PIKE Co., Ky. (WYMT) - University of Pikeville graduate Eric VanHoose said he is ready to coach gamers to League of Legends victories.

"Ten players compete to try and get to the other person's base," said VanHoose.

Robert Morris University in Chicago was the first school to make League of Legends an official sport.

This fall the University of Pikeville will become the second team to offer athletic scholarships for eSports.

New Media Director Bruce Parsons said it is something he can smile about.

"It's actually becoming a worldwide trend," Parsons said. "This game is five on five competitive play. It takes skill, practice and a lot of teamwork."

Parsons said this dedication to provide various types of technology to students is an obvious extension of what their university is all about.

"I think there are going to be a lot of students, both nationwide and international, who are going to look at our university who wouldn't have before," Parsons said.

Scholarship recipients will begin League of Legends competition play in the fall and even have scrimmages.

"It will be a regime a lot like athletics," Parsons said. "They'll have to have a certain GPA. We'll look at them like student athletes. There will be practice time and video time when they have to study other teams for upcoming competitions."

The players will join more than 230 universities and colleges competing in the Collegiate StarLeague.

Parsons said, "What makes a good League of Legends player and eSports player also makes a good student."

Parsons said at least 20 scholarships are available.

Fore more information, visit http://www.upike.edu/News/Campus/UPIKE-enters-the-arena-with-new-ESPORTs-program.