Drake Hills is a contributing writer to Black Players for Change and a journalism lecturer at San Diego State University.
06/24/2025
My latest story is for ESPN FC on the Reggae Boyz
Jamaica's English talents are helping close the gap to Concacaf's best Jamaica is out to establish itself as one of the best teams in Concacaf, and to do so, it has ramped up its recruitment of players from the U.K.
05/05/2025
Latest story from me: New York City FC Head Coach Pascal Jansen taps into a fearless family legacy to shape a bold new era at New York City FC🗽⚽️
“One of my inspirations is by my Black, single mother… who had first gone into show business when she was only three to four years old, and made it her way being a successful singer, actress, dancer, and finished up with her own foundation and her own school. So, inspiring and working with athletes is almost similar to what she did when she was still alive.” — Pascal Jansen
MLS Head Coach Pascal Jansen Taps Into A Fearless Family Legacy to Shape a Bold New Era at New York City FC — Black Players for Change When New York City FC coach Pascal Jansen was 14 years old, he took four, one-hour round-trip bus rides from Zaandam to Amsterdam, unbeknownst to his mother, to try out for the Ajax Youth Academy in 1987. It wasn’t until Jansen was selected for the Under-14 team that he told his mother of his wher...
03/25/2025
https://blackplayersforchange.org/news/20250324/most-top-young-mls-standouts-are-black
On Monday (March 24), Julian Hall turned 17. He's not prepping to take the SAT, go to the prom or visit college campuses. He's playing first-team soccer with the New York Red Bulls. The kid from East Harlem scored his MLS first goal on Juneteenth 2024 and made his first MLS start March 8 this season, since playing his first Major League Soccer game in 2023 at 15 years, 190 days old.
Julian Hall is the frontman for most of the youngest to ever debut in MLS. Out of the 10 youngest debuts, six are Black. Here's why that's not by mere happenstance. Another story from me for Black Players For Change 📰 ✍
Most Top Young MLS Standouts are Black. Here’s why that matters. — Black Players for Change 10 youngest to debut in MLS, six are Black, including four in the top 5. Hall is third on that list, accompanied by Adu, Alphonso Davies, Axel Kei, Matai Akinmboni and Nimfasha Berchimas.
03/20/2025
UPDATE: I'm still writing and currently contributing to Black Players for Change in Major League Soccer (MLS)
How Brunswick GA's Coastal Outreach Soccer, Atlanta United FC created unprecedented access for Black youth with Opportunity Cup: https://blackplayersforchange.org/news/2025312/coastal-outreach-soccer
Rising coaching star Hervé Diese spends the offseason with Brentford FC’s Thomas Frank in England: https://blackplayersforchange.org/news/202524/rising-coaching-star-herve-diese-tacoma-defiance
Rising coaching star Hervé Diese spends offseason with Brentford FC’s Thomas Frank — Black Players for Change Tacoma Defiance head coach Hervé Diese sees Wilfried Nancy as the standard for coaching success in MLS — winning MLS Cup, Coach of the Year and on the trajectory to reach higher heights.
07/29/2023
As you pack your bags, Drake Hills, we want to express our heartfelt thanks for being such a fantastic resident. Your contributions to our community will not be forgotten, and you will always have a special place in our hearts. Wishing you the best in this new chapter of your life!
07/26/2023
Please take a read — my follow-up story on new Nashville SC signing Sam Surridge. A unique player who’s risen from sixth-tier National League South in England, to the best league in the world: the Premier League.
What Nashville SC fans need to know about new forward Sam Surridge Nashville SC announced Tuesday it signed the 24-year-old forward. Here's what to know about Sam Surridge.
07/26/2023
It’s official: Nashville SC has signed another designated player. This time, a striker with reps in the English Premier League.
Introducing Sam Surrudge, formerly of Nottingham Forrest FC.
Nashville SC signs forward Sam Surridge from English Premier League Nashville adds the 24-year-old English forward as its third designated player for reported $6.5 million transfer fee.
07/03/2023
ChatGPT isn't the brightest general manager for a pro sports team, but it still might surprise you...
I asked ChatGPT about Nashville SC's needs in the MLS Transfer Window. Here's what it said As the MLS Secondary Transfer Window opens Wednesday, we asked ChatGPT about Nashville SC.
03/27/2023
Nashville SC leader Dax McCarty and the MLS club each reacted to the fatal Nashville school shooting at The Covenant School on Monday morning. Three adults and three children have been confirmed dead as of Monday at 2 p.m. The 28-year-old white, female suspect was fatally shot by two members of a five-personal Metro Nashville Police team in a second-story lobby of the private Christian school in the Green Hills neighborhood.
Nashville SC's Dax McCarty 'devastated' after The Covenant School shooting Nashville SC midfielder Dax McCarty shared his thoughts following the fatal Tennessee school shooting at The Covenant School on Monday.
03/13/2023
You wanna win, put Boobie in 👨🏽💻 | 📸: .photo
03/02/2023
Giannis and the Antetokounmpo brothers + Filip Forsberg are now part of the Nashville SC ownership group.
Giannis, Thanasis, Kostas, Alex and Filip - plus Derrick Henry, Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth — all minority team owners. Story in bio 👨🏽💻
