Nami's Path to All-Freshman Honors

Nami Banks began playing soccer at age 2 and joined his first competitive team by age 6. He progressed through multiple levels of club soccer, eventually competing in ECNL, one of the strongest youth leagues in the country. By his senior year of high school, he had Division II and Division III offers but no Division I commitments, despite performing at a level he knew he could sustain.

In the spring of his senior year, UC Davis coaches saw him play at a regular-season match and invited him to a camp. Shortly after, he was offered the opportunity to join the program without guarantees. That same year, Nami competed in USL League Two with Monterey Bay FC 2, gaining experience against older and more physically developed players. Upon arriving at UC Davis, he earned a starting role during preseason and went on to start every match in his freshman season, receiving All-Big West Freshman honors.

As a HeyCoach athlete, Nami works with young players on technical development, game awareness, and the habits required to progress through competitive youth soccer. He brings direct experience navigating the transition from club soccer to college, and he understands what coaches look for when evaluating players. Parents can trust that their child is learning from a Division I starter who has recently gone through the same pathway and can offer practical, relevant guidance.