Demopolis soccer standout Brooker signs with UAB

For the first time since 2008, the Demopolis High School soccer program has a collegiate signee. Senior standout Adam Brooker inked a scholarship offer with UAB Wednesday, becoming only the second male player in Demopolis history and the first since Rob Cooke inked with Faulkner University to sign with a college soccer program.

“As a center-striker, center-forward,” Brooker said of how UAB coach Mike Getman intends to utilize him. “They said they had two strikers last year that were graduating, so they needed someone to come in and take action right away. I’m hoping I’ll be able to start immediately.”

Brooker’s signing with the only NCAA Division I men’s soccer program within the state marks the latest indicator of success in pursuit of a sport that has deviated from the rich placekicking history that populates his family’s archives.

“It was awesome. I’ve really enjoyed it,” Brooker said of receiving the UAB offer. “All my life, everybody has been pushing me to kick just like my family but it was my passion to go toward soccer and it worked out well.”

Brooker has proven himself a particularly skilled player to this point in his high school career and took his game to new heights last season when he scored 27 goals to go along with 21 assists while helping his team to a 12-4 record and an appearance in the second round of the state playoffs. That junior campaign put him at 62 goals thus far in his varsity career.

“I think it has improved greatly,” Brooker said of his skillset, which has been aided in its development by the work he has put in during club soccer opportunities and his time in the Olympic Development Program. “I still have some things to work on and there’s always room for improvement, but the ODP and club soccer has helped tremendously for me.”

As his senior season rapidly approaches, Brooker is focused on the goals of helping to get his team deeper into the state playoffs while simultaneously developing his abilities in view of his collegiate days.

“I need to get better at communication and playing to my teammates. I’m hoping UAB should be a comfortable fit,” Brooker said. “It’ll be a new game for me, college soccer, but anything that he has for me, I’ll be willing to take it and learn from.”

Brooker intends to major in computer science at UAB and has an interest in programming.