ORLANDO, Fla. – Jeremy Ebobisse’s path into the professional soccer ranks was hardly a conventional one.

Electing to depart Duke University following his sophomore season with the Blue Devils after recording nine goals and seven assists in 38 appearances, Ebobisse signed with Major League Soccer last August. Without a means for competitive top-flight action until being selected in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, however, the young striker was sent on loan to the USL’s Charleston Battery for the remainder of the 2016 season.

As he prepares to represent the United States at the CONCACAF U20 Championship this week, it’s a move Ebobisse believes was the right one.

“It was a unique experience, for sure, and I would definitely not change my decision to sign in August seeing how it turned out the last six months,” Ebobisse said recently. “Having played in the USL, getting that pro experience, it really separated me from a lot of guys in the Draft, and it gave me that unique perspective, playing against men who have been doing this for 5-10 years, some of them, some who have been in and out of MLS, some who have been regular selections for the USL.

“It provided me with a platform to challenge myself a bit more than in college and it’s something that I think has helped me develop into the player that I am right now, and into the player that I’ll be for this U20 team and hopefully the Timbers as well.”

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While Ebobisse got his feet wet in the professional ranks for the Battery, he joins a U20s side that brings a wealth of professional experience from Major League Soccer, the USL and overseas. The likes of U20s captain Erik Palmer-Brown of Sporting Kansas City, Orlando City SC’s Tommy Redding – who made his USL debut in 2014 – Real Salt Lake’s Justen Glad and Sebastian Saucedo – both of whom have played in the USL for Real Monarchs SLC – bring a level of professionalism to the side that Ebobisse believes will stand the entire squad in good stead moving forward.

“When you look at other countries, they’re already playing professionally,” he said. “One of the struggles that we have had in the past is that sometimes we’re in college around this time of the cycle, and we’re not in season. In spring the college rules are pretty complicated and we can only touch the ball so long, so just the fact that we have so many professionals on the team, some guys who’ve been pros for two or three years now, it’s really big for us.

“They’re leaders to some of the newer professionals and some of the college kids still remaining, and they’re guys that we look up to and we respect that they’ve been around for a lot longer than we have. They’ve experienced the challenges of the game, having dedicated the greater part of three years to the sport. I think those are the guys that are going to lead us through this experience, and I think with that kind of invaluable experience we’re going to qualify with flying colors.”

Ebobisse had a goal and an assist in his five regular-season appearances for the Battery. Combined with his performances for the U.S. U20s over the past 12 months, the youngster could be primed for a big first season in MLS for the Portland Timbers, who selected him with the No. 4 pick in the SuperDraft.

Certainly, having already had the chance to interact with his teammates in preseason camp in the brief breaks between national team preparation, and getting to know the Timbers Army via social media, Ebobisse is looking forward to what lies ahead next month.

“It’s really exciting, especially when you look at the fans around the team and how the city really rallies around the team,” he said. Playing in front of that kind of support is really something that not as many players get to experience in MLS, but it’s something I’m going to treasure for the greater part of my career.

“From the front office side, the General Manager, Gavin Wilkinson, has been really helpful in having me adjust, having conversations with me whenever he could, and [Timbers Head Coach] Caleb Porter as well. The older guys as well on the team have made sure, I was only there for a week in preseason, but they made sure I got to know the group and that I felt comfortable, and then they wished me the best when I went off. I think they’re excited to see me back, and I’ll be ready to go back.”

From the impression he left on Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser, the potential Ebobisse brings to both the national team and the Timbers is an exciting prospect for both sets of fans.

“He has that quality around the box,” Anhaeuser said. “If he can do this for the U20s and Portland he will be able to have success. He also has the physical ability to compete, which should also allow him to compete right away.”

With the countdown to kickoff in the side’s opening group game against Panama on Saturday almost complete, the time for the team to execute, and book its place at the FIFA U20 World Cup in South Korea, now awaits.

“We’re as prepared as we can be,” said Ebobisse. “The coaching staff has done everything they could to make sure we feel comfortable with the environment, and now it’s up to us to do the job on the field. They’ve prepared us the past two months whether it’s been fitness camps, games, trainings, they’ve given us everything, and we have to show that we’re ready to rise to the challenge. They picked us for a reason, and we can’t back away now.”