The unique chance in front of Taj Scott isn’t lost on him.

He was by far the furthest traveler at Homewood-Flossmoor’s May 11 college athletic signing event. Scott will study at Universidad Europea de Madrid and play for a Spanish soccer academy. 

“As long as you have an opportunity and you seize it, you can do anything you want to,” Scott said. “Just believe in yourself.” 

Scott went to a tryout in Spain in March. While he was there, he applied to a few colleges. Universidad Europea offered his major, biomedical engineering, so it was a good fit.

“I played in a Body Armour Showcase and a coach saw me and reached out saying he wanted to take me to Spain with a few other people for a trial for a few clubs, one being Rayo (Vallecano),” Scott said. “I loved the experience there and they loved me as a player.” 

In Europe, sports are not connected to college. Scott will go to class mostly during the day and play soccer and train in the evening.

The soccer academy is a part of the professional club’s system. Rayo Vallecano plays in La Liga, one of the world’s top professional leagues. Scott will get instruction from some of the best coaches and trainers in the sport. 

“It’s definitely a one in a million opportunity,” he said. “But it’s also an opportunity I have to take advantage of to the best of my ability. I can’t just let this opportunity go by. I have to work hard and try to keep excelling to the best of my ability.” 

Separating himself from all friends and family by an ocean is a little concerning, Scott said. He does know a few people in Europe, he said, so that will help. Family is a phone call away, too.  

He’ll study biomedical engineering with the intent to eventually work in sports prosthetics.

“I know it’s kind of cliche but I’ve always been interested in helping people,” Scott said. “Combining that with engineering, because I’ve always liked building things and combining things, putting that together helped me see biomedical engineering.” 

Lopez staying close by at IUN

Damian Lopez will only drive about 20 minutes to his college education. He’ll play soccer at Indiana University Northwest in Gary. 

“I’m just glad I was able to find a college that was able to fit my needs,” he said. “I’m super grateful (for H-F). We have amazing facilities and coaches and even just gym teachers that will push you hard to get you to the next level.” 

The RedHawks compete at the NAIA level. That originally gave Lopez pause, he said, but his feelings changed during a visit.

IUN coach Ben Kososkie told Lopez he’d be a key part of the team up front in what Lopez described as a very high-pressure counter attack system. 

“When I went to the practices and stuff like that, they really showed me how much of a family they are,” he said. “That’s really important to me.”

He’ll major in radiology. He considered Lewis and Roosevelt, as well.