D.C. United announced the “Pathway to Pro” program in September 2018, partnering with five area youth soccer clubs with the intention of providing a pathway for players in those clubs to the professional ranks. And when he signed with them in March, Griffin Yow was touted as a prime example of this, with his coaches at Virginia Development Academy being mentioned in the team’s press release as contributing to his growth.
In retrospect, Yow’s signing seemed like a formality of sorts; the young forward had been appearing with the United States U-17 team several times before making his professional debut with D.