RISING STAR: Wake Forest's Ike Opara
- by Bryan Alvarez @somuser, Oct 21, 2008
POSITION: Defender
AGE: 19
COLLEGE: Wake Forest
CLASS: Sophomore
HOMETOWN: Durham, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL: Jordan High School
YOUTH CLUB: Triangle FC Navy 88
INTERNATIONAL: U-20s (USA)
STARTING OUT: My dad was my youth coach. My family is from Nigeria. That's how I got started and I'm still playing.
EARLY SOCCER MEMORY: I remember finally winning a club tournament with the U-13s. My Dad retired from coaching after that. He wanted go out on top. We still laugh about that.
FIRST CLEATS: I've had all types and all styles. I remember my first pair of Nike Total 90 Lasers. I've had every version since then.
CURRENT CLEATS: Nike Total 90 Lasers.
OTHER SPORTS: Up until junior and senior year, it was soccer and basketball.
FAVORITE TEAMS: Manchester United, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers and the Carolina Panthers.
FAVORITE PLAYER: Andre Iguodala from the 76ers, Kobe Bryant from the L.A. Lakers and Nemanja Vidic from Man U.
FAVORITE MOVIES: Any Denzel Washington movie.
FAVORITE ACTOR: Denzel Washington.
FAVORITE ACTRESS: Angelina Jolie.
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Entourage.
COLLEGE EXPERIENCE: It's been good. I've got no complaints. The soccer and academics have been great. It's one of the best schools in the country.
MOST INFLUENTIAL COACH: My club coaches, Marlow Campbell and Dewan Bader.
MEMORABLE COACHING ADVICE (from youth coach): No matter where you play, the game is always the same.
HOBBIES: Basketball, sleeping and video games. I like playing NCAA Football and Winning XI.
MUSIC: Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and NAS.
READING: "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" by Mildred D. Taylor is my favorite book. I'm not a big reader now.
VACATION: I've always wanted to see Spain. I want to go to Madrid and Barcelona. I'd like to catch a game between Barcelona and Madrid, too!
FAMOUS PEOPLE YOU'D INVITE TO DINNER: Michael Jordan, David Beckham and Eva Mendes.
