Braeden McCourt
Hometown: Hickory, NC
Position: Striker
Jersey: #22
School/Club: Charlotte Soccer Academy ECNL Regional League
He Grew Up Here. Now He's Playing For Here.
Some players find their way to Statesville from Ukraine, from England, from across the ocean and across the world. Braeden McCourt did not have to travel far at all. He just had to graduate.
A Hickory High School product who grew up right here in the shadow of this community, Braeden is not playing for a club he discovered. He is playing for the place that raised him. And there is something about that that hits differently.
The Player
Braeden is a striker, but not the kind that just chases the ball and hopes for chances. He is a thinker up front. His game is built on movement, positioning, and the kind of intelligent pressure that creates opportunities not just for himself but for everyone around him.
"I think I am a strong hold-up player," he said. "One of my best parts of my game is pulling center backs out of position and creating space for others."
That is a selfless way for a striker to describe himself. He is not leading with his goal tally. He is leading with what he does for the team. A striker who understands that his movement off the ball makes his teammates better is a striker coaches trust.
Right now, Braeden is in a new chapter of his athletic life and he knows it. For the first time, he is not lining up against other high school players or youth competitors. He is going up against full grown men, and the physical demand is real.
"I have always been a bigger player but this is the first time I've played against true full grown men so I've been trying to make the adjustments to be stronger."
That honesty is refreshing. He is not pretending the step up is easy. He is doing the work to meet the moment, and that matters more than pretending the gap was never there.
The Mindset
Ask Braeden how he handles a tough game and he will not overthink the answer.
"I like to get back on the field as soon as possible."
There is a lot of wisdom packed into that one sentence. No spiraling. No film sessions at midnight. No replaying every missed chance. Just get back out there and compete. Some players carry a bad game around for days. Braeden's reset is the next training session.
He also carries something with him that has been in his corner since before he can remember. Before every single game for the last twelve years, his dad has said the same four words to him: play your best game.
"To me it means always improve, try your hardest, and play better than you did the previous game no matter how well you played."
That is not a ceiling. That is a standard. A moving target that never lets you get comfortable, never lets you coast on a good performance, and never lets a bad one define you either. Twelve years of hearing that before kickoff leaves a mark.
Discovering Statesville
Here is the thing about growing up near a place: you do not always see it clearly until something makes you look again. Braeden grew up in the area, but suiting up for Statesville FC gave him a new angle on what this community actually is.
"There is so much support from all our fans and local businesses. I did not know that Statesville had such a strong sense of community."
Coming from a local kid, that means everything. He was not a stranger who arrived and was pleasantly surprised. He was someone who thought he already knew this place, and still found himself surprised by how deep the roots run and how quickly the people here showed up for this club.
The Goal
Braeden wants to make the playoffs and go far. Simple, direct, team-first. No individual accolades on the list. No personal milestones. Just the team, the postseason, and the chance to build something worth remembering in year one.
For a homegrown kid playing in front of the community that raised him, that feels exactly right.
Play your best game, Braeden. The Herd is watching.
Braeden McCourt | Striker | Statesville FC 2026 | Hickory High School
