2025 MLS SuperDraft - Sophomore Prospects

This 2025 MLS SuperDraft prospect list is exclusive towards unaffiliated U.S. domestic players in the sophomore class of NCAA Division I Men's Soccer.

Under the new guidelines, the sophomore class is one of the most important when talking about the MLS SuperDraft, and some teams have made a point to zero in on this particular group of prospects.

In the world of college soccer, a lot of people want to see the freshman lists, but for the MLS SuperDraft, the freshmen aren’t really the focus unless they are offered a Generation Adidas (GA) contract. As of right now, there is only one known freshman that will receive and take that offer, but as we approach draft time, the other two or three will be decided upon in addition.

Over half of the draft class from last year were college graduates and there will always be clubs looking for more professional ready 22-23-year-olds, but there has to be a place for them between the first and second team rosters. The sophomore class has allowed some organizations the flexibility in where the drafted players can go and further their development.

At the conclusion of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, six of the fifteen sophomores signed professional contracts, while the rest returned to college for at least one more year.

Recap of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft

·        Rd. 1 Pk. 2 (Colorado Rapids) – Wayne Frederick (Duke) ^^

·        Rd. 1 Pk. 7 (D.C. United) – Jacob Murrell (Georgetown) ^^

·        Rd. 1 Pk. 8 (New York City FC) – Malachi Jones (Lipscomb) ^^

·        Rd. 1 Pk. 16 (Real Salt Lake) – Matthew Bell (Marshall) ^^

·        Rd. 1 Pk. 19 (Atlanta United) – Jayden Hibbert (Connecticut) ^^

·        Rd. 1 Pk. 20 (Minnesota United) – Marcus Caldeira (West Virginia) **

·        Rd. 2 Pk. 5 (Colorado Rapids) – Palmer Ault (Butler) **

·        Rd. 2 Pk. 8 (Real Salt Lake) – Damien Barker John (Louisville) ^^

·        Rd. 2 Pk. 29 (Columbus Crew) – Zach Zengue (Georgetown) **

·        Rd. 3 Pk. 5 (Philadelphia Union) – Zach Bohane (Stanford) **

·        Rd. 3 Pk. 10 (CF Montreal) – Eli Conway (Connecticut) **

·        Rd. 3 Pk. 12 (Charlotte FC) – Nathan Richmond (Clemson) **

·        Rd. 3 Pk. 19 (Atlanta United) – Casper Mols (Kentucky) **

·        Rd. 3 Pk. 27 (Toronto FC) – Fletcher Bank (Stanford) **

·        Rd. 3 Pk. 28 (CF Montreal) – Carson Hodgson (Western Michigan) **

^^ Signed Professional Contract

** Returned to NCAA

2025 MLS SuperDraft Sophomore Prospects

The prospects chosen for this team sheet aren’t affiliated with or protected by any MLS club, which was one of the main criteria for the selections. Furthermore, this group is exclusive for the U.S. Domestic designation.

Alex Harris – Cornell University

Position(s): F, W, SS

H/W: 5’11” 150 lbs.

Hometown: Vancouver, Washington

Agent: Known

It’s almost guaranteed that Alex Harris will hear his name called in Round 1 of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, so it’s more about where he ends up landing and if clubs start trading up to get him. He has been on the radar of MLS clubs since his standout freshman season where he notched 12 goals and 4 assists. In 2024, he has already surpassed those marks, so over the past few years, he has been a model of attacking consistency.

The best is yet to come for the young forward. Still only a teenager, this prospect is exciting when you imagine what his level will be as he continues to mature and grow physically.

Hakim Karamoko – North Carolina State University

Position(s): F, W

Date of Birth: November 1, 2005

H/W: 6’0” 180 lbs.

Hometown: New York City, New York

Agent: Known

Hakim Karamoko is also tabbed to be a Round 1 draft pick. I’ve covered the forward quite a bit throughout his time with the Wolfpack, so I won’t go too far in depth this time, but he’s one of my favorite players in the country. For those who haven’t read my assessments, he is a true competitor with professional level speed and physicality as a teenager. Whether he plays on the wing, or more centrally, he poses a variety of threats between his pace in transitions and when making line-breaking runs, ability in quick combinations, dribbling and range of finishing. Defending him is a full-time job.

Given what he has shown over his early career in Raleigh, it’s even more promising to know that he still has a lot of potential to fulfill. With a new coaching staff and philosophy, he followed up his ACC All-Freshman selection season with 7 goals and 2 assists in 851 minutes this go-round.

Bennett Painter – Bowling Green State University

Position(s): F, W, AM, CM

Date of Birth: June 16, 2005

H/W: 5’8” 150 lbs.

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

Bennett Painter is currently listed and plays as a forward, but at the next level, I’d see him more as an advanced midfielder. There are a few top college players that will likely be making this transition as well.

Throughout his two-year stretch at Bowling Green State University, he has been sharpening his attacking skills, and by the end of this regular season, he accumulated 12 goals. Before arriving to college, he built a foundation operating in the wide areas and underneath in the half spaces. His attacking movements from deeper positions combined with his eye for goal would be a welcome addition to any team wanting to improve their ability to transition and increase their midfield goal contributions.

Liam O’Gara – Wake Forest University

Position(s): DM, CM, CB

Date of Birth: October 4, 2004

H: 6’3”

Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina

People might think it’s crazy for me to put Liam O’Gara on this list since he spent the entire 2024 calendar year recovering from an injury that occurred at the end of his freshman season, but hear me out.

Before the injury, he was on his way to being nominated for a Generation Adidas contract last season. Only two players received those deals under the new draft format, so that’s something to be said about how certain scouts rated him already. The value he brought to the team as a defensive midfielder and deep-lying playmaker for that 2023 season can’t be understated. For his efforts, he was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team. His smooth style and distribution have been a lot of fun to watch, so his return in 2025 will be highly anticipated. As a current update, he’s participating in training and I expect him to play during the spring season.

With clubs now holding the rights of their drafted players, a club might be willing to gamble on O’Gara in Round 3. From there, it’s no different than any other player that returns to the NCAA and if he has the kind of comeback I imagine, he’d be an excellent grab. There’s no reason to doubt that will be the case either. Two of his teammates came back from similar injuries with Ryan Fessler having returned to the Demon Deacon lineup and Jake Swallen moving on to play this recent season in MLS NEXT Pro. A draft nod might be interesting as well if a club wanted to bring him in for training over the summer leading up to his NCAA season.

There may be a club bold enough to add his name into the fold, so I, for one, wouldn’t be shocked to see his name wind up on the Eligible Players list. If you’re not high on the idea, an alternative for this selection could be Efetobo Aror from the University of Portland.

Miles Bonham – University of Dayton

Position(s): CM

H/W: 6’3” 190 lbs.

Hometown: Upper Arlington, Ohio

Agent: Assumed

Miles Bonham has started every match since stepping foot on campus and helped lead his team to a conference title in 2023, earning them a place in the NCAA tournament. As an obvious choice for the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie Team that season, the midfielder has seen his presence and influence make an impact on their 2024 campaign as well. Leading into the Atlantic 10 tournament at the start of November, Dayton was ranked 5^th in the nation with an overall record of 10-2-3.

With his stability, passing and box-to-box coverage combined with his size, he’s everything you’d want in a central midfielder, especially in a double pivot system.

Kieran Chandler – University of Connecticut

Position(s): WB, FB, CM

Date of Birth: Summer 2005

H/W: 5’9” 155 lbs.

Hometown: Simsbury, Connecticut

Like most of the players on this list, Kieran Chandler was immediately recognized as a top performer during his freshman season. In the Big East, he collected the Co-Freshman of the Year award in 2023. Receiving high praise by the Long Island Rough Riders coaching staff in USL League Two over this recent summer, the 19-year-old was an important piece of the Metropolitan Division winning team. He was awarded their Young Player of the Year honor as a result.

In terms of his play, he’s a left back with a background in the midfield, so features of that experience and technical ability are evident in his style. With the work ethic to get up-and-down the pitch, he’s an active contributor in all areas.

Will Eby – Michigan State University

Position(s): CB, FB, DM

H/W: 6’0” 167 lbs.

Hometown: Northville, Michigan

In a program that emphasizes their recruitment of the state of Michigan, Will Eby has been one of the top products from the area. Before arriving in East Lansing, he was the top-ranked defender in the state, and he hit the ground running at the college level as he was identified as one of the top freshmen in the conference via the 2023 Big Ten All-Freshman Team. 

The ball-moving defender is known for his control and passing ability, but you can also tell how well he reads the game as an overall smart and diligent player which are assets for his defensive duties.

Furthermore, he’s expected to graduate in December 2025, so he might be targeted as one of those guys who gets drafted and plays one last season in college before joining for preseason in the following January.

Here are some passing and defending clips from his last match against Washington:

Harrison Bertos – University of Washington

Position(s): LCB, LB

Date of Birth: October 19, 2003

H/W: 6’2” 175 lbs.

Hometown: Bedford, Massachusetts

Agent: Known

As a recent champion of the USL League Two with Seacoast United Phantoms, he helped his team emerge from one of the most competitive divisions throughout the country. For those unfamiliar with the top semi-professional league in the United States, there are 128 teams across 18 divisions, so it’s a great achievement to make it through and win the championship.

In Harrison Bertos’ 18 starts, the Huskies defense averaged less than a goal against per contest. He fits the mold of a textbook central defender with his organization and positioning combined with his ability in possession and defending duels.

The University of Washington is also known for their development of center back prospects with guys like Ryan Sailor, Kendall Burks, Achille Robin and Nate Jones, so it looks like Harrison Bertos will follow that lineage.

I’ll be working on a full season highlight video soon, but for now, here’s a short sample of him in action against Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinal match:

Travis Smith Jr. – Wake Forest University

Position(s): CB, FB

Date of Birth: August 26, 2005

H: 6’1”

Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky

The defensive versatility of Travis Smith Jr. has come in handy for Wake Forest throughout the season as he has played all across the back line for the Demon Deacons. Whether it’s at the center back or full back positions, on the left or right side of the field, he has contributed to 13 games in which they allowed one goal or less.

As an example of how some MLS scouts approach the college level, coming out of his freshman season, his name was highlighted as a player to monitor as a sophomore and I think he has done enough to maintain his position on the prospect board. A two-time ECNL All-American, the Louisville City academy product came into Wake Forest with USL Championship first team training experience.

Bryant Mayer – Northwestern

Position(s): FB, WB

Date of Birth: April 19, 2005

H: 6’1”

Hometown: Owings Mills, Maryland

Bryant Mayer provided 7 assists for Northwestern in his sophomore season from the right back position, putting him 5^th in the Big Ten conference for that category and 2^nd for defenders.

He was high school teammates with Jacob Murrell at the McDonogh School where he served as a captain. He also played for the MLS NEXT member club Baltimore Armour during his academy days.

Here are some of his assists from October 2024:

Phillip Falcon III

Position: GK

H/W: 6’3” 190 lbs.

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Finishing second in the nation in clean sheets (9) and 6^th in goals against average (.688) was Phillip Falcon III. A product of Tampa Bay United, he joined the Quakers with a few years of experience in MLS NEXT competition and impressive accolades for his resume.

Being named the starter in his sophomore year, Penn recently won the Ivy League regular season title with an undefeated conference record of 7-0 and an overall record of 13-2-1. With those results, they found themselves ranked 12^th in the national poll at the start of November.