« Men’s Basketball 2014-15

John Schoof

School
American University
Position
Guard
Major
Business Administration

Classroom

Schoof lives up to the Patriot League billing of student first in student-athlete. A two-time conference Academic Honor Roll selection, he earned Academic All-Patriot League Team honors in his sophomore season. Last year he boasted a 3.66 GPA and was named to the NABC Honors Court, and his GPA last season led all American University men’s basketball players.

Character

Not many players could overcome the loss of a prominent head coach, and few others could spearhead a new coach’s vision and implement a 10-win turnaround and the program’s third-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament, but Schoof did. Voted a team captain in his junior year, Schoof led the Eagles both on and off the court for first-year Head Coach Mike Brennan. He led by example, and no player worked harder in the weight room and on the court than Schoof. He also gave of himself, sacrificing his own game for the benefit of the team. Schoof was seventh in the nation as a 3-point shooter in his second year at AU, but he saw his percentage drop as he dedicated himself to defense and passing in Brennan’s “Princeton” offense. His self-sacrificing style was noticed by his teammates and was infectious as the Eagles went on to win the Patriot League.

Community

A D.C. area native from nearby Fairfax, Va., Schoof is active both on the American University campus and in the D.C. community. He participates in the Green AU initiative and campus beautification days, and Schoof also gives of his time at events such as a local festivals in which he interacts with young fans and teaches some of the fundamentals of the game. He is part of department initiatives to visit local schools and those in at-risk areas to promote education and increase exposure for the value of the college experience.

Competition

A Third-Team All-Patriot League selection last season, the co-captain helped American University to its third-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament with an upset victory at Boston University in the Patriot League Championship game. He helped AU achieve national recognition as the team with the seventh-highest field goal percenatge in the nation (.490) and points allowed per game (59.1). He is one of four Eagles in double-digit scoring, averaging 11.4 ppg and is on pace to become the 29th player in school history to eclipse the 1,000 point plateau. He is fourth all-time at AU with 159 3-pointers made and sixth overall in the record book with 92 games started.