Northville High School Junior Commits to Play Soccer at MSU

With the school year just getting underway, most high school juniors aren't thinking about college. But Northville High School junior Jimmy Fiscus has already decided that he is going to Michigan State University (MSU) in 2014.

After MSU offered him a scholarship to play soccer a few weeks ago, Jimmy quickly said yes.

"I really liked it there. They made me feel like family. Everything about it I liked. They gave me a great offer that I didn't believe I would get anywhere else, so I committed the day after," he said.

Jimmy, a Novi resident, has played soccer since he was 4 years old and now plays center back for the high-level U-16 Crew Soccer Academy, one of two academy teams in Michigan.

This is his second year playing for the team, which is part of a US National Team program. He will play for the U-18 team next year.

He also played for two years at Northville, but his academy schedule this year doesn't allow him to play for the Mustangs anymore.

Jimmy's sports commitment is considered early, but when he visited MSU in late August, he immediately fell in love with it.

His mother, Kim, said she and her husband, Jim, are thrilled.

"I think it's great. I think he's worked really hard for so many years, and he deserves it so we're really excited," she said.

She said she was surprised at how quickly Jimmy committed, since most players his age are just beginning the recruitment process. But Jimmy said he is confident in his decision.

"I didn't see myself anywhere else," Jimmy said.

His commitment is verbal until he is allowed to sign an agreement as a senior next year.

The 16-year-old currently practices a few days a week in Livonia, with games every weekend across the Midwest. He says he stays on top of schoolwork by making sure he gets his homework done before practice. Although soccer takes up a lot of his time, he says he doesn't feel like he's missing out on anything.

"I consider soccer to be my life, so I have no problem playing every day. This is the way I want it, and it's the way I'm going to keep it," he said.

Jimmy said he is eager to get to college, and although he is not sure what he wants to study, he is excited about the new experience.

What is he most looking forward to?

"I really like the coaches. They're like the coach I have now, who is probably my favorite coach. And I just love having fans at my games, that's (what) one of the best parts about high school soccer was. And just being independent in college and just being a family with my team," he said.