From the best in Raleigh to the best in the nation.

NC State men’s soccer’s finest — junior forward Donavan Phillip — became the first Wolfpack player to earn the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy, the highest individual honor achievable in NCAA Division I soccer.

Since 1967, the 10-pound crystal soccer ball trophy has been awarded annually at the MAC Hermann Awards in St. Louis, Missouri, to the top male and female collegiate soccer players.

It’s a well-deserved honor for the St. Lucia native, who scored a nation-leading 19 goals and earned the ACC Offensive Player of the Year award while spearheading the Wolfpack’s first national championship appearance in program history.

Phillip attributed his personal success to hard work, grit, luck and support behind the scenes in an interview with College Soccer News.

When asked what he would remember most about this season, Phillip referenced the team and the energy of the College Cup matches at nearby WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

“That College Cup atmosphere … I feel like the fans we had, and the people that really backed us,” Phillip said. “I think that’s what I’m going to remember most about this year.”

Phillip also mentioned aspirations to give back to his community in St. Lucia.

“Going back and trying to help kids get places in different colleges,” Phillip said. “Off the island and into somewhere bigger and better to make a name for themself like I’m doing.”

Philip was drafted last year in the third round by the Colorado Rapids, but decided to come back to NC State for the 2025 season. This time around, he will forgo his final year of college eligibility, now taking his talents to the pro leagues.