Devonshire Cougars footballer Mauriq Hill has signed a letter of intent to join Clemson University next fall.The promising centre back is one of seven new recruits Tigers head coach Mike Noonan is “excited about”.“These signees will add significant talent and depth to our roster,” he stated on the school’s website. “My staff and I are just as excited about the character of these young men as we are about their soccer talent.“All of our signees are successful academically as well as athletically. They will continue to add to the excellent tradition of student-athletes at Clemson University and should make significant contributions to our team and campus.”Hill says attending Clemson will afford him the opportunity to further pursue his athletic and academic goals.“I do have plans of playing professional soccer and being a successful businessman,” he told The Royal Gazette. “Attending Clemson will give me the opportunity to make my dreams come true.“Clemson has a good environment for me to improve and become a better player and continue to excel academically. Clemson is in the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) which is one of the hardest divisions in college soccer.”The former Hamilton Parish youth player, who is a big supporter of Barcelona and Spain central defender Carlos Puyol, currently attends Montverde Academy in Florida where he has maintained good grades in the classroom.“I have maintained a 3.83 GPA at Montverde Academy and look forward to graduating Magna Cum in the Spring,” he said. “MVA has definitely helped prepare me academically, mentally and physically for my journey ahead.”As well as excelling in the classroom, Hill has also thrived on the pitch as captain of an Eagles side that captured a second straight MAST Championship last month.“I was chosen to be captain of the MVA soccer team this year, so I had to lead my team on and off the field,” Hill said. “I started at centre back throughout the year and we only conceded four goals the entire season. I scored four goals out of the team total of 127 goals.”The Eagles started the season as the top ranked high school soccer team in the nation and retained their lofty status after going unbeaten throughout the 2012-13 campaign.Hill and his fellow teammates compiled a remarkable 25-0-1 record en route to retaining the national title that arrived courtesy of a 3-1 win against Brophy College Prep in the championship game.“Going into the 2012-13 preseason this year we were ranked number one in the nation in high school soccer,” Hill said. “This was a lot of pressure for my teammates and me.“We did not lose a game all season and with our superb performance throughout the season we kept our number one ranking in the nation. Our goal was to keep our spot at top!”