FLOWER MOUND, Texas — National Signing Day is a big moment for any elite high school athlete. It’s the day a select few get to officially claim their roster spot on a collegiate sports team.
At Flower Mound High School this year – more than a dozen seniors got to put their pens to paper, including soccer standout Emma Hoang.
“I've been waiting for a while and like today, like officially makes it official,” said Hoang.
Next year, she’ll join Texas A&M University’s women’s soccer team. She said making the decision was hard.
“I was between A&M, Ole Miss, LSU and Baylor,” she said.
She gave a verbal commitment to Ole Miss her junior year, but then in a widely shared tweet - changed her mind.
“My brother had a big thing to do with it,” she said.
Her big brother Tanner Hoang also went to Texas A&M.
Last December, his family went to College Station for what they thought would be his graduation. But then the college senior disappeared. After a state-wide missing person’s search, his body was found more than a week later on Christmas Eve in Austin, police said there were no signs of foul play.
Emma said she’s doing this to honor him.
“I think he'd be really proud of me. I already know he was proud of me for committing somewhere else, but like going to his school, that like meant so much to him,” she said.
Emma’s big heart shines through even in tragedy. It’s one piece of what her high school coach said makes her so special.
“This kid is a is a jewel on and off the field -- because it takes more than just playing soccer,” said Flower Mound Women’s Soccer Head Coach Misail Tsapos.
A jewel who’s looking forward to this next chapter.
“I love the school and I'm just really excited to go there. I think it means a little bit more knowing that like he has a piece, like a piece of him will kind of still be there when I'm there -- which is really nice,” said Hoang.