MLS SuperDraft retrospective: Checking in on the state of the 2020 draft class

The SuperDraft is set to roll around again, and part of our annual lead-up ceremony is to remind you how all of the 2020 picks have fared since hearing their names called last January.

Though the number of players who made at least one MLS game day selection remained the same from 2019, the total number of league games played by those draft picks fell off a good bit due to the vagaries of a very odd year.

It's quite reasonable to think the same cause can help explain why fewer 2020 draftees can still be found on an MLS roster one year later when compared to the 2019 group. On the other hand, the tally of SuperDraft choices who ended up signing for a USL outfit climbed by one.

Of the 77 players selected:

28 - Made an MLS roster (same as 2019)
6 - Appeared in 1+ MLS games (down 16)
5 - Appeared in 10+ MLS games (down 3)
3 - Appeared in 20+ MLS games (same as 2019)
18 - Currently on an MLS roster (down 6)
8 - Loaned to a USL Championship club (down 9)
31 - Signed by a USL Championship club (up 1)

Round 1 - 2020 MLS SuperDraft


1	MIA	<strong>Robbie Robinson</strong> [active MLS player]<br> 12 games, 4 starts, 1 assist for Inter Miami<br> Also dressed for 1 Audi 2020 MLS Playoffs game
2	NSH	<strong>Jack Maher</strong> [active MLS player]<br> 3 games, 1 start for Nashville SC<br> Loaned to Charlotte Independence in Mar.; 1 start in USL
3	MIA	<strong>Dylan Nealis</strong> [active MLS player]<br> 19 games, 10 starts for Inter Miami<br> 2 starts in MLS Is Back; Also 1 game in MLS Playoffs
4	VAN	<strong>Ryan Raposo</strong> [active MLS player]<br> 15 games, 2 starts, 1 assist for Vancouver; Also 3 games, 1 start in MLS Is Back
5	ORL	<strong>Daryl Dike</strong> [active MLS player]<br> 17 games, 15 starts, 8 goals, 4 assists for Orlando City<br> Named MLS Player of the Month for August<br> Played in 3 games, including the final, as the Lions finished as runners-up in MLS Is Back; Also made 2 starts in MLS Playoffs<br> Finished 3rd in Young Player of the Year voting; Earned first USMNT call-up in Nov.
6	NE	<strong>Henry Kessler</strong> [active MLS player]<br> 22 games, 18 starts, 1 goal for New England; Helped team set a new club record for lowest goals against average<br> Named to MLS Team of the Week 3 times<br> Started 3 MLS Is Back games; Also started 4 games in MLS Playoffs as the Revs reached the Eastern Conference final
7	CLB	<strong>Miguel Berry</strong> [active MLS player]<br> Dressed for all 4 of the Crew's MLS Is Back games, but did not appear<br> Loaned to San Diego Loyal in Aug.; 6 starts, 2 goals, 2 assists in USL<br> Columbus contract option exercised in Dec.
8	HOU	<strong>Garrett McLaughlin</strong><br> Signed with Rio Grande Valley in Feb.; 11 games, 8 starts in USL<br> Contract option declined in Dec.
9	MTL	<strong>Jeremy Kelly</strong> [active MLS player]<br> Traded to Colorado for $75K GAM on SuperDraft day; 8 games, 2 starts, 1 assist for the Rapids<br> Contract option declined in Dec.
10	RBNY	<strong>Patrick Seagrist</strong> [active MLS player]<br> 3 starts for NY Red Bulls<br> Contract option declined in Dec., then traded to Inter Miami for a 3rd round Superdraft pick + potential add-ons
11	NSH	<strong>Alistair Johnston</strong> [active MLS player]<br> 18 games, 15 starts, 1 assist for Nashville SC; Also 3 starts in MLS Playoffs<br> Contract option exercised in Dec.<br> Earned first Canada call-up in Jan.
12	SJ	<strong>Tanner Beason</strong> [active MLS player]<br> 9 starts for San Jose; Also dressed for five MLS Is Back games and 1 MLS Playoffs game
13	NSH	<strong>Elliot Panicco</strong> [active MLS player]<br> Dressed 21 times for Nashville SC, but did not appear; Also dressed for 3 MLS Playoffs games<br> Contract option exercised in Dec.
14	DAL	<strong>Nkosi Burgess</strong> [active MLS player]<br> Dressed for two FC Dallas games, but did not appear<br> Loaned to North Texas SC in Oct.; 6 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist in USL1<br> FC Dallas contract option exercised in Dec.
15	RBNY	<strong>Cherif Dieye</strong><br> Signed with New York Red Bulls II in Mar.; 15 games, 10 starts, 1 goal, 4 assists in USL<br> Released in Nov.
16	POR	<strong>Aaron Molley</strong><br> Signed with Portland Timbers 2 in Mar.; 15 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist in USL
17	DAL	<strong>Cal Jennings</strong><br> 7 games, 3 starts for Real Monarchs<br> 1 game in USL Playoffs, Real Monarchs won title
18	MIN	<strong>Noah Billngsley</strong> [active MLS player]<br> 1 game for Minnesota United; Also dressed for 2 MLS Playoffs games<br> Loaned to Las Vegas Lights in Aug.; 9 starts in USL
19	TOR	<strong>Nyal Higgins</strong><br> Signed by Toronto FC in July<br> Loaned to Swedish third flight side Nykoping in Aug.; 17 games, 16 starts, 1 goal<br> Toronto FC contract option exercised in Dec.
20	RSL	<strong>Dayonn Harris</strong><br> Signed with Real Monarchs in Feb.; 14 games, 11 starts, 3 assists in USL<br> Joined Tampa Bay Rowdies on Dec. 31
21	DC	<strong>Simon Lefebvre</strong><br> Signed with Loudoun United in Feb.; 6 starts in USL<br> Released in Dec., then signed to join Louisville City in Jan.
22	NYC	<strong>Jesus Perez</strong><br> Signed with Tacoma Defiance in Feb.; 14 games, 4 starts, 3 goals, 1 assist in USL<br> Released in Dec.
23	ATL	<strong>Patrick Nielsen</strong><br> Signed with Atlanta United 2 in Jul.; 10 games, 8 starts, 1 assist in USL<br> Released in Dec.
24	LAFC	<strong>Paulo Pita</strong><br> Signed with North Carolina FC in February; 1 start, 1 win in USL
25	TOR	<strong>Ifunanyachi Achara</strong> [active MLS player]<br> Scored the winner on his Toronto FC debut, and was named to MLS Team of the Week<br> Would eventually miss the rest of the season following ACL surgery
26	CHI	<strong>Jonathan Jimenez</strong><br> Signed with Rio Grande Valley in Jul.; 9 games, 1 start, 1 goal, 1 assist in USL<br> Contract option declined in Dec.

Round 2 - 2020 MLS SuperDraft


1 (27)	SJ	<strong>Jack Skahan</strong> [active MLS player]<br> 2 games for San Jose, 1 in MLS Is Back<br> Loaned to Reno 1868 in Mar.; 1 start, 1 goal in USL
2 (28)	NSH	<strong>Tanner Dieterich</strong><br> Loaned to Charlotte Independence in Aug.; 12 games, 10 starts, 2 goals in USL<br> Out of contract in Dec.
3 (29)	CIN	<strong>Rey Ortiz</strong><br> Loaned to Charlotte Independence in Feb.<br> 16 games, 10 starts, 1 goal in USL; Also 1 start in USL Playoffs<br> Released in Dec.
4 (30)	NE	<strong>Simon Lekressner</strong><br> Signed with New England Revolution II in Apr.; 1 USL1 start before missing the rest of the season with a knee injury<br> Contract option declined in Nov.
5 (31)	ORL	<strong>Joey DeZart</strong> [active MLS player]<br> 11 games, 4 starts for Orlando City
6 (32)	VAN	<strong>Daniel Gagliardi</strong><br> Signed with Ft. Lauterdale FC in Feb.; 2 games, 1 start in USL1<br> Released in Dec.
7 (33)	TOR	<strong>Malick Mbaye</strong><br> Left preseason camp in Feb. to sign with North Carolina FC, 1 game in USL1
8 (34)	HOU	<strong>Luka Prpa</strong><br> Signed with Rio Grande Valley in Feb.; 10 games, 7 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist in USL<br> Contract option declined in Dec.
9 (35)	SEA	<strong>Danny Reynolds</strong><br> Signed with Tacoma Defiance in Feb.; 12 games, 6 starts, 4 assists in USL<br> Released in Dec.
10 (36)	RBNY	<strong>Wallis Lapsley</strong><br> Signed with New York Red Bulls II in Mar.; 11 starts, 4 wins, 1 clean sheet in USL<br> Released in Nov.
11 (37)	COL	<strong>Robin Afamefuna</strong><br> Had an extended stay in Rapids preseason camp, but was not offered a contract
12 (38)	SJ	<strong>Jon Bell</strong><br> Signed by New England Revolution II in Jul.; 15 starts in USL1
13 (39)	ORL	<strong>Jonathan Dean</strong><br> Signed with Birmingham Legion in Feb.<br> 16 starts, 1 goal, 5 assists in USL; Also 1 start in USL Playoffs
14 (40)	DAL	<strong>Manuel Ferriol</strong><br> Signed with FC Tucson in Feb.; 9 games, 1 start, 1 assist in USL1
15 (41)	RBNY	<strong>Deri Corfe</strong><br> Signed with New York Red Bulls II in Mar.; 11 games, 4 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist in USL<br> Released in Nov.
16 (42)	DC	<strong>Josh Fawole</strong><br> Signed with Loudoun United in Feb.; 10 games, 7 starts, 1 goal in USL
17 (43)	NE	<strong>Keegan Meyer</strong><br> Signed with New England Revolution II in Feb.; 8 games, 7 starts, 3 wins, 2 clean sheets in USL1<br> Contract option declined in Nov.
18 (44)	ORL	<strong>Austin Aviza</strong><br> Signed with Orlando City B in Mar.; 11 starts, 1 win, 1 clean sheet in USL1<br> Released in Nov.
19 (45)	LA	<strong>Tom Smart</strong><br> Did not sign, not currently playing soccer
20 (46)	RSL	<strong>Michael Wetengu</strong><br> Signed with Real Monarchs in Feb.; 2 games, 1 start in USL<br> Contract option declined in Nov.
21 (47)	CLB	<strong>Remi Prieur</strong><br> Was not offered a contract by Columbus<br> Signed with Sporting KC II in Feb.; 5 starts, 2 wins in USL
22 (48)	NYC	<strong>Felicien Dumas</strong><br> Signed with Indy Eleven in Jun.; 3 games, 1 start in USL
23 (49)	CLB	<strong>Danny Griffin</strong><br> Signed with Pittsburgh Riverhounds in Mar.<br> 16 games, 13 starts, 2 goals, 2 assists in USL; Also 1 start in USL Playoffs
24 (50)	LAFC	<strong>Jack Hallahan</strong><br> Signed with Cypriot 2nd flight side PAEEK in Jul.; 4 games, 2 starts in Premier League 2

Round 3 - 2019 MLS SuperDraft


1 (53)	CIN	<strong>Joris Ahlinvi</strong><br> Signed with New Mexico United in Feb.<br> 6 games, 2 starts, 2 goals in USL; Also dressed for 1 US Open Cup game<br> Released in Dec.
2 (54)	NSH	<strong>Shak Adams</strong><br> Signed with FC Tuscon in Feb.; 12 games, 9 starts, 4 goals, 2 assists in USL1
3 (55)	VAN	PASSED
4 (56)	MTL	PASSED
5 (57)	ORL	<strong>Nick O'Callaghan</strong><br> Signed with Orlando City B in Mar.; 6 starts in USL1<br> Released in Nov.
6 (58)	SKC	<strong>Jaret Townsend</strong><br> Signed with Sporting KC II in Mar.; 11 games, 2 starts, 1 assist in USL<br> Released in Nov.
7 (59)	CLB	<strong>Ryo Shimazaki</strong><br> Signed with New England Revolution II in Jan.; 7 games, 4 starts, 1 goal in USL1<br> Contract option declined in Nov.
8 (60)	MTL	Excluded due to passing on pick #56
9 (61)	MTL	Excluded due to passing on pick #56
10 (62)	RBNY	<strong>Stavros Zarokostas</strong><br> Signed with Charleston Battery in May<br> 14 games, 6 starts, 5 goals, 1 assist; Also 2 starts in USL Playoffs
11 (63)	COL	PASSED
12 (64)	SJ	PASSED
13 (65)	DC	<strong>Andrew Verdi</strong><br> Declined invitation to preseason camp
14 (66)	DAL	<strong>Derek Waldeck</strong><br> Signed with North Texas SC in Feb.; 16 games, 15 starts in USL1
15 (67)	RBNY	<strong>Barry Sharifi</strong><br> Signed by New York Red Bulls II in Mar.; 11 games, 8 starts in USL<br> Released in Dec.
16 (68)	POR	<strong>Zac McGraw</strong> [active MLS player]<br> Signed with Portland in June<br> Dressed 4 times in MLS, 2 times in MLS Is Back, 0 appearances
17 (69)	DC	PASSED
18 (70)	HOU	<strong>Duncan Turnbull</strong><br> Signed with Portsmouth following a successful Mar. trial<br> 1 start in EFL Trophy; dressed 3 times in League One, but 0 appearances
19 (71)	LA	PASSED
20 (72)	RSL	PASSED
21 (73)	PHI	PASSED
22 (74)	NYC	<strong>Parker Siegfried</strong><br> Signed with South Georgia Tormenta in Apr.; Dressed 7 times, but 0 appearances in USL<br> Released in Sep. before signing with signing with Detroit City
23 (75)	ATL	<strong>Philip Goodrum</strong><br> Signed with Atlanta United 2 in Feb.; 16 games, 14 starts, 2 goals, 4 assists in USL<br> Signed short-term contracts with Atlanta United in Feb. and Dec.; Dressed twice for CCL games, but did not appear
24 (76)	LAFC	<strong>Jorge Gonzalez</strong><br> Signed with Portland Timbers 2 in Mar.; 10 starts, 8 goals, 1 assist in USL
24 (77)	TOR	PASSED
24 (78)	SEA	<strong>Julian Avila-Good</strong>

Round 4 - 2020 MLS SuperDraft


1 (79)	DAL	<strong>Anders Engebretsen</strong><br> Signed with North Texas SC in Feb.; released in July without appearing in a game
2 (80)	NSH	<strong>Luke Haakenson</strong><br> Signed in Feb.; Loaned out to Charlotte Independence in March. 16 games, 12 starts, 3 goals, 3 assists in USL; 1 start in USL Playoffs
3 (81)	LA	Excluded due to passing in Round 3
4 (82)	VAN	Excluded due to passing in Round 3
5 (83)	ORL	PASSED
6 (84)	SKC	<b>James Kasak</b><br> Did not sign, not currently playing soccer
7 (85)	CLB	PASSED
8 (86)	HOU	<strong>Kyle Edwards</strong><br> Had signed with Rio Grande Valley prior to the SuperDraft. 11 games, 5 starts, 3 goals, 1 assist in USL
9 (87)	COL	Excluded due to passing in Round 3
10 (88)	MIN	<b>Matthew Bentley</b><br> Made two sub appearances in the preseason, but did not sign
11 (89)	COL	PASSED
12 (90)	SJ	<br> PASSED<br>
13 (91)	DC	Excluded due to passing in Round 3
14 (92)	DAL	<b>Aidan Megally</b><br> Did not sign, not currently playing soccer
15 (93)	RBNY	<b>Niko Petridis</b><br> Spent time in preseason camp, but did not sign
16 (94)	POR	<strong>Joergen Oland</strong><br> Did not sign
17 (95)	DC	PASSED
18 (96)	MIN	<strong>Andrew Booth</strong><br> Signed with Greenville Triumph in Sept.<br> Seven games, one goal in USL1
19 (97)	LA	PASSED
20 (98)	RSL	Excluded due to passing in Round 3
21 (99)	PHI	Excluded due to passing in Round 3
22 (100)	NYC	PASSED
23 (101)	PHI	PASSED
24 (102)	LAFC	<strong>Younes Boudadi</strong><br> Signed with Reno 1868 in March. 6 games, 2 starts, 2 assists in USL.<br> Also 1 game in USL Playoffs After the club folded, signed with Hartford Athletic in Dec.
25 (103)	TOR	PASSED
26 (104)	CHI	PASSED