2021-22 BTC Calendar: CJ Sapong

Former JMU men’s soccer standout CJ Sapong (’10) found success early in his MLS career. He was the 10th overall draft pick and MLS Rookie of the Year in 2011. In 2012, he won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and debuted with the U.S. Men’s National Team. He became MLS Cup champion in 2013. But he wasn’t fulfilled. He wanted to change lives. In February 2017, Sapong founded Sacred Seeds, which empowers underserved communities through nutrition, education and community building. Through his nonprofit, Sapong is living out his mission of practicing a more conscious and healthful lifestyle. Sapong says, “You might think that you’re healthy, but you’re really kind of running on 50%. So, I said, ‘Why aren’t more people nourished?’ They’re not educated about it.” Sapong was the first JMU player to be first-team all-conference four times. After four seasons each with Sporting Kansas City and the Philadelphia Union, the forward spent the 2019 and 2020 MLS seasons with Chicago Fire FC soccer team.