DCU names Shawn Cooke Academy Player of the Year

[Stan Collins]

Nice feature on Cooke, when he started playing, when he joined DCU (2007). By the rules I think that means he cannot join the senior team until next year, yes?

At any rate, right now the high school junior is looking at colleges.

[DoctorD]

If he gets an offer from DCU, he should definitely sign with the team instead of going to college. He can always go to college later.

[Count]

But you forget that he can get into colleges for soccer that he couldn't dream about getting into for his grades. (not him personally, but if any player were to have less than stellar grads)

He also will get to go to college for free with college.

Not to say that he should deffinitly go the NCAA route, but it's not cut and dry which way is better.

[Stan Collins]

Yeah, a lot goes into those decisions. A lot of times you can get into a better school on your soccer than you could on your grades alone. But of course some guys weren't cut out for college anyway.

Cooke is still 17 and has a little more time to think about it, as if I'm right about how long he's been here so far (1 year) we would have to wait until next year to sign him.

One thing is, he can go to college for one season (one semester of school) and if he kicked ass as a freshman he could go pro right then. By the youth rules, DC would still get the first crack at him in MLS.