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FC Cincinnati select Amaya of UCLA with No. 1 pick of MLS SuperDraft

2019 SuperDraft - podium and big board

FC Cincinnati make deal to end up with five selections; Rounds 3-4 set for Monday at 1 p.m. ET
CHICAGO
(Friday, January 11, 2019) –
FC Cincinnati made the first MLS SuperDraft in the club’s history a memorable one, selecting Frankie Amaya with the overall selection in MLS SuperDraft 2019 presented by adidas at McCormick Place.
Amaya became the sixth player in MLS SuperDraft history selected from UCLA with the first pick overall, the most of any school. Born Sept. 26, 2000, Amaya is also the first player in 2000 or later to be selected on SuperDraft day.
FC Cincinnati came into the SuperDraft holding seven selections in the first two rounds, after making a landmark trade with the Philadelphia Union in the days leading up to the draft, acquiring all five of that club’s selections this year. FC Cincinnati then selected Logan Gdula of Wake Forest Univ. with the 13th selection, before trading a pair of later selections.
FC Cincinnati made five selections in all, the most of any club. In the second round, the club had three selections, which they used to select Tommy McCabe (No. 29; Notre Dame), Jimmy Hague (No. 30; Michigan State Univ.) and Ben Lundt (No. 37; Univ. of Akron).
Holding the second selection in the first round, the San Jose Earthquakes selected Siad Haji of Virginia Commonwealth Univ., the first time a player from that school was selected that early in the MLS SuperDraft. Orlando City SC had the third selection overall, which they then used to select Santiago Patiño, from Florida International Univ.
Amaya and Haji were among the seven members of the Generation adidas class of 2019, all selected in the first round. Six were selected in the first 10 picks, including Griffin Dorsey (No. 6 by Toronto FC out of Indiana), Dayne St. Clair (No. 7 by Minnesota United FC out of Maryland), Tajon Buchanan (No. 9 by New England Revolution out of Syracuse) and John Nelson (No. 10 by FC Dallas out of North Carolina). The final member of the Generation adidas class, JJ Williams of the Univ. of Kentucky, was selected by Columbus Crew SC at No. 18.
Three schools had two players selected in the first round: NCAA College Cup champions Univ. of Maryland, UCLA and Michigan State Univ. It was the eighth time in MLS draft history UCLA saw multiple players selected in the first round, and the sixth time for the Univ. of Maryland.
Players from 35 colleges and universities were represented in the 48 selections overall, led by Maryland with four. There were also players selected from 12 different countries: USA, Canada, Benin, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Germany, Jamaica, Mexico, Scotland, Sweden.
Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2019 SuperDraft presented by adidas will be held via conference call on Monday, Jan. 14, beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

  • For a complete recap of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, please visit: www.MLSsoccer.com.
  • Video soundbytes from first-round selection are available by CLICKING HERE
  • USA TODAY Sports Images from the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by CLICKING HERE


A round-by-round summary of the 2019 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>CIN</div>
<div>Frankie Amaya *</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">5-4</div>
<div align="center">145</div>
<div align="center">09/26/2000</div>
<div>Santa Ana, Calif.</div>
<div>Univ. of California, Los Angeles</div>
<div>2.</div>
<div>SJ</div>
<div>Siad Haji *</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">5-8</div>
<div align="center">150</div>
<div align="center">12/01/1999</div>
<div>Manchester, N.H.</div>
<div>Virginia Commonwealth Univ.</div>
<div>3.</div>
<div>ORL</div>
<div>Santiago Patiño</div>
<div align="center">FW</div>
<div align="center">6-1</div>
<div align="center">192</div>
<div align="center">03/10/1997</div>
<div>Orlando, Fla.</div>
<div>Florida International Univ.</div>
<div>4.</div>
<div>DAL</div>
<div>Callum Montgomery</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">6-3</div>
<div align="center">185</div>
<div align="center">05/14/1997</div>
<div>Victoria, B.C.</div>
<div>Univ. of North Carolina Charlotte</div>
<div>5.</div>
<div>COL %</div>
<div>Andre Shinyashiki</div>
<div align="center">FW</div>
<div align="center">5-9</div>
<div align="center">150</div>
<div align="center">06/11/1997</div>
<div>Sao Paulo, Brazil</div>
<div>Univ. of Denver</div>
<div>6.</div>
<div>TOR</div>
<div>Griffin Dorsey *</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">6-0</div>
<div align="center">160</div>
<div align="center">03/05/1999</div>
<div>Evergreen, Colo.</div>
<div>Indiana Univ.</div>
<div>7.</div>
<div>MIN</div>
<div>Dayne St. Clair *</div>
<div align="center">GK</div>
<div align="center">6-3</div>
<div align="center">165</div>
<div align="center">05/09/1997</div>
<div>Pickering, Ont.</div>
<div>Univ. of Maryland</div>
<div>8.</div>
<div>HOU</div>
<div>Sam Junqua</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">6-0</div>
<div align="center">175</div>
<div align="center">11/09/1996</div>
<div>Saratoga, Calif.</div>
<div>Univ. of California</div>
<div>9.</div>
<div>NE</div>
<div>Tajon Buchanan *</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">6-0</div>
<div align="center">152</div>
<div align="center">02/08/1999</div>
<div>Brampton, Ont.</div>
<div>Syracuse Univ.</div>
<div>10.</div>
<div>DAL</div>
<div>John Nelson *</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">5-9</div>
<div align="center">160</div>
<div align="center">07/11/1998</div>
<div>Medina, Ohio</div>
<div>Univ. of North Carolina</div>
<div>11.</div>
<div>NE</div>
<div>DeJuan Jones</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">5-9</div>
<div align="center">165</div>
<div align="center">06/24/1997</div>
<div>Lansing, Mich.</div>
<div>Michigan State Univ.</div>
<div>12.</div>
<div>NYC #</div>
<div>Luis Barraza</div>
<div align="center">GK</div>
<div align="center">6-2</div>
<div align="center">195</div>
<div align="center">11/08/1996</div>
<div>Santa Teresa, N.M.</div>
<div>Marquette Univ.</div>
<div>13.</div>
<div>CIN</div>
<div>Logan Gdula</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">5-11</div>
<div align="center">160</div>
<div align="center">10/13/1996</div>
<div>East Lyme, Conn.</div>
<div>Wake Forest Univ.</div>
<div>14.</div>
<div>DC</div>
<div>Akeem Ward</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">5-7</div>
<div align="center">150</div>
<div align="center">01/05/1996</div>
<div>Vienna, Va.</div>
<div>Creighton Univ.</div>
<div>15.</div>
<div>MIN &amp;</div>
<div>Chase Gasper</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">6-0</div>
<div align="center">185</div>
<div align="center">01/25/1996</div>
<div>Alexandria, Va.</div>
<div>Univ. of Maryland</div>
<div>16.</div>
<div>NYR @</div>
<div>Roy Boateng</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">6-2</div>
<div align="center">195</div>
<div align="center">01/21/1996</div>
<div>Rohnert Park, Calif.</div>
<div>Univ. of California, Davis</div>
<div>17.</div>
<div>RSL</div>
<div>Sam Brown</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">6-1</div>
<div align="center">165</div>
<div align="center">02/10/1996</div>
<div>Ann Arbor, Mich.</div>
<div>Harvard Univ.</div>
<div>18.</div>
<div>CLB</div>
<div>JJ Williams *</div>
<div align="center">FW</div>
<div align="center">6-4</div>
<div align="center">200</div>
<div align="center">01/04/1998</div>
<div>Montgomery, Ala.</div>
<div>Univ. of Kentucky</div>
<div>19.</div>
<div>LA #</div>
<div>Emil Cuello</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">5-11</div>
<div align="center">165</div>
<div align="center">01/02/1997</div>
<div>Orem, Utah</div>
<div>Southern Methodist Univ.</div>
<div>20.</div>
<div>SEA</div>
<div>Tucker Bone</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">5-11</div>
<div align="center">160</div>
<div align="center">01/23/1996</div>
<div>Granite Bay, Calif.</div>
<div>U.S. Air Force Academy</div>
<div>21.</div>
<div>KC</div>
<div>Kamar Marriott</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">6-4</div>
<div align="center">185</div>
<div align="center">09/21/1996</div>
<div>Tampa, Fla.</div>
<div>Florida Gulf Coast Univ.</div>
<div>22.</div>
<div>NYR</div>
<div>Janos Loebe</div>
<div align="center">FW</div>
<div align="center">5-11</div>
<div align="center">165</div>
<div align="center">08/21/1995</div>
<div>Kierspe, Germany</div>
<div>Fordham Univ.</div>
<div>23.</div>
<div>POR</div>
<div>Ryan Sierakowski</div>
<div align="center">FW</div>
<div align="center">6-1</div>
<div align="center">170</div>
<div align="center">08/07/1997</div>
<div>McHenry, Ill.</div>
<div>Michigan State Univ.</div>
<div>24.</div>
<div>ATL</div>
<div>Anderson Asiedu</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">5-6</div>
<div align="center">155</div>
<div align="center">06/12/1996</div>
<div>Hoboken, N.J.</div>
<div>Univ. of California, Los Angeles</div>

* Generation adidas
% CHI trade No. 5 overall selection in 2019 to COL for No. 15 overall selection in 2019 and $100,000 general allocation money
& CHI trade No. 15 overall selection in 2019 to MIN for $50,000 general allocation money

LA trade No. 12 overall selection in 2019 to NYC for No. 19 overall selection in 2019 and $75,000 general allocation money


@ CIN trade No. 16 and No. 25 overall selections in 2019 to NYR for $100,000 general allocation money
ROUND 2

<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>25.</div>
<div>NYR @</div>
<div>Sean Nealis</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">6-4</div>
<div align="center">185</div>
<div align="center">01/13/1997</div>
<div>Massapequa, N.Y.</div>
<div>Hofstra Univ.</div>
<div>26.</div>
<div>SJ</div>
<div>Sergio Rivas</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">5-11</div>
<div align="center">150</div>
<div align="center">10/03/1997</div>
<div>Albuquerque, N.M.</div>
<div>Seattle Univ.</div>
<div>27.</div>
<div>ORL</div>
<div>Kamal Miller</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">6-0</div>
<div align="center">185</div>
<div align="center">05/16/1997</div>
<div>Pickering, Ont.</div>
<div>Syracuse Univ.</div>
<div>28.</div>
<div>COL</div>
<div>Marcello Borges</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">5-10</div>
<div align="center">155</div>
<div align="center">09/13/1997</div>
<div>Kearny, N.J.</div>
<div>Univ. of Michigan</div>
<div>29.</div>
<div>CIN</div>
<div>Tommy McCabe</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">5-11</div>
<div align="center">174</div>
<div align="center">04/04/1998</div>
<div>South Orange, N.J.</div>
<div>Univ. of Notre Dame</div>
<div>30.</div>
<div>CIN</div>
<div>Jimmy Hague</div>
<div align="center">GK</div>
<div align="center">6-4</div>
<div align="center">190</div>
<div align="center">08/28/1996</div>
<div>Walled Lake, Mich.</div>
<div>Michigan State Univ.</div>
<div>31.</div>
<div>MIN</div>
<div>Hassani Dotson</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">5-11</div>
<div align="center">170</div>
<div align="center">08/16/1997</div>
<div>Federal Way, Wash.</div>
<div>Oregon State Univ.</div>
<div>32.</div>
<div>NYR !</div>
<div>Rece Buckmaster</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">5-8</div>
<div align="center">145</div>
<div align="center">07/07/1996</div>
<div>Auburn, Ind.</div>
<div>Indiana Univ.</div>
<div>33.</div>
<div>HOU +</div>
<div>Andrew Samuels</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">5-9</div>
<div align="center">150</div>
<div align="center">05/15/1997</div>
<div>Tampa, Fla.</div>
<div>Univ. of Maryland</div>
<div>34.</div>
<div>MTL</div>
<div>Amar Sejdic</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">5-10</div>
<div align="center">158</div>
<div align="center">11/29/1996</div>
<div>Louisville, Ky.</div>
<div>Univ. of Maryland</div>
<div>35.</div>
<div>VAN</div>
<div>Brendan McDonough</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">6-2</div>
<div align="center">190</div>
<div align="center">12/27/1996</div>
<div>Matthews, N.C.</div>
<div>Georgetown Univ.</div>
<div>36.</div>
<div>LA</div>
<div>Don Tchilao</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">6-0</div>
<div align="center">175</div>
<div align="center">08/20/1996</div>
<div>Chandler, Ariz.</div>
<div>Oregon State Univ.</div>
<div>37.</div>
<div>CIN</div>
<div>Ben Lundt</div>
<div align="center">GK</div>
<div align="center">6-6</div>
<div align="center">220</div>
<div align="center">09/24/1995</div>
<div>Berlin, Germany</div>
<div>Univ. of Akron</div>
<div>38.</div>
<div>ORL</div>
<div>Tommy Madden</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">6-2</div>
<div align="center">174</div>
<div align="center">04/23/1997</div>
<div>Burtonsville, Md.</div>
<div>Univ. of North Carolina Charlotte</div>
<div>39.</div>
<div>TOR</div>
<div>Adam Wilson</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">6-1</div>
<div align="center">171</div>
<div align="center">08/19/1997</div>
<div>Auchterarder, Scotland</div>
<div>Univ. of Louisville</div>
<div>40.</div>
<div>LFC</div>
<div>Peter-Lee Vassell</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">5-10</div>
<div align="center">155</div>
<div align="center">03/15/1999</div>
<div>Saint James Parish, Jamaica</div>
<div>Harbour View FC (JAM)</div>
<div>41.</div>
<div>RSL</div>
<div>Kyle Coffee</div>
<div align="center">FW</div>
<div align="center">5-11</div>
<div align="center">145</div>
<div align="center">12/23/1995</div>
<div>Syracuse, Utah</div>
<div>Univ. of Washington</div>
<div>42.</div>
<div>COL</div>
<div>Jacob Hauser-Ramsey</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">6-3</div>
<div align="center">195</div>
<div align="center">08/04/1995</div>
<div>Seattle, Wash.</div>
<div>Univ. of Connecticut</div>
<div>43.</div>
<div>NYC</div>
<div>Abdi Mohamed</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">5-11</div>
<div align="center">151</div>
<div align="center">10/25/1996</div>
<div>Westerville, Ohio</div>
<div>Univ. of Akron</div>
<div>44.</div>
<div>SEA</div>
<div>Joel Rydstrand</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">5-9</div>
<div align="center">155</div>
<div align="center">08/10/1995</div>
<div>Almunge, Sweden</div>
<div>Creighton Univ.</div>
<div>45.</div>
<div>KC</div>
<div>Camden Riley</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">6-1</div>
<div align="center">175</div>
<div align="center">08/20/1996</div>
<div>Dallas, Texas</div>
<div>Univ. of the Pacific</div>
<div>46.</div>
<div>SJ</div>
<div>Mamadi Camara</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">6-3</div>
<div align="center">180</div>
<div align="center">2/25/1995</div>
<div>Montreal, Qué.</div>
<div>Simon Fraser Univ.</div>
<div>47.</div>
<div>POR</div>
<div>Lennart Hein</div>
<div align="center">DF</div>
<div align="center">6-2</div>
<div align="center">195</div>
<div align="center">1/5/1995</div>
<div>Hamburg, Germany</div>
<div>Saint Louis University</div>
<div>48.</div>
<div>ATL</div>
<div>Amir Bashti</div>
<div align="center">MF</div>
<div align="center">5-9</div>
<div align="center">150</div>
<div align="center">3/21/1997</div>
<div>Cupertino, Calif.</div>
<div>Stanford Univ.</div>

! CHI trade No. 32 overall selection in 2019 to NYR for the rights of a player to be named later
+ NE trade No. 33 overall selection in 2019 and natural third-round and fourth-round selections in 2020 to DC for natural second-round selection in 2020. DC trade No. 33 overall selection in 2019 to HOU for player to be named later.
TEAM-BY-TEAM SELECTIONS:
Atlanta United
(2): Anderson Asiedu (24); Amir Bashti (48)
Chicago Fire
(0)
FC Cincinnati
(5): Frankie Amaya (1); Logan Gdula (13); Tommy McCabe (29); Jimmy Hague (30); Ben Lundt (37)
Colorado Rapids
(3): Andre Shinyashiki (5); Marcello Borges (28); Jacob Hauser-Ramsey (42)
Columbus Crew SC
(1): JJ Williams (18)
D.C. United
(1): Akeem Ward (14)
FC Dallas
(2): Callum Montgomery (4); John Nelson (10)
Houston Dynamo
(2): Sam Junqua (8); Andrew Samuels (33)
Sporting Kansas City
(2): Kamar Marriott (20); Camden Riley (45)
LA Galaxy
(2): Emil Cuello (19); Don Tchilao (36)
Los Angeles Football Club
(1): Peter-Lee Vassell (40)
Minnesota United FC
(3): Dayne St. Clair (7); Chase Gasper (15); Hassani Dotson (31)
Montréal Impact
(1): Amar Sejdic (34)
New England Revolution
(2): Tajon Buchanan (9); DeJuan Jones (11)
New York Red Bulls
(4): Roy Boateng (16); Janos Loebe (22); Sean Nealis (25); Rece Buckmaster (32)
New York City FC
(2): Luis Barraza (12); Abdi Mohamed (43)
Orlando City SC
(3): Santiago Patiño (3); Kamal Miller (27); Tommy Madden (38)
Philadelphia Union
(0)
Portland Timbers
(2): Ryan Sierakowski (23); Lennart Hein (47)
Real Salt Lake
(2): Sam Brown (17); Kyle Coffee (41)
San Jose Earthquakes
(3): Siad Haji (2); Sergio Rivas (26); Mamadi Camara (46)
Seattle Sounders FC
(2): Tucker Bone (20); Joel Rydstrand (44)
Toronto FC
(2): Griffin Dorsey (6); Adam Wilson (39)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
(1): Brendan McDonough (35)
COLLEGE-BY-COLLEGE SELECTIONS:
U.S. Air Force Academy (1): Tucker Bone
Univ. of Akron (2): Ben Lundt; Abdi Mohamed
Univ. of California (1): Sam Junqua
Univ. of California, Davis (1): Roy Boateng
Univ. of California, Los Angeles (2): Frankie Amaya, Anderson Asiedu
Univ. of Connecticut (1): Jacob Hauser-Ramsey
Creighton Univ. (2): Joel Rydstrand; Akeem Ward
Univ. of Denver (1): Andre Shinyashiki
Florida Gulf Coast Univ. (1): Kamar Marriott
Florida International Univ. (1): Santiago Patiño
Fordham Univ. (1): Janos Loebe
Georgetown Univ. (1): Brendan McDonough
Harvard Univ. (1): Sam Brown
Hofstra Univ. (1): Sean Nealis
Indiana Univ. (2): Rece Buckmaster; Griffin Dorsey
Univ. of Kentucky (1): JJ Williams
Univ. of Louisville (1): Adam Wilson
Marquette Univ. (1): Luis Barraza
Univ. of Maryland (4): Chase Gasper; Dayne St. Clair; Andrew Samuels; Amar Sejdic
Univ. of Michigan (1): Marcello Borges
Michigan State Univ. (3): Jimmy Hague; DeJuan Jones; Ryan Sierakowski
Univ. of North Carolina Charlotte (2): Tommy Madden; Callum Montgomery
Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1): John Nelson
Univ. of Notre Dame (1): Tommy McCabe
Oregon State Univ. (2): Hassani Dotson; Don Tchilao
Univ. of Pacific (1): Camden Riley
Saint Louis Univ. (1): Lennart Hein
Seattle Univ. (1): Sergio Rivas
Simon Fraser Univ. (1): Mamadi Camara
Southern Methodist Univ. (1): Emil Cuello
Stanford Univ. (1): Amir Bashti
Syracuse Univ. (2): Tajon Buchanan; Kamal Miller
Virginia Commonwealth Univ. (1): Siad Haji
Wake Forest Univ. (1): Logan Gdula
Univ. of Washington (1): Kyle Coffee