Hooker's reputation at the high school level led to his selection for the U.S. U-20 national team at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico.
He scored in his first game in that tournament, a 2–3 loss to Uruguay and earned three junior national team caps.
[1] Hooker earned his first cap with the U.S. national team in an October 9, 1984 victory over El Salvador.
In 1986, Hooker played a single season as a forward with the San Diego Nomads of the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA) during the collegiate off-season.
His second season with the team saw him rise to sixth on the alliance's points list with 19 on 7 goals and 5 assists.
However, in the Professional Cup, he scored two goals with one coming in the Foxes 4–1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies.