Sechelt's Jeremy Izad is showcasing his skills for NCAA scouts at an all-star camp at the University of Santa Barbara this week.
One U.S. university has already contacted Jeremy, who turns 17 in September, and he's hoping more schools will take an interest after this week. "Weber University in Tampa have already said they'd like to see me in September for a training session," Jeremy said last Friday before leaving for California.
The elite camp will feature some of the best 15- to 18-year-old soccer players from the U.S. The camp also comes off the heels of a training session in Monaco for Jeremy.
Jeremy and his family were on vacation in Southern France recently. While they were there, Jeremy got a chance to participate in two training sessions with Monaco's U17/18 youth reserve club.
"We used to live in the area, so we knew who to get in contact with," said mom Julie. "Jeremy's resume was passed along and while we were down there we got a call and the invite. The next day Jeremy hit the field. When he was a child I took him to this field and he got a chance to see all the pro players. Now he got the chance to be on that field."
Jeremy said it was an amazing experience. "When I first got there you could tell this was a professional, first-class organization," he said. "I went right into the locker room and I waited for what seemed like an eternity. Then all the players arrived and when they got into the locker room they all greeted me and welcomed me. After a hard, two-hour practice, one of the coaches asked me back for another session the next day. It was a great opportunity."
For the past three summers, Jeremy has competed for the Van-couver Whitecaps Super League Y teams. With the soccer landscape getting very competitive and the window to ink a college scholarship closing fast with Jeremy entering his Grade 12 school year this September at Chatelech, the Izads made the decision to not play with the Whitecaps this year, choosing to seek some top level training opportunities on their own.
The family is grateful for everything the Whitecaps organization has done for Jeremy.
"The Whitecaps name is known around the world for being a top-level, professional soccer organization," said Julie. "Everything that Jeremy has accomplished with them certainly looks good on his resume, and that helped him get these opportunities."
