Eight Sounders FC Academy Players Commit to Colleges

Sounders FC Academy forward Ike Crook (pictured middle) of Todd Beamer High School has committed to play soccer at the College of Charleston.

RENTON, Wash. - Eight members of the Seattle Sounders FC Academy Under-18 team have committed their futures to collegiate soccer programs. The National Letter of Intent signing period began on February 6. 

Among those that have signed an NLI, Jordan Morris of Mercer Island High School will attend Stanford University. He was the 2012 Gatorade Washington State Player of the Year. 

Three Sounders FC Academy players will remain in the Pacific Northwest as Kyle Bjornethun (Seattle University), Jordan Kollars (Seattle Pacific) and Michael Steele (Oregon State) each committed to nearby colleges. 

Jalen Markey of O'Dea High School decommitted from Syracuse University this week. 

Along with developing talent for the Major League Soccer club's senior team, the Sounders FC Academy also strives to develop young men to maximize their educational options.

List of Seattle Sounders FC Academly Under-18 Commitments
Kyle Bjornethun (Defender, Glacier Peak HS): Seattle University
Jordan Kollars (Midfielder, Central Kitsap HS): Seattle Pacific University
Jason McGlothern (Midfielder, Mount Rainier HS): Virginia Commonwealth University
Mark Matula (Defender, Eastlake HS): Drexel University
Michael Steele (Midfielder, Insight School): Oregon State University
Jacob Hauser-Ramsey (Forward, Shorewood HS): Cincinnati University
Jordan Morris (Midfielder, Mercer Island HS): Stanford University
Ike Crook (Forward, Todd Beamer HS): College of Charleston

The Sounders FC Academy will host an Open House in July. It provides an opportunity to learn more about the Sounders FC Academy U15/16 and U17/18 teams as well as other programs offered to enhance the 2013-2014 Youth System for Sounders FC