The spring soccer window featured loads of new components for freshman quarterback Joaquin Kavuklis, together with a highschool switch to Tarpon Springs (Fla.) Excessive Faculty after breaking out at Clearwater (Fla.) Worldwide Academy final fall.
One of many comforting components for the Class of 2027 at THS is that it has lengthy been thought of dwelling, in addition to the place the place his father as soon as performed ball.
On Monday, one other acquainted faculty approached Kavuklis with a scholarship provide from UCF. The intramural program has rebounded roughly 30 years after Emmanuel Kavuklis moved to the Knights. The younger passer’s father blocked for the likes of Daunte Culpepper and Darrin Hinshaw as a sort out throughout his faculty days, and the latter prolonged a proposal to UCF’s potential QB of the long run.
“I actually just like the ambiance right here and Coach Hinshaw is my kind of coach,” Kavuklis advised Rivals.
The household hung out at UCF earlier this spring, and the primary impression of the campus — as a recruit — was robust for the younger arm.
“That was wonderful!” he mentioned. “The circumstances have been fantastic and the entire ambiance was simply excellent. They’re positively on the upswing with this system and training employees.
“A should see.”
UCF joins Arkansas on the listing of early presents for Kavuklis, although many different applications are exhibiting elevated curiosity.
For Emmanuel, it is a momentous second the household will not quickly neglect.
“It is fairly cool contemplating it got here from the identical man I defended 30 years in the past,” he mentioned. “Hinshaw continues to be the identical, aggressive and brutally sincere. Definitely this can be a coach who will develop and promote his QB.
“Rather a lot has modified there, and it is very spectacular the path they are going.”
As a freshman in 2023, going through a nationally ranked schedule, the youthful Kavuklis threw for practically 1,600 yards and scored double-digit touchdowns. He was additionally a standout performer on the Rivals Camp Collection cease in Miami in April.