February 13, 2020 

By Jon Feyen
ScoutU 

Less than three months after becoming a ScoutU prospect, Cooper Smith made the decision to commit to the best academic school that was recruiting him. 

Recently the 2020 Academy of Holy Angels graduate from Bloomington, Minn., made his decision to attend Gustavus Adolphus College and play baseball there. 

GAC is known as a wonderful academic school, ranked 89th by U.S. News & World Report. The Gusties have also thrived on the diamond, posting a 25-13 record last season while winning the MIAC title. 

“What stood out about Gustavus Adolphus was the academic offering coupled with a strong history of success,” Smith said. “I also liked the small town campus feel. I was comfortable with the coaching staff and the interest they showed in my ability to come and make an early impact. I also love the baseball complex.” 

Smith is a threat both at the plate and on the mound. During his club season last fall, he batted .388 with 10 extra-base hits in 17 games. Smith’s pitching numbers included a 1.40 ERA and averaged one strikeout per inning. 

“I’m extremely excited to play at the collegiate level,” Smith said. “I like the fact I will be able to play various positions and I’m excited to get started.” 

ScoutU’s Jason Lauren expected many programs to be interested in Smith’s all-around game. 

“Cooper isn’t a player who has the top-end skills numbers, but he knows how to produce and just gets it done, both at the plate and on the mound,” Lauren said. “I’m sure Cooper will be an excellent two-way player. I’m so proud he decided to go to Gustavus Adolphus. He had schools at higher levels showing interest in him, but in the end, he decided to go to the best academic school for him, with GAC being one of the top academic schools in the country.” 

Smith, who plans to major in business, liked how he could personalize his recruiting process with ScoutU. 

“Jason and ScoutU opened doors for me that I couldn’t have done by myself,” Smith said. “He cared about what I wanted, and we targeted our search based on my wishes. He taught me things I did not know about recruiting and guided me around potential obstacles. I would recommend Jason and ScoutU to anyone looking to play any level in college.”