Lex Cox spent four years anchoring the Rye Garnets' back line, led his team to the state championship game, and graduated with a 3.95 GPA. On Thursday, July 23, the national coaching organization United Soccer Coaches made it official: Cox is one of 74 boys nationwide named a 2025–2026 High School Scholar All-American.

He is one of only five boys soccer players from all of New York State to receive the honor.

Cox, a left back who wore No. 23, was not the type of player who filled a stat sheet. His former head coach Jared Small told MyRye.com that Cox's value showed in other ways.

"He led our team to the state finals, was immense both in his attacking and brave in his defending, and has earned his way academically and athletically onto a national championship contending team at one of the country's premier universities," Small said.

That university is the University of Chicago, where Cox committed to play soccer, according to a Rye High School college commitment announcement published Wednesday, June 24.

On the field, Cox's senior season was the best in recent Garnets history. Rye won the Section 1 championship in fall 2025 and advanced to the NYSPHSAA Class A state final before falling short. Cox was named Rye's Athlete of the Month for October 2025 during that run.

The Scholar All-American award recognizes cumulative achievement in both the classroom and on the soccer field across a student-athlete's full high school career, according to United Soccer Coaches. A total of 117 student-athletes earned the distinction this cycle, split between 63 girls and 74 boys.

Cox was also the Garnets' most recent primary penalty kick taker, an unusual responsibility for a left back.

Cox will continue playing at the Division III level in Chicago this fall.