Program Record Five Orange Selected in 2023 MLS SuperDraft
12/21/2022 9:12:00 PM | Men's Soccer
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – A school record five Syracuse men's soccer players were selected in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Senior defender Abdi Salim was the first Orange off the board, selected 17th overall by Orlando City SC in the first round. First team All-American and MAC Hermann Trophy finalist Levonte Johnson was drafted by Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the first round with the 29th overall pick.Â
NCAA College Cup hero and team captain Amferny Sinclair is heading to Real Salt Lake, as the Western Conference club selected the Costa Rican midfielder with the 16th pick of the second round. Goalkeeper Russell Shealy was also selected in the second round. The Cartersville, Georgia native was selected with the 52nd overall pick by LA Galaxy.Â
Swedish defender Buster Sjoberg was the second Orange picked by Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The senior center back was selected in the third round with the 71st overall pick.Â
Salim, a native of Buffalo, New York, appeared in 22 matches in 2022, starting every match of Syracuse's postseason run to the school's first ever national championship. The senior center back missed the 2021 season due to a lower body injury and arrived to Syracuse in 2020 via the transfer portal. Salim will continue his soccer career at the professional level with Orlando City SC.
One of the most exciting attacking prospects in recent memory, Johnson returns to his home country after being selected by Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the first round. The Brampton, Ontario native pushed the Orange to a national championship crown, scoring 11 goals, dishing out six assists and recording 28 points. Johnson has collected numerous individual accolades, including United Soccer Coaches All-America first team honors and being named a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy.Â
A vocal and emotional leader for four years, midfielder and team captain Sinclair begins his professional journey with Real Salt Lake after being selected in the second round. The four-year starter finishes his Syracuse career with 64 appearances. Sinclair scored the game-winning penalty in the 2022 NCAA National Championship against Indiana.Â
The 2022 season was a breakout campaign for Shealy, a redshirt-senior goalie. The Cartersville, Georgia native recorded career highs in saves (72), save percentage (.800), clean sheets (10) and goals against average (0.73). Shealy also earned All-ACC Second Team honors, the ACC Tournament MVP Award, and NCAA College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player. He will head out west to kick start his professional career with LA Galaxy as a second round pick.
Sjoberg, a two-year starter from Uppsala, Sweden, was selected by Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the third round. A well-rounded center back, Sjoberg appeared in 19 matches this season. He saw limited action in the postseason due to a lower body injury.Â
Eric Puls – Colorado Rapids – 12th round (112th overall)
Paul Young – Columbus Crew – 13th round (121st overall)
1997 Supplemental Draft
Mike Britton – Colorado Rapids – 3rd round (23rd overall)
2004 SuperDraft
Chris Aloisi – Los Angeles Galaxy – 6th round (57th overall)
2006 Supplemental Draft
Ezra Prendergast – Chicago Fire – 3rd round (34th overall)
2007 SuperDraft
Richard Asante – Toronto FC – 3rd round (27th overall)
2009 SuperDraft
Kyle Hall – Toronto FC – 3rd round (39th overall)
2015 SuperDraft
Alex Bono – Toronto FC – 1st round (6th overall)Â
Skylar Thomas – Toronto FC – 1st round (11th overall)
Jordan Murrell – Real Salt Lake – 3rd round (57th overall)
2016 SuperDraft
Julian Buescher – DC United – 1st round (11th overall)
Ben Polk – Portland Timbers – 1st round (20th overall)
2017 SuperDraft
Miles Robinson – Atlanta United - 1st round (2nd overall)
Liam Callahan – Colorado Rapids – 2nd round (24th overall)
2018 SuperDraft
Mo Adams – Chicago Fire – 1st round (10th overall)
2019 SuperDraft
Tajon Buchanan – New England Revolution – 1st round (9th overall)
Kamal Miller – Orlando City SC – 2nd round (27th overall)
2020 SuperDraft
Ryan Raposo – Vancouver Whitecaps FC – 1st round (4th overall)
Nyal Higgins – Toronto FC – 1st round (19th overall)
2021 SuperDraft
Luther Archimede – New York Red Bulls – 1st round (13th overall)
Sondre Norheim – 3rd round (73rd overall)
2023 SuperDraft
Abdi Salim - Orlando City SC - 1st round (17th overall)
Levonte Johnson - Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 1st round (29th overall)
Amferny Sinclair - Real Salt Lake - 2nd round (45th overall)
Russell Shealy - LA Galaxy - 2nd round (52nd overall)
Buster Sjoberg - Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 3rd round (71st overall)
NCAA College Cup hero and team captain Amferny Sinclair is heading to Real Salt Lake, as the Western Conference club selected the Costa Rican midfielder with the 16th pick of the second round. Goalkeeper Russell Shealy was also selected in the second round. The Cartersville, Georgia native was selected with the 52nd overall pick by LA Galaxy.Â
Swedish defender Buster Sjoberg was the second Orange picked by Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The senior center back was selected in the third round with the 71st overall pick.Â
Salim, a native of Buffalo, New York, appeared in 22 matches in 2022, starting every match of Syracuse's postseason run to the school's first ever national championship. The senior center back missed the 2021 season due to a lower body injury and arrived to Syracuse in 2020 via the transfer portal. Salim will continue his soccer career at the professional level with Orlando City SC.
One of the most exciting attacking prospects in recent memory, Johnson returns to his home country after being selected by Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the first round. The Brampton, Ontario native pushed the Orange to a national championship crown, scoring 11 goals, dishing out six assists and recording 28 points. Johnson has collected numerous individual accolades, including United Soccer Coaches All-America first team honors and being named a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy.Â
A vocal and emotional leader for four years, midfielder and team captain Sinclair begins his professional journey with Real Salt Lake after being selected in the second round. The four-year starter finishes his Syracuse career with 64 appearances. Sinclair scored the game-winning penalty in the 2022 NCAA National Championship against Indiana.Â
The 2022 season was a breakout campaign for Shealy, a redshirt-senior goalie. The Cartersville, Georgia native recorded career highs in saves (72), save percentage (.800), clean sheets (10) and goals against average (0.73). Shealy also earned All-ACC Second Team honors, the ACC Tournament MVP Award, and NCAA College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player. He will head out west to kick start his professional career with LA Galaxy as a second round pick.
Sjoberg, a two-year starter from Uppsala, Sweden, was selected by Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the third round. A well-rounded center back, Sjoberg appeared in 19 matches this season. He saw limited action in the postseason due to a lower body injury.Â
Syracuse MLS SuperDraft History
1996 SuperDraftEric Puls – Colorado Rapids – 12th round (112th overall)
Paul Young – Columbus Crew – 13th round (121st overall)
1997 Supplemental Draft
Mike Britton – Colorado Rapids – 3rd round (23rd overall)
2004 SuperDraft
Chris Aloisi – Los Angeles Galaxy – 6th round (57th overall)
2006 Supplemental Draft
Ezra Prendergast – Chicago Fire – 3rd round (34th overall)
2007 SuperDraft
Richard Asante – Toronto FC – 3rd round (27th overall)
2009 SuperDraft
Kyle Hall – Toronto FC – 3rd round (39th overall)
2015 SuperDraft
Alex Bono – Toronto FC – 1st round (6th overall)Â
Skylar Thomas – Toronto FC – 1st round (11th overall)
Jordan Murrell – Real Salt Lake – 3rd round (57th overall)
2016 SuperDraft
Julian Buescher – DC United – 1st round (11th overall)
Ben Polk – Portland Timbers – 1st round (20th overall)
2017 SuperDraft
Miles Robinson – Atlanta United - 1st round (2nd overall)
Liam Callahan – Colorado Rapids – 2nd round (24th overall)
2018 SuperDraft
Mo Adams – Chicago Fire – 1st round (10th overall)
2019 SuperDraft
Tajon Buchanan – New England Revolution – 1st round (9th overall)
Kamal Miller – Orlando City SC – 2nd round (27th overall)
2020 SuperDraft
Ryan Raposo – Vancouver Whitecaps FC – 1st round (4th overall)
Nyal Higgins – Toronto FC – 1st round (19th overall)
2021 SuperDraft
Luther Archimede – New York Red Bulls – 1st round (13th overall)
Sondre Norheim – 3rd round (73rd overall)
2023 SuperDraft
Abdi Salim - Orlando City SC - 1st round (17th overall)
Levonte Johnson - Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 1st round (29th overall)
Amferny Sinclair - Real Salt Lake - 2nd round (45th overall)
Russell Shealy - LA Galaxy - 2nd round (52nd overall)
Buster Sjoberg - Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 3rd round (71st overall)
Players Mentioned
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