Whether it's a 50/50 ball, a game of cards or even gym class, Holly King is going to give her all.

The Northern Virginia and Loudoun SC standout describes herself as "really competitive."

"I'm like that with any kind of game. Even during P.E. when no one else tries, I do," she said. "So I'm always trying to do my best and to win."

This attitude has helped make King one of the most coveted recruits of the 2009 graduating class. Becky Burleigh's University of Florida Gators were the ones who won this recruiting battle, securing King's verbal commitment last year.

King said her visit to the Gainesville campus, including a chance to watch a soccer match, and yes, a football game, is what sold her on the Florida program

I went down there and fell in love with it," she said. "Of course it is kind of a relief to get it done with, so I could just focus on playing."

King chose the Gators over Florida State, Connecticut, West Virginia and James Madison.

Already King is working to get better in preparation for her college career. Rather than go through another season of ODP, she played this summer with the U20 team of the Washington Freedom, competing mainly against college soccer players. She found it an enlightening experience.

"That was good for me to go against college players. It helped me to know what I need to do to get better," she said. "I think like everyone I can improve my speed of play and know better what to do before I receive the ball."

King also plays a lot of pickup soccer with boys and works with a sports performance program three times a week to improve her strength, speed and endurance.

This drive to improve is something club coach Randy May cites as a key to King's success.

"One of the things that sets Holly apart is her will to win," she said. "She's an extremely dedicated young lady. She demands a lot of herself and has no problem putting it on the line every time. She expects a lot of herself every time and tries to inspire her teammates to raise their level of play as well."

May says as a player, King is well rounded, noting she relishes feedback and constructive criticism so she can continue working to improve.

"She's very strong in the air, very determined in terms of 50/50 balls and she will run through you if she has to to succeed," he said. "She has a very solid technical game and it is improving as well as her tactical understanding over the past three years I've been working with her."

With ambitions of reaching the national team (she has been in camp with YNTs before) and playing professionally, King will continue to show the drive and determination that have made her one of the very best in the class of 2009.