In most sports, athletes traversing from college to the pros might be sent clear across the country. And in soccer, it is common for American players to venture even farther, plying their trade in one of Europe's or South America's numerous leagues.
But in one AU senior's case, the journey is just a 30-minute Metro ride to RFK Stadium.
On Feb 4, local Major League Soccer team D.C. United drafted former AU star Shawn Kuykendall with the final pick of the final round of the MLS Supplemental Draft - which is akin to the National Football League draft's second day. As the 12th pick of the fourth and final round, Kuykendall could be likened to the NFL's "Mr. Irrelevant," the teasing name for the final pick of the NFL draft, though he won't receive the same ceremonial parade or new car.
Such late-round picks aren't usually expected to make the final roster. Two years ago, United picked AU goalkeeper Michael Behonick in the sixth round of the MLS Superdraft, only to cut him shortly after.
But with MLS rosters expanding from 24 to 28 players this season, and with Kuykendall a familiar entity who trained with United in previous summers, those prospects may have risen drastically.
"They've said that I made the team," said Kuykendall, who returned to AU from preseason training with United in Florida this week.
"To me it's the perfect situation," continued Kuykendall, whose father, Kurt, played both at AU and professionally and has seen sons Kris, Shawn and J.P. all follow in his collegiate footsteps. "It's something I've dreamed about. Not only will I graduate, but I'll be playing professional soccer in my hometown, for the club I supported growing up. For friends and family to see you play is awesome."
Kuykendall played in three preseason matches, entering in the second half against MLS teams Real Salt Lake and the Columbus Crew, and starting in a match against the under-17 U.S. National team. In that game, which United won, 3-2, Kuykendall - playing with what the team Web site termed a "youthful line-up" - logged 65 minutes before leaving the match for 15-year-old icon Freddy Adu.
While Kuykendall was a fluid midfield playmaker for AU, leading the Eagles with 6 goals and 9 assists last season, United has him at defensive midfield, where skilled but sometimes undersized players in college often find themselves at the next level.
It's a switch he hasn't minded.
"It's fine," Kuykendall said, adding that his father's presence throughout his growth is why "I'm able to understand so many positions and to know my role."
Despite the early playing time, Kuykendall will likely play a limited on-field role when the regular season begins. With the roster expansion, MLS is creating a reserve league similar to others around the world, where Kuykendall and other draftees and young players should get precious match experience.
Having been discounted since high school because of his tall-but-slight stature, Kuykendall isn't about to listen to critics who say he won't make it off the reserves.
"I have a lot of big goals," he said. "Some people would probably laugh at me. But they laughed at me in high school when I told them I wanted to play pro soccer. I want to be playing a lot by the end of the year and to be consistently making the (18-person) travel squad. Hopefully I'll get time near the end of the year, so at least they'll have future plans for me."
In the coming week, Kuykendall should know for sure whether he play in the District this season and the logistics of his contract if he makes the team, he said. If he stays with United, as he expects to, he will continue juggling school and practices.
It won't be a problem when United plays in D.C., he said, because, like many college seniors, he's scheduled evening classes around what, for now, is a morning job. But things become trickier when United travels to preseason camps, like the recent one in Florida or an upcoming one in Hawaii.
Though Behonick, the AU goalkeeper who was drafted and cut by United, decided to drop out of school for the semester and finish in the fall, Kuykendall has opted to finish his education now. Despite the logistical problems, Kuykendall said staying in school was his only choice.
"I can't say whether it was the right or wrong decision [for Behonick]," Kuykendall said. "I need to graduate. The opportunity is provided here to get a degree, and with being drafted by D.C., I can finish while I'm just a month into the season."
United begins its regular season on April 2 in a game against CD Chivas USA, an expansion team based in Los Angeles. Before that, United will play in the first round of a continental championship against a Jamaican team in early March.
In the meantime, Kuykendall will gladly juggle the commitments of senior year and rookie year at the same time, accepting congratulations from students during afternoon and evening classes after filling the water coolers for practice in the morning. It's a dual life he can accept.
"Honestly, it is tiring," Kuykendall admitted. "But you seem to find the energy when it's something you've dreamed about doing your entire life"
