Kansas City is the World Capitol for Soccer and is stacked with phenomenal soccer talent. Here at High School Soccer KC, we are committed to highlighting top female high school soccer talent on both sides of the state line.
In this series, we are featuring Top Committed #KCSoccerTalent and sharing their soccer journeys as well as looking forward to their next chapters playing college soccer. Our desire in this series is to applaud these hard working players, share prime examples of how talented players are in Kansas City, as well as give advice and encouragement to younger players wanting to play soccer at the next level.
Q&A with #KCSoccerTalent Committed Player: Nastassja Garrett
Grad Year: 2025
Position High School: - Midfielder
Position Club & Future: Center Back and Forward
High School: Blue Valley Northwest (Overland Park, Kansas)
Club Team: Sporting Blue Valley ECNL 06/07
College Commitment: Xavier University
Division: NCAA Division 1
Conference: Big East
City, State: Cincinnati, Ohio
X - @NastassjaGarret
Nastassja Garrett, a Top 20 #KCSoccerTalent player from the class of 2025, was born to do this. An early 2025 commit, Garrett was a top recruit who also made the US ODP National Team where she competed internationally. Garrett is a 3x Top #KCSoccerTalent player for the Class of 2025. Garrett can play anywhere on the field and be an absolute threat. Put her in center back and her speed and composure will halt her opponent's attack. How about Midfield? Her fast feet, composure on the ball, and strength to maintain possession and move into space is top tier. Now what about up top? That's where we see her let loose. Garrett's speed and precision will either result in setting her teammate up with glorious service or she'll find the back of the net.
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| photo by Keith Kreeger |
Q&A with Nastassja Garrett
HSSoccerKC (HS): What's your favorite thing about playing with your high school teammates?
Nastassja Garrett(NG): The team building, dinners, and extra time spent with teammates—not only in a soccer environment—are so much fun. The culture created from my teammates and coaches is really supportive and gives me a chance to play with people I never would. The dynamics of a high school team is unique in that people are playing for a multitude of reasons and each bring a different perspective on the game.
HS: Why did you choose to play soccer for your high school?
NG: I chose to play high school soccer for many reasons. High school soccer mirrors college where you’re playing with other age groups. It provides a great environment to build leadership skills and friendships. You have older, more experienced players to challenge and look up to and then become the older, more experienced player. High school soccer gives me a mental break from club where I can focus just on playing soccer and having fun playing for my school. I also love getting to compete against my club teammates. After the high school season, I feel even more energized and ready for post season club play.
HS: What do you plan to study in college?
NG: I am undecided at this point, but interested in sports medicine and sports psychology.
HS: Why did you choose to play college soccer & continue your academics at the university you are committed to?
NG: I love to play soccer and when looking at colleges I wanted a high academic — high level soccer program, top 25 D1 preferably. My club team is very technical and plays an attacking possession style. When looking at the next level I wanted a soccer program with a similar playing style and philosophy. I also wanted coaches that not only saw me as a player, but also as a person and my potential. Development in college is important. During the Xavier ID Camp, I loved the experience— touring the campus, the coaches, and their interactions with me. The current Xavier players were happy and it appeared to be an environment built on the “we before me” team culture. It really seemed like the right fit with the coaches, style of play and academics. I could see myself at Xavier.
HS: What are you most looking forward to about playing college soccer?
NG: The experience in general. Having the opportunity to be exposed to different players, competition and an environment filled with like-minded players striving for the best.
HS: What advice would you give to a younger player in KC wanting to play college soccer?
NG: 1.) Focus on the fundamentals—become as technical as you can. Train regularly outside of practice to improve your first touch, ball mastery, passing, juggling, headers, fitness, etc. They’re the foundation of soccer and vital in excelling through more advanced aspects of the game. 2.) Respect your opponent, you may end up on the same team. 3.) Don’t wait to become familiar with and embrace the recruiting process. Be open to exploring different opportunities and colleges, even if you think you’re not interested. 4.) Review your own film, watch games of colleges you’re interested in, and try to watch professional games regularly. It will help improve soccer IQ and understanding of the game.
HS: What makes KC such a great place for some of the best soccer talent in the United States?
NG: Kansas City has it all. From the largest youth soccer league in the nation (Heartland), numerous premier clubs including strong ECNL and GA clubs, Sporting KC’s boys academy to the college and professional level; the Kansas City metro area offers one of if not the best soccer community in the nation for both men and women. Kansas City even made history with KC Current building the first women’s professional sports stadium in the world. We also have many amazing outdoor soccer facilities at our disposal—Scheels, Garmin, Swope, Compass Minerals, Pinnacle— that allow us to practice and compete year-round. High school wise, we have so many talented players in and around the KC Metro area creating very competitive teams with many players committed to top D1 programs across the country including several high school teams ranking nationally.
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| Photo by Keith Kreeger |
What Others are Saying
When asked to describe Nastassja Garrett, her club and high school teammates say she is hard-working, resilient, and uplifting.
Garrett's past and present soccer coaches and trainers join in the positive attributes of the impressive player:
"Nastassja makes everyone around her better," says Coach Michelle Pothoven of Blue Valley Northwest High School Varsity Soccer. "Not only is she technically sound, but her work rate and instruction affect the entire game around her. She can play anywhere on the field and make an impact and always gives everything she has for the team." When asked how Garrett has grown over the past 4 years at Blue Valley Northwest, Coach Pothoven shared, "It's been incredible to watch Nastassja grow as a player and a person. She has really found herself as a leader. She can have an international conversation with any player on the team and is genuinely invested in her teammates and their lives outside of soccer. She is an incredible leader on the field. She's constantly giving instruction during the play. She also gives instruction to her teammates about how to make that play better and where to look next time."
"Nastassja's most obvious soccer qualities are her technical speed and athleticism," shares Coach Tim Collins trainer and former Washburn University head coach, "but she is so much more than that! She has an uncanny ability to read the game, and her knowledge of both sides of the ball, as well as transition, set her apart from other players." We asked Collins what qualities of Garrett will lead to her success on the collegiate level, and he said, "Nastassja will be successful in college because of her strong work ethic, intelligence, and desire to do whatever it takes to help her team win."
"Nastassja is a stand out player because she understands the game," states Coach Brian Pollack of Blue Valley Northwest High School Varsity Soccer. "Over the past 3 years she has played forward, midfield, and defense at the Varsity level. She can seamlessly transition on the field due to her vision and understanding of each position. She is a general on the field, constantly directing her teammates and shaping play with movement on and off the ball. She immediately stands out on the field due to her relentless work ethic and determination. Those qualities combined with her technical ability and elite change of pace make her a truly special player." When asked what qualities Garrett brings to her position, the team culture and team performance, Coach Pollack remarked, "Nastassja is an experienced player that possesses a very high intellect and knowledge of the game. She has played all over the field and is able to support her teammates with feedback and support on and off the field. Nastassja is a selfless leader who leads by example and galvanizes her teammates with her inclusive nature and kindness. She sets the tone for others to follow through her passion, work rate, and desire to support her teammates. On the field she shines as the ultimate competitor, never backing down from a challenge. Whether we are leading, trailing, or tied, Nastassja shows maximum effort and competes at the highest level. If we need a goal, we push Nastassja forward. If we are holding a lead, she will anchor the back line. As good as Nastassja is on the field, she is an even better person off the field."
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