In the 2023 MLS SuperDraft that took place December 21st, 16 of the 29 First Round Draft Picks were Black. This includes a wide variety of ballers from different nationalities, conferences, positions, all with a major shot at dominating at the next level. Take a look at the Next Gen ready to take their talents to new heights, and who we can’t wait see this year debut in the MLS.
These four guys right here were the Top 4 picks of the entire draft, and are labeled as having the most potential in joining the MLS and bringing their silverware along with them.
1. Hamady Diop
Dakar, Senegal
Defender: Clemson / Generation adidas
Charlotte FC
In earning the #1 overall pick, Hamady’s accolades include making ACC’s all-freshman team in 2020, he second-team All-ACC in 2021 and 2022, and helping lead Clemson to an NCAA National Championship in 2021.
2. Shakur Mohammed
Kumasi, Ghana
Midfielder/ST: Duke
Orlando City SC
Another West African-born ACC talent, Shakur also dominated the conference earning ACC Freshman of the Year in 2021 and making the All-ACC Freshman and Second Team, while in 2022 he was ACC Offensive Player of the year and even made the NCAA First Team All-America.
3. Moise Bombito
Montréal, Canada
Defender: New Hampshire / Generation adidas (MLS NEXT: Seacoast United)
Colorado Rapids
A Montréal native, Bombito is the first UNH player to be selected in the first round of the MLS Draft. At a towering 6-foot-3, the stout defender was named 2022 American East Defender of the Year and ECAC Defensive Player of the Year.
4. Joshua Bolma
Accra, Ghana
Midfielder: Maryland / Generation adidas
New England Revolution
The creative Ghanaian baller was second in assists in the Big Ten last season with 8, and thrived in an attacking midfield position that New England will be looking to help create more goals for their lackluster offense last season.
The next wave of players rounded it out to be 7 of the top 8 picks being Black, and 8 of the top 12.
5. Jean-Claude Ngando
Doula, Cameroon
Midfielder: UNC – Greensboro / Generation adidas
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
In just 37 games in college, the attacking midfielder bagged a ridiculous 22 assists to go with 9 goals, while earning him 2022 South Conference Player of the Year, NCAA Division 1 All American First Team honors, 2021 South Conference Freshman of the Year, and more. Prior to college, he also spent time in France (where he moved at age seven from Cameroon) with Paris FC and Amiens SC II.
7. Ilijah Paul
Gilbert, Arizona
Forward: Washington / Generation adidas (MLS NEXT: Real Salt Lake)
Real Salt Lake
In a breakout season for the Huskies, Ilijah earned Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year honors leading the conference with 12 goals, after registering not a single goal and just 1 assist in the previous season.
8. Stephen Afrifa
Toronto, Canada
Forward: FIU
Sporting KC
The Torontonian is another top Canadian draft pick and will look to bolster KC’s attack after bagging 23 goals and 11 assists in his 63 collegiate appearances, as well as leading his squad to the 2022 American Athletic Conference titles for both the regular season and the round robin tournament while receiving several personal honors.
12. Patrick Agyemang
Ghana
Forward: Rhode Island
Charlotte FC
The highest ever draftee from Rhode Island is another up top baller with heavy productivity, as he managed 19 goals and 12 assists in only 37 games, and is yet another Ghanaian towards the top of the draft.
Next group gets us into our second half of Black First Round Picks, making it 12 of 22 being Black.
16. Bertin Jacquesson
Lorrez-Le-Bocage, France
Forward: Pittsburgh / Generation adidas
Real Salt Lake City
Another player that’s the highest ever pick from their school, the Frenchman and Pitt legend had quite the offensive output (a theme with these guys!) with 19 goals and 23 assists in 57 games, with the assists being 2nd all time for the Panthers. Along with his won brilliance, he helped secured team success as their squad made three straight Elite Eight runs.
17. Abdi Salim
Buffalo, NY
Defender: Syracuse (MLS NEXT: Rochester New York FC/Empire United)
Orlando City SC
One of the school-record five Syracuse men’s players selected from their 2022 NCAA Championship squad, this Upstate NY baller was a lockdown defender to help secure the team their only ever national championship in his final season.
19. Ryen Jiba
South Sudan
Defender: Union Omaha
Minnesota United FC
The South Sudanese that grew in up Salt Lake City, Utah puts another African on the board, and the only player on this list coming from a USL side rather than college. After a junior college career snagging 25 goals and 20 assists at Salt Lake Community College, he’s made his way all the way to the professional level in an inspiring and unlikely story.
22. Joey Akpunonu
Toledo, Ohio
Defender: Bowling Green / Generation adidas
FC Cincinnati
Akpunonu earned a Generation adidas deal thanks to a great performance at the 2022 adidas MLS College Showcase, and led a stout defense that only conceded 10 goals, with 2 being penalties, all year.
Our final group of picks that made it the historic 16 of 29 First Round Picks being Black.
24. Herbet Endeley
Blaine, Minnesota
Forward: Indiana
FC Dallas
The dangerous winger will join a talented young Dallas side, after receiving All-Big Ten selections in all of his seasons as a Hoosier, including a trip to the most recent national championship game where he scored but his side fell to the Cuse Orange Men.
25. Emeka Eneli
Dublin, Ohio
Forward: Cornell
Real Salt Lake City
Emeka is the second of the four Ivy League ballers to be selected in this year’s draft. A special 21 goals and 18 assists with The Big Red, Emeka is the first Cornell baller to have been selected in the first-round, and is putting Ithaca on the map. With Wavy Footy Co-Founders Gabriel and Josh meeting at Cornell in Summer ‘16, we can’t wait to see the midfielder ball out in Salt Lake.
27. Xavier Zengue
North Oaks, Minnesota
Defender: Dayton
Columbus Crew
Xavier is the second-highest draft pick ever from Dayton, and will stay in state joining Columbus after a litany of First and Second Team honors in college.
29. Levonte Johnson
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Forward: Syracuse
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Another national champion and Canadian, the last of our Black First Round Picks, Levonte was a 2022 MAC Herman Trophy Finalist, US Soccer Coaches First Team All-America, All-ACC First Team, and more as he looks to replicate his college trophy cabinet in the pros.
Just the Start.
We hope this historic draft is just the tip of the iceberg in increasing diversity in the game, and that this will sweep the sport in the country across both the men and women’s game, from youth programs to coaching, and even ownership of teams. Can’t wait to see all these guys step on the pitch as we kickoff the new MLS season in late February 2023.
