A total of 28 players with local ties will be eligible for selection in this Thursday’s MLS SuperDraft with several projected as early picks. Of the 28 eligible players for selection, 4 of them have already signed professional contracts, congrats to Jake Dengler (Loudoun United FC), Daniel Steedman (Atlanta United II), Michael DeShields (NE Revs II) & Sean O’Hearn (NE Revs II). 2 of the players below have signed generation adidas contracts with Major League Soccer after standout early collegiate careers in Virginia, Bret Halsey (Loudoun SC) and Dani Pereira (VBR Star) will both be eligible for selection and will most likely be off the board in the 1st round tomorrow.

Below we’ll give you a brief background of all of those eligible for selection tomorrow and where you can keep up with the draft!

Link to watch MLS SuperDraft live at 2 PM EST

Link to the live MLS SuperDraft picks tracker

List of local players eligible for selection in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft

Elijah Amo (Bethesda SC —> Louisville): 54 games played (23 starts), 6 goals and 1 assist (2 GWG’s)

Jack Beer (Georgetown): 44 games played (3 starts), 4 goals and 4 assists (3 GWG’s), 2019 BIG EAST tournament Offensive MVP, 2019 National Champion.

Paul Bin (Maryland): 40 games played (19 starts), 4 goals and 3 assists, 2018 National Champion.

TJ Bush (SYA Strikers —> James Madison): 57 games played (56 starts), 49 GA (.84 GAA), 161 saves (.77 Save %), 23 shutouts. 2017: CAA All-Rookie team, 2018: All-ECAC team, 3rd Team All-Atlantic region, CAA All-Tournament team, 1st Team All-CAA, 2019: 1st Team All-CAA, CAA All Tournament team.

Nathaniel Crofts Jr. (Virginia): 64 games played (63 starts), 11 goals and 11 assists (6 GWG’s). 2018 National Finalist.

Jake Dengler (Pipeline SC/Baltimore Armour —> Loyola MD —> UConn —> Loudoun United FC)**: Jake has already signed as a pro, signing with Loudoun United FC in 2020.

Michael DeShields (Baltimore Celtic SC —> Wake Forest —> New England Revolution II)**: 60 games played (49 starts), 3 goals and 1 assist (2 GWG’s). 2017 ACC All-Tournament Team, 29 shutouts in 60 GP. Already signed to play for New England Revolutions 2nd team in 2021.

Ben DiRosa (Bethesda SC —> Maryland): 54 games played (44 starts), 2 goals and 2 assists. 2018 College Cup All-Tournament team, 2018 National Champion.

Matt DiRosa (Bethesda SC —> Maryland): 46 games played (36 starts), 1 goal and 3 assists. 2018 National Champion.

Derek Dodson (Georgetown): 65 games played (47 starts), 30 goals and 11 assists (10 GWG’s). 2017: All-Great Lakes Region 3rd team, BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, 2nd Team All BIG EAST, BIG EAST All Freshman team. 2018: 2nd Team All-East region, 1st Team All-BIG EAST. 2019: United Soccer Coaches All-American, 1st Team All-BIG EAST, BIG EAST All Tournament team. 2019 National Champion. 2020 Team captain for Georgetown.

Irakoze Donasiyano (Roanoke Star SC —> Virginia): 58 games played (49 starts), 5 goals and 8 assists (2 GWG’s). 2019 3rd Team All-ACC, 2019 National Finalist.

Avionne Flanagan (Baltimore Celtic SC/Baltimore Armour/DC United Academy —> South Florida): 48 games played (41 starts), 4 goals and 7 assists (2 GWG’s). 2018 2nd Team All-American Athletic, 2019 1st Team All-American Athletic.

Jake Gelnovatch (Richmond United —> Louisville): 54 games played (53 starts), 70 GA (1.27 GAA), 127 saves (65 Save %), 18 shutouts. 2018 ACC Championship All-Tournament Team.

Brandon Hackenberg (Richmond United —> Penn State): 45 games played (36 starts), 2 goals and contributed on 12 shutouts. 2019 1st Team All-Big Ten, 3rd Team All-North region.

Bret Halsey (Loudoun SC —> Virginia): 31 games played (31 starts), 1 goal and 2 assists. 2019 ACC All-Tournament team, 2020 ACC All-Tournament team. Signed as a member of the 2021 Generation Adidas class by MLS.

Rio Hope-Gund (Georgetown): 36 games played (24 starts) 2 goals and 2 assists, contributed on 21 shutouts. 2019 National Champion, named a team captain for 2020 Georgetown team with Sean Zawadski and Derek Dodson.

Tom Judge (James Madison): 56 games played (51 starts), 3 goals and 4 assists. 2017: 2nd Team All-CAA, CAA All-Rookie team. 2018: 3rd Team All-CAA. 2019: 1st Team All-Atlantic region & 1st Team All-CAA.

Eric Matzelevich (Bethesda SC/DC United Academy —> Maryland): 66 games played (27 starts), 10 goals and 6 assists. 2019 2nd Team All-Big Ten, 2018 National Champion.

Sean O’Hearn (Georgetown —> New England Revolution II)**: 62 games played (61 starts), 0 goals and 5 assists, contributed in 29 shuputs for the Hoyas. 2017 BIG EAST All-Freshman team, 2019 National Champion. Already signed pro with New England Revolutions 2nd team for the 2021 season.

Daniel Pereira (VBR Star —> Virginia Tech): 26 games played (26 starts), 6 goals and 6 assists (1 GWG). 2021 Generation Adidas class signee.

Will Pulisic (Richmond United —> Duke): 66 games played (65 starts), 1 assist, .84 GA (1.25 GAA), 200 saves (.7 Save %), 19 shutouts)

Paul Rothrock (Georgetown): Spent first 2 seasons at Notre Dame (13 GP), 24 Games played (13 starts) at Georgetown in 2019, 4 goals and 7 assists from outside back and a 2019 National Championship.

Colin Shutler (Loudoun SC —> Virginia): 45 games played (44 starts), 31 GA (.675 GAA), 129 saves (.81 Save %), 19 shutouts. 2019: National Finalist, NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team, Consensus First Team All-American, 1st Team All-ACC.

Daniel Steedman (Virginia —> Atlanta United II)**: Signed as a pro with Atlanta United II after his rookie season with UVA, played in 13 games (2 starts) in the USL Championship. 2019 National Finalist with UVA.

Kristofer Strickler (Virginia Tech): 67 games played (64 starts), 27 goals and 9 assists (10 GWG’s). Joined the team as a walk-on, became team captain in 2019. 2nd Team All-ACC in 2018.

Mathijs Swaneveld (Virginia Tech): 45 games played (45 starts), 172 saves ).74 Save %), 1 GA (1.3 GAA), 10 shutouts. 3rd Team All-ACC in 2018.

Trey Vinson (DC United Academy —> UMBC): 58 games played (51 starts), 1 assist.

Chase Vosvick (Baltimore Armour —> Montverde Academy —> Loyola MD): 50 games played (50 starts), 1 assist, 52 GA (1.04 GAA), 139 saves (.72 Save %), 19 shutouts. 3x 1st Team All-Region, 2x Patriot League GK of the year, Patriot League Rookie of the Year, 2nd Team All Patriot League in 2019, First Team All Patriot League in 17-18, 6x Patriot League GK of the week, 3x Patriot League Rookie of the week

(All statistics and information on each player is current per their teams player stats online)

** 4 of the 27 eligible players have already signed professional contracts, Jake Dengler and Daniel Steedman both spent 2020 playing in the USL Championship for Loudoun United FC and Atlanta United II. 2020 grads Michael DeShields and Sean O’Hearn are both headed to New England Revolution II for the 2021 USL League One season after strong collegiate careers for Wake Forest and Georgetown.