Tonny Temple verbally commits to NC State for 2019

Another Philadelphia Union Academy player will be looking to make an impact as a freshman next season in the ACC.

Tonny Temple recently verbally committed to join the program at NC State for 2019, where he will join 2018 YSC Academy grad Iverson Brisma and face a number of current and former academy players in league play.

“I feel like the ACC is the most competitive conference so I wanted to challenge myself,” Temple said. “That played a pretty big factor in my commitment.”

Half of the schools in the ACC either currently have a graduate from the Union Academy or expect to have one on their roster next season.

Current Union U19 players Nick Blacklock (Virginia Tech) and Michael Pellegrino (Notre Dame) have also committed to joining the conference next season, where Lamine Conte (Louisville), Justin McMaster (Wake Forest), Joey DeZart (Wake Forest), Jack Skahan (North Carolina), Will Campbell (North Carolina), Nyk Sessock (Pitt) and Jerren Nixon (Virginia), Issa Rayyan (Duke) and Seth Kuhn (Duke) are currently playing.

Temple rejoined the Union after spending a couple years in the United States U17 residency program in Florida last season. He’s made seven appearances for Bethlehem Steel FC in USL this season in addition to starring with the Union U19s. He had 20 goals for the team last year and has a pair of goals in four games this season.

“I just really fell in love with the campus and I knew it was the right place for me,” Temple said. “I felt very wanted and I know the team is gonna use my strengths as a soccer player to their advantage. I also felt like it was a great fit for me academically as well because the staff doesn’t shy away from the academic part at all.”

Born in Liberia, Temple was adopted by his family when he was five and grew up outside Williamsport in Millville. He first joined the Union in 2013. His brother, Jackson Temple, joined the U17 team from Continental FC this summer.

The Wolfpack are currently in third place in the Atlantic Division at 2-3-1 and are 8-4-2 overall. Brisma has a goal and two assists in 14 appearances.