Grove Soccer United Showcase – Standout Attackers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Justin Grove grew up the Richmond area, playing for the local youth soccer clubs and at Clover Hill High School, where he played for Mike Anderson for three years. Yes, the same Mike Anderson that just led the Cosby HS boys to their 2nd state title this past Spring. As a very talented young player, Justin decided to keep his college choice local, and he moved on to play at the University of Richmond. "Local" is not how I would describe the next several years of Justin's career, as he would spend 2011-2014 at Red Star FC in France, and 2015-2017 in South Africa, playing for The Magic FC and Grassy Park United. In 2018, Grove came back stateside to play for the Charlottesville Alliance, before ending his career right back where it started, in Richmond, VA, with the Kickers pro team. I am sure Justin's playing career could be a story all to itself, but that's not what this is about.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":210049,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/08/IMG_2704.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-210049" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Carly Varela, Grove Soccer United</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Along his travels, Justin opened Grove Soccer Academy in South Africa, a training academy and club. He always aspired to bring the top players from that academy to the states, and give them an opportunity to play and study here. A few years ago, Grove Soccer United started growing here in Richmond. After personal training sessions, a U-23 Summer team, a U-19 squad playing in the NPSL, and a few more steps that I am over-simplifying for the sake of getting to the point... Grove Soccer United now has players competing from U-15 to U-23, with a new girls program kicking off as well. They have also begun bringing players from abroad, and giving them a chance to learn a new culture, study, and, of course, play the beautiful game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With that in mind, Grove Soccer United held its first International Showcase camp last week at River City Sportsplex in Richmond, VA. Scouts from various local schools, including Lees McRae, Mary Washington, Hampden-Sydney, Randolph Macon, and Virginia State were in attendance. Four pro teams were also present from France, UAE, and NISA. Approximately 75 attendees played over 4 days on 3 distinct fields at the camp. They ranged from U-15 players getting their first ID Camp experience, to pro players looking for a new contract. As an outsider being exposed to the behind the scenes version of Grove Soccer for the first time, the professionalism and overall atmosphere of the camp stood out right away. The presentation was well done, coaches were organized, and the players were the right mix of locked in, while still having fun. We will start with the attackers that stood out at the showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["150884"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":210349,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66bac3d98dc67"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">James is a winger that is a nightmare to stay in front of for a defender in a 1v1. His quickness, strength, and finishing ability make him stand out right away. Blalock has very good control and dribbling skill. He also displays very good passing ability in the final third. James has the ability to be the key that unlocks opposing defenses. He can create moments that only a select few players can in the area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["17127"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":210058,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66bac3d98dbf8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Chase primarily played as a lone striker at the camp. He has great size and strength to hold the ball up and enough quickness to create space and get a shot off when he is in a 1v1 situation. Prado has also played in the midfield throughout his career. This shows as he has good vision and passing skill to spread the ball out wide when he senses additional defenders near him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":210686,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Joshua Parker","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Collegiate","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Grove Soccer United","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66bbc7b9f040f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Parker is a tall, athletic forward with much more quickness and agility than most players his height. He has a great mixture of length and balance, which makes it tough for defenders to keep up with him. Joshua can also be a menace in the air on set pieces, as evidenced by his game winning goal in the VISAA state final against St. Christopher's last Fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->