About 40 minutes of soccer in Raleigh, N.C., has forever changed the lives of Edward Opoku and Wes Bergevin.

Today, those two high school seniors whose backgrounds and situations are diametrically opposed shared one unique experience — signing national letters of intent with NCAA Division I programs that didn’t even know they existed just a few months earlier.

Opoku signed for a scholarship at reigning NCAA Division I champion Virginia. Bergevin inked a commitment for a roster spot at Penn State.

And both players have the High School All-American Game to thank.

Edward Opoku

Rewind to early December 2014. 

Opoku, a flashy forward with great quickness who attends a boarding school in rural New York, was teamed up with Bergevin, a sure-handed goalkeeper from a large Chicago suburban high school, in the fourth annual High School All-American Game. Both players entered the match uncommitted to college, and both were receiving limited interest.

As part of a 21-person roster, Bergevin played a half in goal and Opoku frequently was on and off the field. But in their limited action, both enhanced their recruiting outlook. Bergevin shared the win in goal while Opoku scored the match-winning goal and earned MVP honors.

“It was unbelievable, right after the game, there were calls, missed calls, texts, voice messages,” said Opoku, a native of Ghana who came to the United States four years ago as part of the Right to Dream Academy. He has spent the past four years at Millbrook School in Millbrook, N.Y., a town of 1,500 residents located about 90 miles north of New York City. 

“That game changed everything There was college interest [before the All-American Game], but not those schools,” said Opoku, who was contacted by three of the NCAA Final Four programs within days of the All-American Game. “The experience … it was amazing.”

Bergevin, son of NHL executive and former player Marc Bergevin, was more proactive in his recruiting approach after being named to the High School All-American Game roster. He had just helped Hinsdale Central (Hinsdale, Ill.), a school of nearly 3,000 students, to the Illinois Class AAA state title. Bergevin emailed coaches of college programs in which he was interested to let them know of his selection to the All-American Game, which included Penn State. The Nittany Lions staff was present at the contest, which was played at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh the same weekend as the NCAA Men’s College Cup. Penn State’s presence was multifaceted. On one hand, there was talent to watch. On the other, it was a social call as one of the game’s participants previously had committed to Penn State.

“Coach [Michael] Behonick was at the All-American game and about a week later we were on the phone, arranging a visit,” Bergevin said. “I believe [playing in] the All-American Game is the sole [reason] of catching Penn State’s interest. It was great to see how I compared with other players, and it was a tremendous opportunity for me.”

Bergevin and Opoku aren’t the first players to be “discovered” at the event. In the inaugural year, Shane O’Neill from Colorado was a late roster add, and an offer from Virginia came following his MVP performance. He ultimately signed a professional contract and is playing for the Colorado Rapids. In addition, he’s been part of the U.S. Under-23 National Team. Every year, there are under-recruited or unnoticed players who end up with scholarships after their performances at the event.

Brett Becia was another player whose participation in the 2014 event resulted in an NCAA Division I opportunity with Army.

For High School All-American Game organizer Eric Stratman, the outcomes for players like O’Neill, Bergevin, Opoku and Becia is the impetus for the event. 

“The process never stops for me,” Stratman said. “I’m already starting on players to watch for the 2015 game. It's always touch-and-go to get the financials covered for the event and the whole experience, but then you see kids like Edward, Wes and Brett, and you realize that all the hard work you put into it does make a difference for some of the players to be able to play soccer at the next level."

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