CHICAGO (Jan. 11, 2019) — The opening two rounds of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft included four US Youth Soccer National League alumni among the players who were selected by MLS clubs to begin their pro careers.
Three of the four players enjoyed great success with their teams in the National League by capturing division titles and earning berths to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. Hear from some of the players below…
Pick No. 15 — Chase Gasper, OBGC Rangers (MD)
Selected by Minnesota United FC, Gasper was a key part of an OBGC Rangers (MD) team that went 6-0-1 during the 2012-13 National League season to win its division title. The defender helped OBGC hold opponents to one goal or less in five of its seven games, while 2017 Portland Timbers draftee Jeremy Ebobisse led the Maryland side’s attack.
Pick No. 21 — Kamar Marriott, FC Dallas 97 Premier (TX-N)
Selected by Sporting Kansas City, Marriott and FC Dallas 97 Premier (TX-N) excelled in both the National League and US Youth Soccer National Championship Series. The North Texas side won the 2014 Southern Regional Championship and advanced to that year’s National Championship final. In the following season, FC Dallas went a perfect 7-0-0 in the National League — never allowing more than one goal in any game.
Marriott, who was not in attendance at the SuperDraft, was also a member of the FC Florida 96/97 Elite (FL) that advanced to the McGuire Cup final in 2016.
Pick No. 30 — Jimmy Hague, Michigan Jaguars 96 Green (MI)
Selected by Cincinnati FC, Hague helped Michigan Jaguars 96 Green (MI) to plenty of successes on the field in multiple US Youth Soccer competitions. In the National League, the Jaguars competed in three consecutive seasons and captured a division title during their 2010-11 campaign.
Hague and the Jaguars followed that National League title by advancing to the 2011 National Championship final, where it came up just short. However, Michigan earned its way back to the championship game at the 2012 National Championships, where it captured the National title.
Pick No. 43 — Abdi Mohamed, Classics Eagles 96/97 (OH-S)
Selected by New York City FC, Mohamed was part of the Classics Eagles 96/97 (OH-S) team that competed in the National League during the 2014-15 season. In a group with Marriott’s FC Dallas squad, along with two former National Championship teams, the Eagles finished fifth with two wins and two draws. Mohamed chipped scored twice for the Eagles — each goal coming in a win for the Ohio South side.