April 16, 2024 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Chattanooga FC News Release
Jalen James speaks on his journey from being a trialist to becoming a hat-trick hero.
Fans could be forgiven for assuming that Jalen James, who became only the fifth player to score a first-half hat-trick in MLS NEXT Pro history in Saturday’s 6-2 win over Inter Miami II, was an expected starter for Sporting Director and Head Coach Rod Underwood’s plans well ahead of the 2024 season.
The truth, however, is different.
James came to Chattanooga at the beginning of February having received an invitation from the club to be a trialist during the team’s 2024 preseason campaign.
The former US U-15 national team member spent his first professional season in 2023 with Lexington Sporting Club in USL League One, making 20 total appearances and recording one assist. While he views that first professional season as a year of growth, it was ultimately challenging and full of adversity and uncertainty.
He knew it was time for a new challenge.
From trialist to signing
“I knew Rod was putting together a team that had a bunch of quality players,” said James. “I knew it was going to be a challenge. When you’re on trial you don’t know too much about what the coaches are thinking. I wanted to come in and perform my best. I knew I had to be myself.”
Everything changed for James after the Blastoff Battle preseason tournament in Huntsville in mid-February. He drew and converted a late penalty kick to score the only goal of the game in the team’s opener against South Georgia Tormenta. Two days later, in the team’s second and final game of the tournament against the University of Alabama-Huntsville, James scored the opener early in the match to ultimately help secure another victory.
“Those two performances changed things and I knew things were going in right direction,” said James. “I got a call from my agent after that Huntsville trip to confirm that CFC wanted to sign me. It just felt right being around this team and its atmosphere; it was just different.”
James signed his professional contract with CFC and was officially announced as a Chattanooga FC player on February 27th.
Forty-five minutes of joy
James sustained an injury in one of the final matches of preseason and had to start the regular season from the sideline. He got his first MLS NEXT Pro minutes from the start against FC Cincinnati 2 on March 23rd, but was taken off at half-time as he eased his way back into the fold. He was a second-half substitute in…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at OurSports Central MLS NEXT Pro MLS NEXT Pro News…