For most people, being the star of a Division I soccer program is enough of a burden, unless of course, that person is Falcon forward Cameron Hepple.

The redshirt senior not only holds the hopes of his University’s soccer success on his shoulders, but the success of his nation’s soccer team as well.

In a country where soccer is the most beloved of all sports and national team members are put on a pedestal that only Babe Ruth, Joe Montana and Michael Jordan could compare to, you would think everyone would know the name Cameron Hepple.

Not for his goal-scoring ability for the Falcons soccer team or the fact that he leads the team in points this season. Not even the fact that he races through town in a rally car straight out of ‘The Fast and the Furious.’

The fact that Hepple has been chosen to represent his country on the world’s biggest stage, in arguably the world’s biggest sport deserves recognition.

Growing up in Nassau, Bahamas, it was clear to those who saw him, that Hepple had a wonderful talent with a ball at his feet. When he was just 9 years old, Hepple was chosen as one of his country’s elite young players and was invited to national camps.

‘When I was 9, the Bahamas founded a youth system that would feed into the national teams,’ Hepple said. ‘The coach, Gary White, put me on the team.’

Hepple’s abilities were apparent, and soon White used his connections in England to get the young player a tryout with Wolver Hampton and Southampton, two of England’s most respected soccer clubs.

‘Those were the best two weeks of my life,’ Hepple said. ‘I played against guys a lot older and bigger than me and was able to keep up.’

One of his most vivid memories from the trip was watching the professional teams walk to the locker room after a training session.

‘I realized that this was a big deal; watching the players get into their Porsches and Ferraris,’ he said.

Hepple came back to the Bahamas knowing where he wanted to be and what he wanted to do for a living.

‘Ever since then I have wanted to be a professional soccer player in England,’ Hepple said.

As the years went by and Hepple honed his skills, national team coaches began to take notice.

‘When I was 13, I was playing with the under-17 team,’ Hepple said. ‘It was hard because they were bigger than me and they battered us, but my coaches told me to just go out and play my game.’

Being so young, the realization that he was representing his country on soccer’s highest level didn’t hit Hepple.

‘I was young, so I didn’t really think anything of it for me to be playing on the national team,’ Hepple said. ‘I thought it was another game. I never took it as serious as I should have.’

That all changed when Cameron earned his first International CAP, an honor bestowed upon a player who plays for his or her country’s senior national team. That opportunity came in an international friendly game against Haiti, a team that has taken the United States to the brink on several occasions.

‘I remember the game was in Miami,’ Hepple said. ‘I played really well that game and it was a good experience for me. Looking back, I realize how big of a deal it was. Against Dominica, I got an assist and hit the post twice [with shots]. If we would have won that game we would have played the Mexican national team in Azteca stadium, one of the biggest in the world.’

With his international future secure, Hepple has once again turned his attention to Falcon soccer. Entering his fifth and final season on the team, Hepple and his coaches know he has to be at his best on the field for the Falcons to succeed.

‘Cameron has great feet and is a really explosive and dynamic striker of the ball,’ said BG coach Eric Nichols. ‘He has shown this year that he can score great goals. He has all the tools to be a great overall player.’

Nichols also believes that Hepple will be a promising prospect to continue his soccer career after college.

‘He has the tools to be a pro,’ Nichols said. ‘He is not there yet, and he knows it. One of Cameron’s best assets is that he knows he needs to be better at understanding the rhythm of the game, when to hold the ball and when to attack. He scores beautiful goals for us, but needs to be able to score the junk ones as well.’

It seems that if Hepple is to have a future in the sport, he will need to work hard, something the Bahamian International isn’t afraid of.

‘I just want to play professionally; I have wanted to since I was a little kid,’ Hepple said.