One might think that after a week of drills with 150 of the best high school soccer players in the country, Justin Howell would’ve been ready for a break.

Wrong.

Howell, a senior-to-be at Free State High, spent the first full week of July in Wilmington, N.C., at the adidas ESP (Elite Soccer Program) Camp, one of the most prestigious events for prep soccer players. For seven days, the Firebird goalkeeper got up at 5:30 a.m., practiced most of the morning, took classes in the afternoon and scrimmaged at night.

All in the brutal Carolina heat.

But Howell, instead of coming home and sacking out in front of the air conditioner, played in a soccer tournament in St. Louis last weekend, filling in for any team that could use his skills.

He played in parts of three games, though he didn’t see much action.

“I think there were two shots on me the first game,” he said. “I got to play for another team that lost two games, 3-1, but then they won the one I played in. Didn’t see many shots then either.”

That’s OK. Howell saw plenty of shots in Wilmington  and lots of good players, too.

Much like the Nike camps for high school basketball players, the adidas camp gives players a chance to learn some tricks from instructors and to showcase themselves for college coaches. In the early morning sessions, Vanderbilt assistant coach Eric Vaughter drilled Howell and 14 other goalies on everything: shots, crosses, receiving balls, penalty kicks and whatever else they could fit in before breakfast.

“It wasn’t as much teaching as it was training,” Howell said. “With so many kids there, the coaches couldn’t spend a lot of time with you. But he told me what I need to work on.”

They’d eat breakfast, then play a game at 9 a.m. A couple of hours later, goalies drilled with the field players in games of five-on-five. Needless to say, the talent on the field was top notch.

“The competition that you’re around, just putting all those kids together makes it incredible,” Howell said.

After lunch, there was a short classroom session, then players absorbed whatever the guest speaker was talking about that day. U.S. national team defender Tony Sanneh spoke one day, national team coach Bruce Arena spoke another day and former German National team forward Jurgen Klinsmann, one of the leading scorers in World Cup history, capped the week.

The speakers motivated the players, which made the scrimmages afterward highly charged.

The 200 college coaches watching didn’t hurt either.

“I was kind of nervous, but once the games started, I was fine,” Howell said.

He must have done something right. A couple of days after the camp, Howell got a call from Eastern Carolina coach Devin O’Neill.

Howell was nominated for the camp as a sophomore, but wasn’t selected as one of the finalists. This year, after a stellar regional tournament with his club team, the KCSC Hotspurs, in Toledo, Ohio, he got the nod from the United States Soccer Federation, whose national and regional coaches along with college coaches make the call.

For Firebirds coach Jason Pendleton, who first told Howell camp awaited, it was a nice bit of recognition for his team, which reached the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history last year.

“It’s a pretty big deal,” Pendleton said. “He gets all sorts of stuff too  cleats, jerseys, gloves.”

Howell loved that part.

Each camper received about $1,500 in gear, including two pairs of cleats, a half dozen shirts and loads of socks.

“They gave us everything we’d need out there,” Howell said.

Now, with the high school season rapidly approaching  practice begins in about a month  Howell is pumped. He met up with some Free State teammates Wednesday night, just to kick the ball around. It may not have been the same atmosphere as the adidas camp, but now Howell knows what he’ll be facing if the Firebirds advance further in the state tournament, or, with any luck, he gets a college scholarship.

“It was good to be there and see what you’re matched up against,” Howell said.