team's goal all season long.  Additionally, three JV team players and I were honored by being allowed to practice with Varsity all the way up until the last day of the season when Varsity won the WV AAA State Championship in Beckley, WV. This school year I played Varsity high school soccer and we won sectionals.  I currently play for WV United, USL II Academy team and the WVFC 2008 travel team.  The goals that I have for my future include winning all-state player, winning High School Soccer State Championships while at GWHS, continuing to win travel tournaments and playing soccer in college leading my team to win and become champions!