The CESA/Adidas initiative to expose club players to the eyes of 40+ collegiate programs in a single setting and as early as possible is a tremendously positive step for the development of the game across the state.

Like ODP and tournaments, it's another opportunity for a player to showcase his/her skill set.

As I've previously stated, "competition breeds excellence". If clubs don't continually raise the bar at every level then everyone achieves a lower level of success.

As to the issue of recruiting, if interest on the part of a player in a team and/or a coach or interest on the part of a coach in a player are both handled with clear communication, then the best interest of the player is ultimately served.

Have a passion and vision for excellence, supported by commitment and hard work by absolutely everyone and a high degree of success is likely to follow. Without it . . . well, we all know what generally happens in that case.

Who among us can say we're able to go through the day not striving to be better today than we were yesterday? If players and clubs aren't living by this rule when it comes to their own development, they have no chance of becoming better.

CUFC recently organized a scrimmage for the U16's with Cobb, which was held in the Clemson stadium. Last summer, CUFC organized what I assume will be an annual event for SC vs NC all-star game in conjunction with the Battery. It's great to see such club vision and commitment delivered to the player community.

When I think back to when I was 15, absolutely nothing like this was available in any sport. Thank you to everyone who makes it happen for the players. Looking forward to the CESA Combine!