Lamar Texans’ five-star prospect Anthony Cook chooses The University of Texas
Texas Cookin'
Josh Koch
21 December 2017
Originally appeared on Vype.com.
HOUSTON—Moments before stepping out to sit at the table with cameras pointed in his direction, Anthony Cook delivered some bad news.
Cook called Texas coach Tom Herman to let him know he would be choosing another school.
After breaking his heart, Cook came out and finished off the joke on Herman by pulling out a bright burnt orange cap with the white Longhorn logo across the front and committed to the University of Texas on Wednesday.
“He was laughing,” Cook said about Herman’s reaction when he Facetimed him after his commitment. “‘I knew you were playing,'"(Herman said).
Cook had his top three schools narrowed down to Texas, LSU and Ohio State heading into the first ever early National Signing Day.
In past years a trend in Houston has seen top players leave the state to play college football but Cook wasn’t going to follow that.
“I’m from Texas,” Cook said. “If I would have went to any other school and then I see my Texas school winning a national championship that would have hurt my heart. So I couldn’t let that pass.”
On this day Cook was joined by teammates D’Shawn Jamison and Al’vonte Woodard, who both also signed to the University of Texas.
“It does make it easier (having) familiar faces,” Cook said. “We’re going in and we’re all going to experience the same thing. We’re going to be new but we’re going to get through it together.”
Cook had 30 offers heading into the day, according to Rivals.com, which ranked him as the No. 1 prospect to come out of Texas this recruiting class. Cook was ranked as the No. 8 overall prospect in the 2018 recruiting class.
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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