Fresno State Athletics
Men's Soccer Signs Two Top Recruits
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
April 9, 1999
Fresno, Calif. - Fresno State mens soccer coach Dave Chesler announced today the signing of two top recruits for the 1999 season. Today Chesler received national letters of intent from Makoto Anderson of Fresno and Jeremy Proud from Tacoma, Wash. The two players will be a welcome addition to the Bulldogs program as it defends its 1998 WAC championship. Both Anderson and Proud were highly recruited athletes who played on the U.S. National Youth team. Anderson is a midfielder/forward who played four season at Hoover High School in Fresno. Lettering all four years, Anderson was named to the first-team North Yosemite League squad all four years at Hoover and was the league MVP his junior year.
"Makoto will be one of the most explosive and exciting attacking players to compete for the Bulldogs," Chesler said. "His three years of experience on the National Youth team will be a major factor in his contribution to the attacking aspects of the team. I expect he will positively impact our goal production in his first year."
Joining Anderson in the Bulldogs 1999 recruiting class is Proud, a goalkeeper. During his four seasons at Auburn Riverside High School, Proud was a four-year letterwinner who earned first team all-league honors in 1996 & 98 and was a member of the all-area team in 98. Proud was also a member of the Interregional All-Star team from 1996-97 and has been part of the regional and state Olympic Development Programs from 1995-99.
Proud is Cheslers third recruit from the state of Washington. Forwards Chad Brown and Matt Flynn both journeyed to Fresno from Washington. Brown led the Bulldogs in scoring in 1997 with 17 points and led the team with six assists this season.
"Jeremy will uphold and potentially exceed the high standards Fresno State has historically maintained in the area of goalkeeping," Chesler said. "He has experience at the highest level, having trained in our National Team program. His attitude as well as his athletic ability will be relied upon to step in and fill the role of two-time all-conference goalkeeper Jeff Fluharty."
Anderson was also recruited by, among other schools, Duke, Clemson and St. Louis. All three teams competed in the 1998 NCAA Tournament. Clemson advanced to the quarterfinals. Two other NCAA tournament qualifiers - Washington and UNC Greensboro - went after Proud as well as North Carolina State and Army.
