The MLS SuperDraft is the most exciting event in the lives of every young North American college soccer player.
With Rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft getting underway tomorrow, Orlando City UK took this moment to reflect on how Orlando City SC‘s annual picks have fared since our inaugural 2015 season.
How will the 2024 MLS SuperDraft work?
Since 2020, the MLS SuperDraft has been held exclusively via conference call and live web streaming online.
Featuring real-time highlights and live look-ins on club draft rooms, the experience has been way more immersive than before.
With Apple TV having since seized Major League Soccer broadcasting rights, the 2024 MLS SuperDraft will be streamed live on the platform tomorrow at 8:00pm (UK) / 3:00pm (US ET).
What picks do Orlando City SC have?
With the order of Orlando City SC‘s 2024 MLS SuperDraft picks already determined, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions will have the 25th, 54th, and 83rd overall picks.
Since the Lions finished second in the 2023 Supporters’ Shield, we ultimately have three low-ranked picks this year.
With picks determined by league positioning, the Lions probably won’t secure one of North America’s most prized college talents as they’ve grown accustomed to since joining Major League Soccer.
Nevertheless, they might, should Orlando City SC trade for a higher pick in the hours leading up to the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, however.
This was the case right before the 2023 MLS SuperDraft when Ruan was traded to D.C. United in exchange for the 2nd overall pick.
Selecting Shakur Mohammed as the second overall pick, the highly-rated Ghanaian still awaits his first team debut with Orlando City SC.
As for last year’s sixth overall pick, Duncan McGuire, he on the other hand went on to enjoy a rookie MLS season for the ages!
For 2024 MLS SuperDraft rules and regulations, click here.
Reviewing Orlando City SC’s MLS SuperDraft picks so far
Without further ado, here are the young talents Orlando City SC have acquired via the MLS SuperDraft over the past nine seasons.
2015 MLS SuperDraft – Orlando City SC’s picks
Cyle Larin – 1st overall pick (Round 1)
Cyle Larin is still arguably Orlando City SC‘s finest MLS SuperDraft pick to date. Despite being the number one pick in 2015, the Canadian international surpassed all expectations.
Scoring 43 MLS goals for the Lions before a highly controversial switch to Beşiktaş in January 2018, Larin is right up there alongside Andre Blake, Jack Harrison, Miles Robinson, and Tajon Buchanan in being one of the standout talents drafted from college in MLS seasons gone by.
Now 28-years-old, Cyle Larin plays for La Liga side Mallorca and will have one eye on representing Canada at the 2026 FIFA World Cup – hosted in North America of course – before hanging up his international boots.
Conor Donovan – 22nd overall pick (Round 2)
Making his MLS debut for Orlando City SC against Philadelphia Union in August 2015, an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the same game stunted Conor Donovan‘s Lions career before it barely begun.
His only MLS appearance for the Lions, Donovan now plays for USL Championship side Sacramento Republic.
Akeil Barrett – 25th overall pick (Round 2)
Orlando City SC supporters are probably shouting “who?” and that’s because Akeil Barrett never played a game for the Lions!
The Jamaican forward was the Lions’ 25th pick in 2015 but was waived shortly after.
Earl Edwards Jr. – 43rd overall pick (Round 3)
Affectionately nicknamed “The Landlord” during his three seasons at Orlando City SC, Earl Edwards Jr. was firmly cast in the role of backup goalkeeper for the Lions.
Making his professional debut against Charleston Battery in a crazy U.S. Open Cup game 4-4 (A.E.T) (7-8 on penalties) in June 2015, Edwards Jr. did go on to make six MLS appearances for Orlando City SC.
He recently completed the 2023 MLS season with New England Revolution, making 10 starts this past year, earning more of a look in following Djordje Petrović’s headline transfer to Chelsea.
Sidney Rivera – 63rd overall pick (Round 4)
Dig out your inaugural season posters for this one because Sidney Rivera wasn’t an Orlando City SC player for long.
Taking squad number 26 during City’s first ever MLS campaign, the Staten Island native never made a single appearance under Adrian Heath.
2016 MLS SuperDraft – Orlando City SC’s picks
Richie Laryea – 7th overall pick (Round 1)
A case of the one that got away, Richie Laryea enjoyed a standout 2019 playing for hometown side Toronto FC in their run to the 2019 MLS Cup Final.
This followed three seasons at Orlando City SC where he was a bit-part sub.
Who knew he could do a job at full back? Greg Vanney, that’s for sure!
Earning a big move to Nottingham Forest in January 2022, Laryea’s stint this side of the pond has been short-lived, however.
Indeed, the 28-year-old is back in Major League Soccer, currently plying his trade for Vancouver Whitecaps on loan from Forest.
Hadji Barry – 13th overall pick (Round 1)
Before earning a senior international cap for Guinea, Hadji Barry was Orlando City SC‘s 13th pick in 2016.
A familiar face, Barry had been playing for Orlando City U-23 in 2015 but unfortunately, he never got a consistent run in the team.
Making 11 appearances for City’s first team, much of his game time came for Orlando City B where he struck 14 goals in 29 appearances.
Antonio Matarazzo – 48th overall pick (Round 3)
Again, a player who never made a first team appearance for Orlando City SC, midfielder Antonio Matarazzo last played for New York Cosmos B.
Tobenna Uzo – 68th overall pick (Round 4)
Just like Matarazzo, Tobenna Uzo never made it at Orlando City SC. The striker most recently represented FC Tucson in 2021.
2017 MLS SuperDraft – Orlando City SC’s pick
Danny Deakin – 64th overall pick (Round 4)
With Orlando City UK exclusively interviewing Danny Deakin in March 2017, the Englishman unfortunately didn’t make a first team appearance for Orlando City SC.
Instead, the Sheffield-born midfielder made 20 appearances for Anthony Pulis‘ Orlando City B.
2018 MLS SuperDraft – Orlando City SC’s pick
Chris Mueller – 6th overall pick (Round 1)
Another hugely successful Orlando City SC MLS SuperDraft selection after Cyle Larin, Chris Mueller was quite simply a fan favourite at Exploria Stadium.
Making 112 MLS regular season appearances for the Lions, “Cash” enjoyed a standout 2020 season, one that earned him a senior international debut with the USMNT, scoring a brace on his debut against El Salvador in December that year.
Chris Mueller‘s never-say-die attitude, love for the city, and regular motivational tweets meant the Illinois-native was adored during his time in Central Florida.
It’s a shame that Mueller’s subsequent transfer to Scottish Premier League side Hibernian was protracted, leaving a small minority of City supporters disillusioned with the forward who now represents his hometown club back in MLS – Chicago Fire.
2019 MLS SuperDraft – Orlando City SC’s picks
Santiago Patiño – 3rd overall pick (Round 1)
The third highest pick Orlando City SC have received after Cyle Larin (#1 in 2015) and Shakur Mohammed (#2 in 2023), Santiago Patiño was the third overall pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.
A Colombian-born striker who was raised in Orlando, the 23-year-old signed for USL Championship side San Antonio FC in January 2021 after making 13 MLS appearances for City.
Kamal Miller – 27th overall pick (Round 2)
A success story considering Orlando City SC‘s picked him up 27th overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, Kamal Miller is now a fully fledged Canadian international of 41 caps.
Representing Canada at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, this was an outstanding achievement for Miller who has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the game.
With Orlando City UK exclusively interviewing Miller in August 2019, the defender made 16 MLS appearances under James O’Connor in 2019 and has since played for CF Montréal and now City’s Florida rivals Inter Miami.
Tommy Madden – 38th overall pick (Round 3)
Playing for New Mexico United in the USL Championship in 2019, Tommy Madden never kicked a ball for Orlando City SC after being drafted by the Lions earlier that year.
Scott DeVoss – 59th overall pick (Round 3)
Just like Madden, Scott DeVoss never made it at Orlando City SC and has since played at USL level for Hartford Athletic and FC Tucson since his 2019 draft.
2020 MLS SuperDraft – Orlando City SC’s picks
Daryl Dike – 5th overall pick (Round 1)
The fourth highest pick Orlando City SC have received after Cyle Larin (#1 in 2015), Shakur Mohammed (#2 in 2023), and Santiago Patiño (#3 in 2019), Daryl Dike was quite simply a sensational draft pick for City!
Now a household name not only in MLS but throughout Europe as well, Daryl Dike‘s meteoric rise is undoubtedly one of the United States’ most heartwarming soccer stories in recent memory.
So impressive was his debut season at Orlando City SC that EFL Championship side Barnsley signed Daryl Dike on a short-term loan back in February 2021.
Impressing for the Tykes too, Dike secured a big transfer to West Bromwich Albion in January 2022 and has since made 25 EFL Championship appearances for the Baggies, scoring seven goals.
Unfortunately, serious injuries have curtailed Daryl Dike‘s playing time at The Hawthorns but we wish him a speedy recovery as he attempts to get back to the heights experienced early in his career.
These heights also include Dike earning 10 caps for the USMNT with the big striker having been part of the USMNT squad that won the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup in Las Vegas.
Joey DeZart – 31st overall pick (Round 2)
Making 29 MLS appearances under Oscar Pareja, Joey DeZart never really made it at Exploria Stadium and now plays for Huntsville City FC, the affiliate club of Nashville SC that play in MLS NEXT Pro.
The former Wake Forest University was also a former Jamaica U-20 training camp member back in 2016.
Jonathan Dean – 39th overall pick (Round 2)
Now playing for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer, former UCF Knights defender Jonathan Dean never kicked a ball for Orlando City SC after being drafted by the Lions in January 2020.
Austin Aviza – 44th overall pick (Round 2)
Drafted from Providence College, goalkeeper Austin Aviza never made Orlando City SC‘s MLS roster.
However, he did make 11 appearances for Marcelo Neveleff’s Orlando City B before being released at the end of the 2020 season.
Nick O’Callaghan – 57th overall pick (Round 2)
A previous member of City’s academy, Winter Springs native Nick O’Callaghan unfortunately didn’t get to live out his dreams of playing for the Orlando City SC first team.
He did however make six appearances for Marcelo Neveleff’s Orlando City B before being released at the end of the 2020 season.
2021 MLS SuperDraft – Orlando City SC’s picks
Derek Dodson – 8th overall pick (Round 1)
A top-10 pick for Orlando City SC back in 2021, Derek Dodson never made a single first team appearance for the Lions despite showing promise in the USL Championship.
Now playing for Charleston Battery at that level, Dodson unfortunately couldn’t emulate the rise of fellow double-D striker Daryl Dike before him.
Rio Hope-Gund – 19th overall pick (Round 1)
Like Dodson, Rio Hope-Gund was another who didn’t make the grade for Orlando City SC in MLS.
Looking back, 2021 was a forgettable year draft-wise with defender Hope-Gund named as a City substitute 17 times in 2021 but never managing to make an MLS appearance.
Brandon Hackenberg – 22nd overall pick (Round 1)
Coming from a sporting family, Brandon Hackenberg didn’t play any part for Orlando City SC in MLS but did make 16 appearances for Orlando City B back in 2022.
He was also an unused substitute in City’s glamour mid-season friendly with Arsenal in July 2022 – not something many can say!
Brandon’s father, Erick, was a star high school quarterback at Marian Catholic, and his mother Nikki played volleyball collegiality at Lehigh.
The second of four brothers, Brandon’s older brother, Christian Hackenberg was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the New York Jets and his younger brother, Adam Hackenberg, played baseball at Clemson and was selected in the 18th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft by the Chicago White Sox.
Brandon’s youngest brother, Drue, also played baseball at Virginia Tech and was selected by the Atlanta Braves with the 59th overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Andrew Pannenberg – 49th overall pick (Round 2)
Drafted from Wake Forest University, goalkeeper Andrew Pannenberg never made Orlando City SC‘s MLS roster.
Earlier this month, Pannenberg signed with MLS NEXT Pro side Carolina Core FC ahead of the team’s inaugural season.
2022 MLS SuperDraft – Orlando City SC’s picks
Jack Lynn – 18th overall pick (Round 1)
Named the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Most Valuable Player, Jack Lynn enjoyed a stellar season with Orlando City B this past year.
Also named to the MLS NEXT Pro ‘Best XI’ for the second year in a row, 2023 saw Lynn become the joint-winner of the ‘Golden Boot’, scoring 19 goals and playing in all but one of OCB’s 28 matches (20 starts).
Perhaps 2024 can be the year that Jack Lynn makes real inroads into Orlando City SC‘s first team having made only six appearances in MLS since 2022.
Nathan Dossantos – 46th overall pick (Round 2)
Drafted from Marshall University, defender Nathan Dossantos never made Orlando City SC‘s MLS roster.
The Canadian of Brazilian descent recently spent two seasons playing for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the USL Championship.
Nick Taylor – 74th overall pick (Round 3)
Despite being a lowly pick for Orlando City SC back in 2022, Nick Taylor is now a senior international for Cambodia.
Born in Coppell, Texas, Taylor’s mother is Cambodian making him eligible to represent Cambodia internationally.
Since earning eight caps for the Asian side, Taylor made his senior international debut back in September 2022, entering as a 60th minute substitute in a 1–0 loss to Bangladesh.
Domestically, he also made 22 appearances for Orlando City B back in 2022.
2023 MLS SuperDraft – Orlando City SC’s picks
Shakur Mohammed – 2nd overall pick (Round 1)
Selecting Shakur Mohammed as the second overall pick last year, the highly-rated Ghanaian still awaits his first team debut with Orlando City SC.
Considering he was such a high pick for the Lions, City supporters have been curious to see what “Shak” can do for City’s first team.
A versatile forward, Mohammed did make 24 appearances for Orlando City B this past season and has previously been named on the substitutes bench for City in MLS, albeit infrequently.
Duncan McGuire – 6th overall pick (Round 1)
Enjoying a rookie season for the ages, nobody, nor Duncan McGuire himself could’ve foreseen 13 Major League Soccer goals being scored so early into his professional career.
A debut season scoring tally only surpassed by Cyle Larin who bagged an outstanding 17 goals back in 2015, Duncan McGuire‘s 2023 was so good that the Orlando City SC Front Office decided to part ways with Designated Player Ercan Kara midway through the campaign back on September 2.
Unseating a #9 Designated Player during your first ever season as a pro rarely happens in MLS, such was the fast-track nature of McGuire’s meteoric rise.
As a humble guy who is just getting started at Orlando City SC, Duncan McGuire‘s outstanding 2023 efforts earned him his first two caps for the USYNT back in October, and there is undoubtedly much more to come from him in 2024.
After all, “Orlando Runs on Duncan”!
Abdi Salim – 17th overall pick (Round 1)
Despite recently having his option exercised at the end of 2023, Orlando City SC supporters may have forgotten about Abdi Salim considering his last first team appearance came way back at the start of City’s past campaign.
Despite a lack of first team action, Salim made 16 appearances for Orlando City B in 2023.
Now a fully-fledged senior international, October saw the Kenyan-born Salim called up to the Somalia national team where he has since earned one cap for the East African nation.
Luis Grassow – 46th overall pick (Round 2)
Drafted from the University of Kentucky, German defender of U.S. descent Luis Grassow never made Orlando City SC‘s MLS roster.
Unfortunately for Grassow, City’s second-round draft pick decided to retire due to personal reasons – just one month after the Lions selected him.