Safe-Hub's first college soccer player earned his shot the hard way
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Photo: Courtesy of Safe-Hub
RJ Figueroa can play virtually every position in soccer. But to earn a spot in college, he had to learn how to sell himself, too.
Why it matters: Figueroa is the first Safe-Hub player to go on to play college soccer — a major milestone for the Kensington youth development organization that started six years ago.
The big picture: It's been a red-letter week for Figueroa, who just collected his diploma from Community Academy of Philadelphia.
- This fall, he's headed to East Stroudsburg University, where he'll join the men's soccer team.
Reality check: Many college prospects get recruited out of high school. But Figueroa wasn't a highly touted player, so he had to do most of the legwork himself.
- He spent nearly a year emailing college coaches across the region, sending film and attending skill showcases to put himself in front of more coaches — until he got the ear of East Stroudsburg's coach, Tom Mustac.
The two exchanged emails for months before Figueroa visited the campus and decided it was a good fit for him athletically and academically.
- The college has a sports management program, which he plans to major in.
Flashback: When Figueroa committed to East Stroudsburg, one of the first people he told was Katie Van Aken, a former college soccer player who had coached him at Safe-Hub for the past two seasons.
- "I preach to players that anyone can play in college — if they want," she tells Axios. "I could tell he was super-proud of that."
Zoom in: Safe-Hub coaches taught Figueroa — an undersize player who relies on his roadrunner-like speed to get around bigger, stronger defenders — more than how to play soccer.
- They helped him develop the confidence and advocacy skills he needed during his college search.
- "I definitely wouldn't be as good as I am" without the program, he says.
What's ahead: Safe-Hub wants to keep positioning itself as an incubator for the region's most talented players.
- Being able to point to alums like Figueroa only gives the organization more credibility, Van Aken says.
- "The more you see it, the more you know it's possible, and the more the kids can dream."