Nashville SC makes deals to end with three first-round selections in club’s first MLS SuperDraft
NEW YORK (Thursday, January 9, 2020) – Expansion clubs Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC made major moves in building their teams for their inaugural seasons in Major League Soccer on Thursday, each club making a number of selections in 2020 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas.
Inter Miami CF came into the SuperDraft holding two of the first three selections. They used the No. 1 overall pick to select Generation adidas forward Robbie Robinson of Clemson Univ., Inter Miami CF owner David Beckham calling his new charge via Skype to inform him. Robinson was the winner this year of the MAC Hermann Trophy, awarded to the top male and female college soccer players in the USA, and became the first player ever from Clemson to be selected No. 1 overall in the MLS draft.
Inter Miami then used their third selection overall to select defender Dylan Nealis of Georgetown University, which this year won the NCAA Division I College Cup in men’s soccer for the first time in school history.
Nashville SC held the second selection overall, which they used to select Generation adidas defender Jack Maher of Indiana University. Nashville then bolstered its squad even further in the club’s inaugural draft, making trades to garner a pair of additional selections, obtaining the 11th selection overall from the Colorado Rapids (which they used to select defender Alistair Johnston of Wake Forest Univ.), and the 13th selection overall from the New England Revolution (which they used for goalkeeper Elliot Panicco of the Univ. of North Carolina Charlotte).
Vancouver Whitecaps FC held the fourth selection overall, and they chose Generation adidas defender Ryan Raposo of Syracuse University, one of four players from Canada selected in Friday’s first round. A pair of Generation adidas players both from the Univ. of Virginia went with the next two picks, Daryl Dike going to Orlando City SC with the fifth selection, and Henry Kessler to the New England Revolution with the sixth pick. All five members of the Generation adidas class of 2020 went in the first six selections overall.
Columbus Crew SC made the seventh pick, selecting defender Miguel Berry of the Univ. of San Diego, and with the eighth pick, the Houston Dynamo chose forward Garrett McLaughlin of Southern Methodist Univ. The Montréal Impact used the ninth selection overall to select defender Jeremy Kelly of the Univ. of North Carolina, whose rights the club then traded to the Colorado Rapids. The New York Red Bulls completed the top 10 selections with defender Patrick Seagrist of Marquette Univ.
Two schools had two players selected in the first round: Georgetown Univ. and the Univ. of Virginia, who met for the NCAA Division I College Cup championship in December.
Players from 39 colleges and universities were represented in the 52 selections overall, led by Clemson and Virginia, both with three. There were also players selected from 13 different countries: USA, Canada, Brazil, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Senegal and Spain.
Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2020 SuperDraft presented by adidas will be held via conference call on Monday, Jan. 13, beginning at 3 p.m. ET.
- For a complete recap of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, please visit: www.MLSsoccer.com.
- Video soundbytes from first-round selection are available HERE.
- USA TODAY Sports Images from the watch party for No. 1 overall pick Robbie Robinson are available HERE.
A round-by-round summary of the 2020 SuperDraft follows:
ROUND 1
<strong><em>#</em></strong> |
<strong><em>TEAM</em></strong> |
<strong><em>PLAYER</em></strong> |
<strong><em>POS.</em></strong> |
<strong><em>HT</em></strong> |
<strong><em>WT</em></strong> |
<strong><em>DOB</em></strong> |
<strong><em>HOMETOWN</em></strong> |
<strong><em>CLUB/COLLEGE</em></strong> |
<div>1.</div> |
<div>MIA</div> |
<div>Robbie Robinson <strong>*</strong></div> |
<div align="center">FW</div> |
<div align="center">6-2</div> |
<div align="center">170</div> |
<div align="center">12/17/1998</div> |
<div>Camden, S.C.</div> |
<div>Clemson Univ.</div> |
<div>2.</div> |
<div>NSH</div> |
<div>Jack Maher <strong>*</strong></div> |
<div align="center">DF</div> |
<div align="center">6-3</div> |
<div align="center">175</div> |
<div align="center">10/28/1999</div> |
<div>Caseyville, Ill.</div> |
<div>Indiana Univ.</div> |
<div>3.</div> |
<div>MIA</div> |
<div>Dylan Nealis</div> |
<div align="center">DF</div> |
<div align="center">5-11</div> |
<div align="center">175</div> |
<div align="center">07/30/1998</div> |
<div>Massapequa, N.Y.</div> |
<div>Georgetown Univ.</div> |
<div>4.</div> |
<div>VAN</div> |
<div>Ryan Raposo <strong>*</strong></div> |
<div align="center">FW</div> |
<div align="center">5-7</div> |
<div align="center">142</div> |
<div align="center">03/05/1999</div> |
<div>Hamilton, Ont., Canada</div> |
<div>Syracuse Univ.</div> |
<div>5.</div> |
<div>ORL</div> |
<div>Daryl Dike <strong>*</strong></div> |
<div align="center">FW</div> |
<div align="center">6-2</div> |
<div align="center">220</div> |
<div align="center">06/03/2000</div> |
<div>Edmond, Okla.</div> |
<div>Univ. of Virginia</div> |
<div>6.</div> |
<div>NE</div> |
<div>Henry Kessler <strong>*</strong></div> |
<div align="center">DF</div> |
<div align="center">6-4</div> |
<div align="center">185</div> |
<div align="center">06/25/1998</div> |
<div>New York, N.Y.</div> |
<div>Univ. of Virginia</div> |
<div>7.</div> |
<div>CLB</div> |
<div>Miguel Berry</div> |
<div align="center">FW</div> |
<div align="center">6-3</div> |
<div align="center">180</div> |
<div align="center">09/16/1997</div> |
<div>Poway, Calif.</div> |
<div>Univ. of San Diego</div> |
<div>8.</div> |
<div>HOU</div> |
<div>Garrett McLaughlin</div> |
<div align="center">FW</div> |
<div align="center">6-0</div> |
<div align="center">175</div> |
<div align="center">11/10/1997</div> |
<div>Oklahoma City, Okla.</div> |
<div>Southern Methodist Univ.</div> |
<div>9.</div> |
<div>MTL</div> |
<div>Jeremy Kelly</div> |
<div align="center">DF</div> |
<div align="center">5-10</div> |
<div align="center">145</div> |
<div align="center">10/21/1997</div> |
<div>Chapel Hill, N.C.</div> |
<div>Univ. of North Carolina</div> |
<div>10.</div> |
<div>NYR %</div> |
<div>Patrick Seagrist</div> |
<div align="center">DF</div> |
<div align="center">6-0</div> |
<div align="center">170</div> |
<div align="center">02/21/1998</div> |
<div>Streamwood, Ill.</div> |
<div>Marquette Univ.</div> |
<div>11.</div> |
<div>NSH &</div> |
<div>Alistair Johnston</div> |
<div align="center">DF</div> |
<div align="center">5-11</div> |
<div align="center">170</div> |
<div align="center">10/08/1998</div> |
<div>Aurora, Ont., Canada</div> |
<div>Wake Forest Univ.</div> |
<div>12.</div> |
<div>SJ</div> |
<div>Tanner Beason</div> |
<div align="center">DF</div> |
<div align="center">6-1</div> |
<div align="center">175</div> |
<div align="center">03/23/1997</div> |
<div>Winston-Salem, N.C.</div> |
<div>Stanford Univ.</div> |
<div>13.</div> |
<div>NSH #</div> |
<div>Elliot Panicco</div> |
<div align="center">GK</div> |
<div align="center">6-5</div> |
<div align="center">205</div> |
<div align="center">11/18/1996</div> |
<div>Huntersville, N.C.</div> |
<div>Univ. of North Carolina Charlotte</div> |
<div>14.</div> |
<div>DAL</div> |
<div>Nkosi Burgess</div> |
<div align="center">DF</div> |
<div align="center">6-4</div> |
<div align="center">185</div> |
<div align="center">03/23/1997</div> |
<div>Manhattan, N.Y.</div> |
<div>Seattle Univ.</div> |
<div>15.</div> |
<div>NYR</div> |
<div>Cherif Dieye</div> |
<div align="center">MF</div> |
<div align="center">5-9</div> |
<div align="center">150</div> |
<div align="center">11/11/1997</div> |
<div>Dakar, Senegal</div> |
<div>Univ. of Louisville</div> |
<div>16.</div> |
<div>POR</div> |
<div>Aaron Molloy</div> |
<div align="center">MF</div> |
<div align="center">5-11</div> |
<div align="center">165</div> |
<div align="center">01/11/1997</div> |
<div>Dublin, Ireland</div> |
<div>Pennsylvania State Univ.</div> |
<div>17.</div> |
<div>DAL</div> |
<div>Cal Jennings</div> |
<div align="center">FW</div> |
<div align="center">5-11</div> |
<div align="center">163</div> |
<div align="center">05/17/1997</div> |
<div>Roswell, Ga.</div> |
<div>Univ. of Central Florida</div> |
<div>18.</div> |
<div>MIN</div> |
<div>Noah Billingsley</div> |
<div align="center">DF</div> |
<div align="center">6-2</div> |
<div align="center">185</div> |
<div align="center">08/06/1997</div> |
<div>Wellington, New Zealand</div> |
<div>Univ. of California, Santa Barbara</div> |
<div>19.</div> |
<div>TOR</div> |
<div>Nyal Higgins</div> |
<div align="center">DF</div> |
<div align="center">6-2</div> |
<div align="center">173</div> |
<div align="center">01/19/1998</div> |
<div>Ajax, Ont., Canada</div> |
<div>Syracuse Univ.</div> |
<div>20.</div> |
<div>RSL</div> |
<div>Dayonn Harris</div> |
<div align="center">FW</div> |
<div align="center">5-7</div> |
<div align="center">155</div> |
<div align="center">08/29/1997</div> |
<div>Milton, Ont, Canada</div> |
<div>Univ. of Connecticut</div> |
<div>21.</div> |
<div>DC @</div> |
<div>Simon Lefebvre</div> |
<div align="center">GK</div> |
<div align="center">6-9</div> |
<div align="center">210</div> |
<div align="center">05/06/1997</div> |
<div>Ossun, France</div> |
<div>Temple Univ.</div> |
<div>22.</div> |
<div>NYC</div> |
<div>Jesús Perez</div> |
<div align="center">MF</div> |
<div align="center">5-10</div> |
<div align="center">145</div> |
<div align="center">10/01/1997</div> |
<div>Waukegan, Ill.</div> |
<div>Univ. of Illinois at Chicago</div> |
<div>23.</div> |
<div>ATL</div> |
<div>Patrick Nielsen</div> |
<div align="center">DF</div> |
<div align="center">6-4</div> |
<div align="center">187</div> |
<div align="center">09/18/1996</div> |
<div>Copenhagen, Denmark</div> |
<div>Michigan State Univ.</div> |
<div>24.</div> |
<div>LFC</div> |
<div>Paulo Pita</div> |
<div align="center">GK</div> |
<div align="center">6-3</div> |
<div align="center">06/03/1994</div> |
<div>Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil</div> |
<div>Marshall Univ.</div> |
|
<div>25.</div> |
<div>TOR</div> |
<div>Ifunanyachi Achara</div> |
<div align="center">FW</div> |
<div align="center">5-10</div> |
<div align="center">161</div> |
<div align="center">09/28/1997</div> |
<div>Enugu, Nigeria</div> |
<div>Georgetown Univ.</div> |
<div>26.</div> |
<div>CHI</div> |
<div>Jonathan Jimenez</div> |
<div align="center">FW</div> |
<div align="center">5-11</div> |
<div align="center">12/17/1997</div> |
<div>Cape Coral, Fla.</div> |
<div>Univ. of the Pacific</div> |
* Generation adidas
% CHI trade No. 10 overall selection in 2020 to NYR for $100,000 general allocation money
& COL trade No. 11 overall selection in 2020 to NSH for $75,000 general allocation money
NE trade No. 13 overall selection in 2020 to NSH for $50,000 general allocation money, $50,000 conditional allocation money
@ PHI trade No. 21 overall selection in 2020, No. 21 selection in 2020 Allocation Ranking to DC for No. 17 selection in 2020 Allocation Ranking, potential $50,000 in General Allocation Money
TEAM-BY-TEAM SELECTIONS:
Atlanta United (1): Patrick Nielsen (23)
Chicago Fire FC (1): Jonathan Jimenez (26)
FC Cincinnati (1): Rey Ortiz (29)
Colorado Rapids (1): Robin Afamefuna (37)
Columbus Crew SC (3): Miguel Berry (7); Remi Prieur (47); Danny Griffin (49)
D.C. United (2): Simon Lefebvre (21); Josh Fawole (42)
FC Dallas (3): Nkosi Burgess (14); Cal Jennings (17); Manuel Ferriol (40)
Houston Dynamo (2): Garrett McLaughlin (8); Luka Prpa (34)
Sporting Kansas City (0)
LA Galaxy (1): Tom Smart (45)
Los Angeles Football Club (2): Paulo Pita (24); Jack Hallahan (50)
Inter Miami CF (2): Robbie Robinson (1); Dylan Nealis (3)
Minnesota United FC (1): Noah Billingsley (18)
Montréal Impact (1): Jeremy Kelly (9)
Nashville SC (4): Jack Maher (2); Alistair Johnston (11); Elliot Panicco (13); Tanner Dieterich (28)
New England Revolution (3): Henry Kessler (6); Simon Lekressner (30); Keegan Meyer (43)
New York Red Bulls (4): Patrick Seagrist (10); Cherif Diaye (15); Wallis Lapsley (36); Deri Corfe (41)
New York City FC (2): Jesús Perez (22); Felicien Dumas (48)
Orlando City SC (4): Daryl Dike (5); Joey DeZart (31); Jonathan Dean (39); Austin Aviza (44)
Philadelphia Union (0)
Portland Timbers (1): Aaron Molloy (16)
Real Salt Lake (2): Dayonn Harris (20); Michael Wetungu (46)
San Jose Earthquakes (3): Tanner Beason (12); Jack Skahan (27); Jon Bell (38)
Seattle Sounders FC (2): Danny Reynolds (35); Timo Mehlich (52)
Toronto FC (4): Nyal Higgins (19); Ifunanyachi Achara (25); Malick Mbaye (33); Simon Waever (51)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2): Ryan Raposo (4), Daniel Gagliardi (32)
COLLEGE-BY-COLLEGE SELECTIONS:
Univ. of Akron (1): Tom Smart
Univ. of California (1): Simon Lekressner
Univ. of California, Davis (1): Wallis Lapsley
Univ. of California, Santa Barbara (1): Noah Billingsley
Univ. of Central Florida (2): Jonathan Dean; Cal Jennings
Clemson Univ. (3): Tanner Dieterich; Malick Mbaye; Robbie Robinson
Univ. of Connecticut (1): Dayonn Harris
Florida International Univ. (1): Daniel Gagliardi
Georgetown Univ. (2): Ifunanyachi Achara; Dylan Nealis
High Point Univ. (1): Keegan Meyer
Univ. of Illinois at Chicago (1): Jesús Perez
Indiana Univ. (2): Jack Maher; Simon Waever
James Madison Univ. (1): Manuel Ferriol
Univ. of Louisville (1): Cherif Diaye
Loyola Univ. Maryland (1): Josh Fawole
Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore County (1): Jon Bell
Marquette Univ. (2): Luka Prpa; Patrick Seagrist
Marshall Univ. (1): Paulo Pita
Univ. of Michigan (1): Jack Hallahan
Michigan State Univ. (2): Patrick Nielsen; Michael Wetungu
University of Nevada Las Vegas (1): Timo Mehlich
Univ. of North Carolina (2): Jeremy Kelly; Jack Skahan
Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte (1): Elliot Panicco
Univ. of North Carolina Wilmington (1): Danny Reynolds
Univ. of Notre Dame (1): Felicien Dumas
Univ. of the Pacific (1): Jonathan Jimenez
Penn State Univ. (1): Aaron Molloy
Univ. of Portland (1); Rey Ortiz
Providence College (2): Austin Aviza; Danny Griffin
Saint Mary’s College (1): Remi Prieur
Univ. of San Diego (1): Miguel Berry
Seattle Univ. (1): Nkosi Burgess
Southern Methodist Univ. (1): Garrett McLaughlin
Stanford Univ. (1): Tanner Beason
Syracuse Univ. (2): Nyal Higgins; Ryan Raposo
Temple Univ. (1): Simon Lefebvre
Univ. of Virginia (3): Robin Afamefuna, Daryl Dike, Henry Kessler
Wake Forest Univ. (2): Joey DeZart, Alistair Johnston
Wright State Univ. (1): Deri Corfe
