Stallions’ Sinclair is Player of the Year

Published March 30th, 2008

By Mario Sarmento
SPORTS EDITOR

Hasani Sinclair’s numbers were slightly down, but he had a good reason for it.

Sinclair, an American Heritage-Delray junior forward, missed five regular season matches when he was called on to play for the U.S. National U18 team.

He still produced 30 goals and 12 assists, filled in admirably at sweeper when the Stallions needed the backline solidified, and led his team to the Class 2A state semifinals for the third time in his three years at the school.

For all this, Sinclair is the Boca Raton News Boys Soccer Player of the Year in 2008.

About the only thing that went wrong for Sinclair was the season’s ending, as for the first time in three years his team failed to reach the championship match.

The Stallions haven’t been on top since Sinclair’s freshman year, which eats at him.

“I wanted to get four rings straight,” he said.

As Sinclair has matured into adulthood, so have his soccer skills.

He picked up the game as a six-year-old, but he admits he wasn’t great at first.

“I wasn’t a dominant player, but I just kept working hard, and it paid off,” he said.

By the time he reached American Heritage as a freshman, Sinclair knew he had what it took to excel. And so did his first-year coach, Alvin James.

“I knew about his potential,” James said. “He always had good technical ability. Every year he gets bigger, stronger, faster. His awareness around the goal is very good.”

Sinclair said he’s always had that knack, the special trait that James calls “composure around the goal.”

Often times he’ll shield a defender from the ball with his body, waiting to either make an offensive move or dish the ball off to an open opponent.

“I don’t really get nervous,” he said.

“I’m kind of used to pressure now from playing soccer so many times in tournaments, all this other stuff. Playing in front of the goal is nothing now.”

Sinclair’s best performance came in the most pressure-packed situation, and it was right after he had returned from a tournament in Mexico as part of the national team.

The Stallions fell quickly behind 2-0 against St. Edward’s in the regional semifinal, only to have Sinclair score two goals to lead a furious rally that culminated in a 3-2 overtime win.

In that match, he also moved to sweeper to help solidify the defense and preserve the victory.

“Hasani really rallied the team,” James said. “I thought we couldn’t win.”

Sinclair wants to be a more vocal leader next season, but he already provides leadership just rhough his play and training habits.

“He’s out there working his butt off,” James said.

“He’s never one to take practice off. The other players see that and try to rise to his level.”

Sinclair would like to take his game to yet another level after high school.

He wants to lead his team to another state championship, and he wants to follow in the footsteps of good friend Josmer Altidore and play on the U.S. National Team.

His goal is to make the team for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

For now Sinclair has several options. Wake Forest, SMU, Furman and USF are among the schools that have offered him a full scholarship, and he would like to play professionally overseas someday.

“It depends on how everything comes,” he said.

“If I get a chance to go pro, I’m going to try.”