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Phanuel Kavita stood on the turf along the makeshift sideline at Rice-Eccles Stadium as a 13-year-old middle-schooler waiting to be beckoned. He was a ball boy at a Real Salt Lake match during those days playing at the University of Utah, a very young, talented club soccer player dreaming to one day suit up for his hometown club.

Eight years later, the Salt Lake City native and Highland High product signed on the dotted line cementing what is now a reality.

The 21-year-old defender who spent a year at RSL's Arizona-based Academy before moving onto Clemson where he was a four year-starter officially signed with RSL Tuesday as a Homegrown Player. Kavita, a 6-foot-1, 184-pound center back, graduated from Clemson in December 2014 with a degree in psychology and a minor in business.

"That's every kid's dream, right," Kavita told the Tribune Tuesday. "Since I was a kid, it's always been in my mind and my heart to be a pro. My priority, however, has always been education and my parents always emphasized education. With soccer or with any sport, you always have to have a Plan B — education was No. 1. Soccer was always there and I've been continuing to improve on my abilities."

Plan A, for the time being, is at the forefront.

During his four years with the Tigers, he started all 81 matches seeing as the team's captain during his junior and senior seasons. Clemson went 12-7-3 during his senior year winning the ACC Tournament Championship for the first time since 2001. Kavita was named an All-ACC second-team selection as well as part of the ACC's All-Tournament team.

But his journey to being the state's second-ever Utah-based Homegrown signing — Park City's Sebastian Saucedo signed with RSL in late July of 2014 — began in Salt Lake City. He was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo before moving to Utah with his family when he was 7.

As a youngster, Kavita utilized his size and athleticism as a forward. But each year, he was pushed toward the back by coaches. He eventually moved to play right back and during his years with the Rams, he was a holding midfielder. When was was presented with the opportunity to go play at RSL's academy in its inaugural year of existence, Kavita went for it. There, he was thrust into the role of center back. After graduating from the academy, Kavita enrolled at Clemson in 2011. From then on he became the foundation of the Tiger back line for the next four seasons.

He singled out his season in Casa Grande saying it prepared him for life away from home, whether it be Arizona or the following four years in South Carolina.

"Soccer has improved tremendously nowadays with the academy, especially," Kavita said. "The competition has risen to 14-year-olds playing some incredible soccer down there, all the way up to the U-18s. The academy had tremendous talent at that point. A lot of people were leaving their regular clubs for these programs."

While at Clemson, Kavita never let the idea of pursuing a pro deal wander too far away.

"Since I was a kid I've admired RSL," he said. "I'm always watching their games, I was a ball boy, so the decision was exciting, obviously. It was easy to take in because my family is here and I've always wanted to play for RSL. The decision was easy. Being a Homegrown signing, I had a lot of support."

What looms is his rookie season and immersing himself as a young defender vying for minutes, whether it be with RSL or with the incoming USL Pro team, Real Monarchs. Kavita's goal is simple: "Listen and learn."

"Continue to learn from the older guys, keep my eyes open and my ears wide open," he said. "It's always good to go in with confidence and know the ropes. I understand that it's a new beginning and that I need to just go in listening and learning. I obviously want to go in with confidence to train."

Kavita's signing, coupled with the announcement Tuesday that RSL has re-signed defenders Aaron Maund and Abdoulie Mansally, puts RSL at four center backs as the club approaches the 2015 season. Kavita and Maund join expected starters Chris Schuler and Jamison Olave on the depth chart in the central defense. And the new guy already knows first-team minutes will be at a premium and he's keeping a realistic approach.

"My first goal is to make sure to try and get first-team minutes, but there's always option two," he said.

-Chris Kamrani

Twitter: @chriskamrani