Keeping Your Composure with Khiry Shelton
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The youth international phenom Khiry Shelton is a fan favorite for Sporting Kansas City . With experience in the youth USMNT, in Germany, and most notably the MLS, he brings a composed presence to the game and a mindful balance off the pitch. Read on to learn about his experiences with transition and injury.
The Top 3 Takeaways in this Edition
The draft was wild. I had pretty much my whole family there. Tons of emotions going through my body. Didn’t know if I wanted to cry, scream. It was incredible.
How was your transition getting into a higher level team after moving to Texas?
?? Texas is a huge state and has so much talent. It was hard for me. I can tell you I wasn’t the best player out there, I had to work day in and day out. Definitely one of the hardest things, trying to adjust to a new environment and get in front of new faces.
Does that affect your play? Moving to a new place with players and coaches you don't know?
?? I think my childhood has made it easier for me, transitioning from place to place. That particular transition was crazy, going from Texas to Oregon State. I’ve never spent time in the PNW. It was a huge change, but you have to make the best of it.
Drafted 2nd overall in the super draft. How did that moment feel? All of your hard work going into that moment.
?? The draft was wild. I had pretty much my whole family there. Tons of emotions going through my body. Didn’t know if I wanted to cry, scream. It was incredible.
What was the college process like for you? How did you get noticed?
?? I went to a lot of showcases with the development academy. We traveled all over, so so many showcases… it was tough. You see the coaches there, you get butterflies in your stomach knowing you have to perform well to be seen. But even after being drafted, it was a frustrating process for me. You know, I worked hard, and for the first 3 years in college I would only play a few games. After the 5th game or so I’d get injured, out for the rest of the season. I decided I needed to do something different. Got in the gym, worked on myself, focused on my body and how to pay attention to it. Then I had a good senior year. Didn’t pay attention to anyone else. I was just like Hey I’m in the zone. The world’s against me right now, let’s prove 'em wrong.
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What do you think you did well to stand out to make it to #2? What advice do you have for young hopefuls who step into that combine situation?
?? I would tell them to not pay attention to anybody else. I know it’s hard to, sometimes you hear about all these other players. If you are able to look at yourself and say I’m here for a reason, I’m good enough. Once you get into the testing and games, everything else will take care of itself.
With all of those injuries, how did you deal with it? What advice would you give to younger players, especially if they feel like their career will pass them by?
?? You’re going to get injured.?That’s just part of it. It is frustrating. Especially getting to see others playing the sport you love and sometimes feeling there are those that take advantage of that. But I think once you get into a certain level, you understand that you have a different objective. I switched my mindset from Oh I’m injured, this sucks to How am I gonna get back and better sooner.
?? There is a song by Drake that really touched me in a way where I was able to silence everything else. Get back to running, that freedom of moving around. I’m a deep person, I love music. Music is an outlet for me.
What is it like coming back to KC after playing overseas?
?? I’m so so happy. Before I went to Germany in 2018, we went to the conference finals playing against Portland, and I was heartbroken knowing I wasn’t going to be here. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be back here, this is a place I call home. It’s such a supportive place for me.
What does a pro player do in KC in their off time?
?? I’m a homebody really. I train, I come home, and stay home the whole day. I’m a big gamer. I play FortNite, that’s my game.
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?? Keep dreaming!