Teaming Up

FORMER LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STARS MAKING A GO OF IT IN EUROPE AS TEAMMATES IN THE PROS

Oakland County natives and pro soccer players Josh Gatt and Sean Cunningham are quite a long way from home right now. But at least they have each other.

Gatt, 19 and Cunningham, 18, were both prep stars in Metro Detroit and today live together as roommates and compete together as teammates in Europe (Molde FK), playing in a top-tier professional league in Norway.

This summer they will both be part of the U.S. U-20 National Team, an elite roster of less than two dozen of the best young soccer talent in the country.

The pair of KICK KINGS are a rare breed; youngsters good enough to make the jump directly from high school to the pro ranks. If you saw these two play as prepsters, it should come as no surprise.

Graduating from Novi Detroit Catholic Central in 2010, Gatt was one of the state's premiere offensive playmaking threats for three years running, an exciting mix of speed, skill and flair. He could easily be the best overall soccer talent I've seen in the area in the past decade.

A star defender for Troy High School, with instinct, size and iron clad resolve, Cunningham will be getting his diploma this Saturday (via his mother who will be accepting it in his honor). He's been arguably the state's best defensive player over the past two seasons, after missing his sophomore year with a broken leg. Not wanting to waste a second getting his pro career off the ground, Cunningham left for Europe right after the conclusion of the Colts' season last fall.

Watching him play was a personal thrill – and saying that about a defender says a lot. But to my point, he is one of the few prep players I ever saw totally dominate games from the backend of the field. He dictated game tempo from the sweeper or stopper post and that's hard to do.

Prior to making their decisions to "go pro" right after high school, Gatt and Cunningham were both inked with Big 10 colleges – Gatt with Indiana and Cunningham with Michigan. Burney feels sorry for the Hoosiers and Wolverines for missing out on such outstanding talent.

For both of these guys, athletic prowess runs in the family.

Gatt's dad and uncle were football stars at CC that both went on to win a NAIA National Championship at Hillsdale back in the mid-1980s. His brother was an all-state wrestler for the Shamrocks.

Sean's sister was an all-state soccer player at Troy, who played in college at Grand Valley State and Oakland University.

Don't be surprised if in a few years you see either Josh or Sean, or possibly BOTH, kicking it on the pitch with the U.S. National Team in the World Cup. Now, that would be cool. Watch out Donovan, Dempsey, Adou and co., my boyz Gatt and Cunningham are coming for your jobs!!!

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