Sports

Regis star Pierre finds right fit in Dartmouth

Devin Pierre took plenty of visits to elite academic schools with top-notch soccer programs. Georgetown, Brown, Amherst and Colgate were all part of the process.

It all ended when the Regis standout stepped foot on Dartmouth’s sprawling campus.

“I could see myself on campus when I was there,” the skilled midfielder said. “It was where I could see myself the next four years.”

Pierre, who also plays for the FC Westchester 18U Academy team, made it official on Tuesday, verbally committing to the defending Ivy League champions and head coach Jeff Cook three days after he was offered a spot on the team. Pierre was looking for a combination of elite academics and athletics. With its academic pedigree and recent history of reaching the NCAA Tournament, Dartmouth offered both for the rising senior with the 3.8 GPA.

“It was the clear option,” he said of Dartmouth, which is coming off its ninth Ivy crown and fifth NCAA Tournament berth. “It was the best combination of what I wanted.”

Pierre, an All-Manhattan first team selection by The Post, watched Dartmouth play and felt he would fit in well in Cook’s system. He was impressed with the team’s toughness, discipline and commitment – “it’s the same way I am,” said Pierre, a three-year starter at Regis who scored five goals and added eight assists last year in leading the Raiders to the CHSAA Class AA quarterfinals.

Dartmouth came into the picture in January when assistant coach Chad Riley sent Pierre an email. They saw Pierre at the U.S. Development Academy showcase in Dallas recently and Cook offered him on Sunday, the first day college coaches can contact prospective recruits.

He had been to several other schools and none could compare. It’s why he committed on Tuesday, well before his senior year begins.

“I didn’t want to keep them waiting, they were my No. 1 choice,” the 16-year-old from White Plains said. “I chose as early as I possibly could.”

Pierre added: “A lot of kids [at Regis] are stressing about college. I get the weight off my shoulders to have the process over.”

Pierre will have the opportunity to play right away, he said he was told by Cook. He wasn’t recruited as a set position – for FC Westchester he played center back, and at Regis he was a defensive central midfielder. The Big Green liked his versatility, which also endeared him to Regis coach Vinny Catapano, who thinks Pierre will fit in well in the Ivy League.

“He’ll never get all the headlines [because of the position he plays], but he’ll definitely hold his own on the Division I level,” Catapano said. “He’s played academy ball since he was 11, 12 years old at the highest level. He’s gone across the country to play at the highest level of club ball. He’s played against the best kids in his age group year in and year out already.”

Pierre will continue to do so in college, at his dream school.

zbraziller@nypost.com