By Sonny Jones
Garrett Melvin knew how to put the soccer ball into the back of the opponents net during his playing days at East Bladen.
Nowadays, the 2021 Three Rivers Conference Player of the Year is on the Eagles sideline as an assistant coach while trying to get back on the pitch at the collegiate level.
East Bladen (6-7 overall, 2-4 conference) is scheduled to play at Southeastern Athletic Conference-leading Clinton (11-2-2, 5-0) on Monday at 6:30 p.m. The junior varsity game is slated to kick off at 4:30 p.m.
“I’m looking to see where my future is with soccer,” said Melvin, who recently turned 19 years old. “Whether it’s helping out here or if I want to play at Wake Tech, Cape Fear (Community College) or Peace or something like that. I’m just observing all my options right now and helping out (at East Bladen.”
In his COVID-shortened senior season with the Eagles, Melvin scored 26 goals, which included six hat tricks, and had 11 assists in 11 games. Melvin had 57 goals and 26 assists during his four-year career in helping the Eagles go 65-11-3 and reach the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs each season. He also played in the N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star soccer game in Greensboro.
Does he miss playing?
“I would cut a pinky off to be able to play,” he said, perhaps only half-jokingly. “You don’t really know what you have until it’s gone. It sounds cliche’, but it is seriously true. I tell (the current East Bladen players) to soak in every single second. There’s nothing like a night here on the field.”
East Bladen coach Jay Raynor says Melvin brings a new, and younger, voice to the coaching staff.
“He’s been instrumental to our progress, especially with the junior varsity team,” Raynor said. “He’s closer in age to these kids and he can relate. He was an all-star player and an all-state player. He can not only tell you how to do it, but he can show you how to do it.”
While Melvin is working toward a return to playing at some point, he’s enjoyed coaching and believes it will help him when he plays again.
“It’s fun,” he said. “It’s helped me in life so much being able to talk to people, being able to talk to different people from different backgrounds, different ages, different opinions. It’s just helping all the way around. Learning how to talk to people, communicate and build better relationships.
“I like it. I can see myself doing it in the future, maybe with younger kids or just as a player with more of a coaching role on the field.”
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