TOWAMENCIN- Rising senior Josh Jones has been turning heads from all over the nation with his ability on a soccer field.  His recruitment to play collegiate soccer featured many top programs in the country and on Sunday, he arrived to a decision.  Jones announced on Instagram that he has verbally committed to play soccer at the University of Louisville.

Last week, Jones took an unofficial visit to the university and it didn’t take long for him to realize that Louisville, Kentucky was the place for him.

“As soon as I walked on campus and saw the facilities, saw the stadium, I knew this is where I wanted to be.  They probably have the best facilities in all of college soccer, which obviously was a pretty nice drawing point.  And I just fell in love with the whole campus and city as a whole,” Jones said.

Jones has been playing for North Penn High School’s soccer team since his freshman year, and it was freshman year where collegiate soccer aspirations started to become a reality.

“I always knew I wanted to play college soccer when I was little, but I say the time I realized I could go Division One and play at a big time school was probably my freshman year.  I really transformed my game from freshman year to sophomore year and I think that’s when I gained a lot of confidence and knew that I could play D1 eventually,” Jones explained.

Scouts started to take notice of the 6’5″ midfielder and colleges were calling from Philadelphia to Los Angeles.

“My final four was Temple, Penn State, Louisville, and Army West Point.  Before that I was talking to UCLA, Villanova, Princeton, and Lafayette.  I cut them about two months ago to really narrow down my list and then I decided from Penn State, Temple, Louisville, and Army.” Jones explained.

The  Cardinals have been a successful program as they have appeared in the NCAA tournament every year since 2007, except 2015.  Jones is hoping to make an immediate impact and contribute to the winning effort once he joins the Cardinals in the fall of 2021.

“They need a center back and a holding defensive mid when I come my freshman year.  They said those two spots will be open because they have two senior center backs rights now that they are going to lose.  I’m going to compete for a starting spot from day one and I’m going to go into preseason with the mindset that I’m going to beat out someone older than me and start from day one,” Jones said.

Louisville has provided Jones with the right fit for his college years, but Jones also picked the Cardinals for life after college.

“Louisville has produced over thirty professional players just in the MLS alone.  That was also a big reason why I chose there, just because of the development and how they transform their players into the next level because obviously playing in the ACC, you’re playing against all the other best and big time schools in the country like Duke, UNC, Wake Forest, and that’s where a majority of the guys end up signing from, is from the ACC schools.  So, I thought that if I go there, that would give me the best chance to eventually move into the pro ranks and also win a couple of national championships when I’m there,” Jones explained.

In less than a year, Jones has accomplished two major goals in his life.  First he held up the state championship trophy this past fall and he now has committed to a division one soccer program.  So what’s next?

“Well hopefully we can go back to back this year, that’s obviously our goal for soccer because since we won it last year, some people might think we’re complacent and that this year is whatever since we lost a lot of good stars and a lot of good players, but that’s not the mindset me or any of the other guys are going into.  Now that we won it, that’s a standard each year and anything less than that would just be a disappointment,” Jones said.

High school sports in the fall is still not a certainty, but Jones and his North Penn teammates are confident that they will be back on the field to defend their state title.

“I was (worried) until about a month ago, but then when PIAA released their press release for Health and Safety Plans, then I’m thinking it’s going to happen.  That’s what all of us are thinking so I’m really hoping we eventually have a season.  I know it probably won’t look the same as years previous, but something is better than nothing,” Jones said.

After, the fall soccer season it will be back to the basketball court.  Jones fully intends to play basketball this upcoming school year, something his commitment does not affect.

“They actually love that I play basketball and I told them that I was going to play my senior year and they loved that.  They like that I play two sports, so  I’m really excited for my senior year of basketball,” Jones said.

Another milestone has been accomplished for Jones and his focuses will now turn to a senior year where all eyes will be on him as a leader on two sports teams for the Knights.

“I would just like to thank my parents and everyone that has helped me get to where I am today because without them, I don’t know where I would be,” Jones stated.