A few weeks ago, Noahkai Banks was just checking his e-mail and he saw a message in his inbox from U.S. Soccer.
It was unsurprising at first because he knew the United States U-20 national team was having a camp during the September window and as a regular, he was expecting a call-up to that team.
Once he started reading the e-mail, it was much different than what he expected. It was a formal call-up by Mauricio Pochettino to the senior national team for friendlies against South Korea and Japan.
Banks, 18, was stunned by the news and quickly made all the appropriate phone calls.
“I was very surprised to be honest, and my first reaction was I couldn’t believe it and I called my mom instantly,” Banks told Soccer America at the team’s camp in Morristown, New Jersey. “She couldn’t believe it as well. And then after my coach called me.”
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