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Fro Adu steps out from under his brother's shadow
<HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1>Maria Burns
It's rare that Fro Adu has the opportunity to achieve a soccer first in his family. Such is life when one's older brother is one of the biggest stars ever to emerge on the U.S. soccer scene.
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</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left><SPAN class=byline>Fro Adu, right, in action at last month's Disney Soccer Showcase. (Scott Miller/Disney/Other)</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="7" type="block"></SPACER></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><PHOTO1>
"Some people would think I would be jealous and stuff like that, but that's just not the type of people that we are," Adu said of being the younger brother of Freddy Adu. "If he was in my shoes, he would be the exact same way. I know it's because of the way my mom raised us. I'm just happy because it's like, 'Wow, he's doing his thing and I'm his brother.'" Now, it's Fro's turn to do "his thing." He has committed to play at George Mason University next fall. "First of all, it's great because I'm going to college," Adu said. "That makes my mom happy because Freddy didn't go to college. He did the soccer thing." By "doing the soccer thing," Adu was referring to how his older brother became the youngest player to sign an MLS contract when he joined D.C. United at 14. While playing at the Division I level might not stack up in many people's minds to playing in the pros, it should be noted that Fro Adu is a 15-year-old high school senior. "I can't even drive next year when I go to college," Adu said. "How messed up is that? My whole high school years I couldn't even drive." He might not be able to drive, but he can play. His current club coach, Pete Mehlert, has no qualms about his young player's readiness. "His experience, maybe it rubbed off from Freddy, maybe from the national team and all that, I think bodes well for his readiness for the next level," said Mehlert, coach of the Potomac Cougars U-17 team. Previously the men's soccer coach at American University, Mehlert knows a thing or two when it comes to determining a player's ability to compete at the collegiate level. A number of coaches from top college programs agreed with Mehlert's assessment. Adu's skills drew interest from schools across the nation, including North Carolina, Wake Forest and Virginia. Proximity to home, the chance to help build the program and the Patriots' coaching staff led Adu to choose Mason -- against Freddy's urging. "He was always like, 'Fro, go to an ACC school," Adu said. "He's big time. ... But my brother didn't really have a big influence on me. It was all my mom because I honestly was not going to listen to him about college. I was like, 'Don't you tell me about college. You didn't go to college.' But he was happy. It's very close, too, so he can come watch games if he's home." Adu's current coach is also looking forward to getting a chance to watch him play at Mason. "George Mason is very lucky to be getting his service as a player," Mehlert said. "He's a born leader. He makes our team play more like a team. He's a two-way player on the field. He helps out on the attack and defends. He organizes his teammates. ... He's more than ready [to play at the next level] because he's physically very gifted." Mehlert isn't the only person that recognizes Fro Adu's ability. Will Nord, who coaches the FC DELCO U-17 club team out of Eastern Pennsylvania, faces Adu's Cougars at least once a year. "Fro Adu is a very nice player," Nord said. "His technical skill is solid and he has a good understanding
<HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1>Maria Burns
It's rare that Fro Adu has the opportunity to achieve a soccer first in his family. Such is life when one's older brother is one of the biggest stars ever to emerge on the U.S. soccer scene.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=205 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left>
</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left><SPAN class=byline>Fro Adu, right, in action at last month's Disney Soccer Showcase. (Scott Miller/Disney/Other)</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="7" type="block"></SPACER></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><PHOTO1>"Some people would think I would be jealous and stuff like that, but that's just not the type of people that we are," Adu said of being the younger brother of Freddy Adu. "If he was in my shoes, he would be the exact same way. I know it's because of the way my mom raised us. I'm just happy because it's like, 'Wow, he's doing his thing and I'm his brother.'" Now, it's Fro's turn to do "his thing." He has committed to play at George Mason University next fall. "First of all, it's great because I'm going to college," Adu said. "That makes my mom happy because Freddy didn't go to college. He did the soccer thing." By "doing the soccer thing," Adu was referring to how his older brother became the youngest player to sign an MLS contract when he joined D.C. United at 14. While playing at the Division I level might not stack up in many people's minds to playing in the pros, it should be noted that Fro Adu is a 15-year-old high school senior. "I can't even drive next year when I go to college," Adu said. "How messed up is that? My whole high school years I couldn't even drive." He might not be able to drive, but he can play. His current club coach, Pete Mehlert, has no qualms about his young player's readiness. "His experience, maybe it rubbed off from Freddy, maybe from the national team and all that, I think bodes well for his readiness for the next level," said Mehlert, coach of the Potomac Cougars U-17 team. Previously the men's soccer coach at American University, Mehlert knows a thing or two when it comes to determining a player's ability to compete at the collegiate level. A number of coaches from top college programs agreed with Mehlert's assessment. Adu's skills drew interest from schools across the nation, including North Carolina, Wake Forest and Virginia. Proximity to home, the chance to help build the program and the Patriots' coaching staff led Adu to choose Mason -- against Freddy's urging. "He was always like, 'Fro, go to an ACC school," Adu said. "He's big time. ... But my brother didn't really have a big influence on me. It was all my mom because I honestly was not going to listen to him about college. I was like, 'Don't you tell me about college. You didn't go to college.' But he was happy. It's very close, too, so he can come watch games if he's home." Adu's current coach is also looking forward to getting a chance to watch him play at Mason. "George Mason is very lucky to be getting his service as a player," Mehlert said. "He's a born leader. He makes our team play more like a team. He's a two-way player on the field. He helps out on the attack and defends. He organizes his teammates. ... He's more than ready [to play at the next level] because he's physically very gifted." Mehlert isn't the only person that recognizes Fro Adu's ability. Will Nord, who coaches the FC DELCO U-17 club team out of Eastern Pennsylvania, faces Adu's Cougars at least once a year. "Fro Adu is a very nice player," Nord said. "His technical skill is solid and he has a good understanding