Jamar Ricketts Bio
Jamar Ricketts (born October 24, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays for the Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes. Raised in Montclair, New Jersey, he developed his game in prep soccer at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School and with the Cedar Stars Academy before moving to the college ranks. After a standout career at California State University, Northridge, he was selected 13th overall in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft and has since signed a contract that runs through 2027. Standing at 175 cm, the forward has emerged as one of the more promising young American attackers in the league.
Early Life and Background
Jamar Ricketts was born on October 24, 2001, in Montclair, New Jersey, in the United States. He was raised in the same New Jersey community, where he first picked up the sport as a child and quickly showed an aptitude for the game. The competitive environment of northern New Jersey youth soccer helped shape his early technical foundation and his understanding of the physical demands of the sport.
Ricketts attended St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, one of the more respected soccer programs in the country, and graduated in 2020. The Gray Bees program is known for producing professional talent, and Ricketts’ time there gave him a strong tactical grounding and the discipline required to advance to higher levels. After graduating, he remained connected to the New Jersey soccer community through the Cedar Stars Academy, where he continued to play his youth soccer and refine his attacking skills.
Path to Soccer
Following his prep career, Ricketts was ready for the college game, and in 2020 he enrolled at California State University, Northridge, to play for the men’s soccer team. The 2020 season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so his first competitive matches in college did not arrive until the fall of 2021. That delayed start did not slow his progress, as he made an immediate impact and earned conference recognition by the end of his freshman year.
Over three seasons with the Matadors, Ricketts became a focal point of the team’s attack. He was named to the All-Big West First Team in both 2022 and 2023 and was added to the All-Far West Region Second Team in each of those years as well. He was also selected to the All-Big West Preseason Team ahead of 2023, was recognized as an NCAA Player to Watch, and was named Big West Offensive Player of the Week in September 2023. He capped his college career with an invitation to the 2023 Adidas MLS College Showcase, which is typically reserved for top senior prospects.
Jamar Ricketts Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
Before fully transitioning to the professional ranks, Ricketts gained valuable summer minutes in the U.S. soccer development pyramid. In 2021, he played with Cedar Stars Rush in USL League Two, one of the premier amateur development circuits tied to Major League Soccer. The following summer, in 2022, he joined Central Valley Fuego FC 2 to continue his progression in a competitive senior environment, and in 2023 he suited up for the Ventura County Fusion in the same league.
These developmental stints allowed him to test himself against older competition while balancing his college schedule at California State University, Northridge. By the end of his time in USL League Two, Ricketts had built a résumé that combined collegiate production with senior-level exposure, a profile that positioned him well for the MLS SuperDraft.
MLS SuperDraft and San Jose Earthquakes (2024–Present)
Ricketts’ college production and development-league experience made him a clear first-round prospect, and at the 2024 MLS SuperDraft he was selected 13th overall by the San Jose Earthquakes. Shortly after the draft, in February 2024, he signed a one-year contract with the club that included club options covering the 2025, 2026, and 2027 seasons, locking in his place within the organization for the long term.
During the 2024 campaign, Ricketts was deployed primarily with the Earthquakes’ MLS Next Pro affiliate, The Town FC, where he continued to develop against professional opposition. He scored his first professional goal on October 27, 2024, in a playoff match against St. Louis City SC 2. The 2025 season marked his breakthrough to the senior MLS squad, and on February 22, 2025, he netted his first MLS goal in a 4-0 victory over Real Salt Lake, announcing his arrival at the top flight.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ricketts is an attacking player who combines a direct approach in the final third with the movement skills he developed in college. His college scoring record, including a brace against the UC San Diego Tritons in 2023, reflects a comfort operating in tight spaces around the penalty area. He pairs those instincts with the work rate expected of a young forward in a possession-oriented system, and his multi-year contract suggests the Earthquakes view him as a long-term building block.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Ricketts’ brace in a 2-1 victory over UC San Diego on October 18, 2023, helped cement his standing as one of the top attackers in the Big West Conference. His selection as the 13th overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft made him the second-highest drafted player in California State University, Northridge history. He then added his first professional goal with The Town FC in October 2024 and his first MLS goal against Real Salt Lake in February 2025.
Jamar Ricketts Career Wins
While Ricketts’ professional career is still in its early stages, he has already collected a series of notable individual honors. Across his college years, his conference and regional selections stood out as the clearest markers of his development. His professional milestones have come quickly since the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, including his first professional and first MLS goals within twelve months of signing his contract.
Big West Conference and College Highlights
Ricketts was named to the All-Big West First Team in both 2022 and 2023, establishing himself as one of the premier attacking players in the conference. He was also named to the Big West All-Freshman Team at the end of the 2021 season and earned Big West Offensive Player of the Week honors in September 2023. At the regional level, he was twice named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region Second Team, and he capped his senior year with an invitation to the 2023 Adidas MLS College Showcase.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his conference and regional honors, Ricketts was selected to the All-Big West Preseason Team ahead of the 2023 season and was recognized as an NCAA Player to Watch that same year. His selection 13th overall in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft served as a capstone to his college career, while his first professional goal in October 2024 and his first MLS goal in February 2025 marked the first major benchmarks of his time in Major League Soccer.
Jamar Ricketts Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Jamar Ricketts’ immediate family remains limited, and detailed details about his parents and any siblings are not widely confirmed. What is clear is that he was raised in Montclair, New Jersey, and that his home community and his prep program at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School played significant roles in his development. He is not publicly known to be married, and no spouse or children have been confirmed in verifiable sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 Major League Soccer season represents Jamar Ricketts’ first full year as a member of the San Jose Earthquakes senior roster, and he has already produced one of the moments of the campaign for the club. On February 22, 2025, he scored his first MLS goal in a 4-0 victory over Real Salt Lake, a result that set an early tone for both his individual season and the team’s opening stretch. The performance offered a glimpse of the attacking instincts he displayed at California State University, Northridge.
Under the terms of his contract, which runs through the 2027 season, the Earthquakes have signaled their intention to make Ricketts a long-term part of their attacking plans. With his contract options exercised and his role on the senior squad growing, the 2025 season offers him the platform to expand his minutes and contribute more regularly to the first team.
As the year progresses, Ricketts’ combination of college production, professional experience with The Town FC, and his early MLS impact will be key storylines for San Jose supporters. Continued development in front of goal and an expanded role in the starting eleven would represent a strong return on the club’s investment in the 13th overall pick from the 2024 MLS SuperDraft.