Major League Soccer on Monday announced the four standout underclassmen that comprise the 2020 Generation adidas class and two pre-signed seniors ahead 2020 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas on Jan. 9.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC currently hold the 4th, 32nd, 55th, & 82nd overall selections.
Georgetown defender Dylan Nealis and Stanford defender Tanner Beason are the two pre-signed seniors. They are joined Clemson junior forward Robbie Robinson, Indiana sophomore defender Jack Maher, Virginia junior center back Henry Kessler and Syracuse sophomore midfielder Ryan Raposo, who make up the Generation adidas class.
Nealis, a 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy finalist and 2019 College Cup winner, collected four goals and five assists with starts in all 24 games, including the national title match. He's the younger brother of New York Red Bulls defender Sean Nealis. Beason is also a three-time national champion (2015-17) and a 2019 First Team All-American with 20 goals and 11 assists in 81 career games.
Robinson scored 18 goals and added nine assists in 19 games to finish the regular season tied as the top-ranked NCAA Division I goalscorer to earn MAC Hermann Trophy finalist consideration.
Maher was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and converted three game-winning goals in 2019 after last season anchoring the Indiana backline to an NCAA Division I-leading 15 shutouts as a freshman.
At 6-foot-4, Kessler steadied the Cavaliers backline and played 90 minutes in all 24 games for a UVA squad that went 21-2-1 and had 12 shutout wins. Raposo recorded 15 goals and seven assists in 20 starts.
Generation adidas is a joint program between MLS and adidas which sees a handful of top collegiate underclassmen and youth national team players signed by MLS to Generation adidas contracts and made available in the SuperDraft.
Expansion clubs Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC will have the first selections at the 2020 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, with Miami selecting first and third, and Nashville second. The complete list of players available for selection will be available within 48 hours prior to the draft.
