ORLANDO – January 15, 2015 – Orlando City Soccer Club selected three players in the first two rounds of the 2015 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft today, choosing Canadian National Team Striker Cyle Larin as the number one overall pick.
“I’d like to thank Phil Rawlins, Paul McDonough, Coach Adrian Heath, and the entire Orlando City organization for picking me first,” said Larin. “I really appreciate it, and I can’t wait to come in and work really hard.”
“Cyle ticks a lot of the boxes that you look for in a modern day striker,” said Heath. “He has good size, he’s very athletic, and he can score a variety of goals. He has a little bit of everything, and ultimately it came down to the fact that goal-scorers are a hot commodity.”
In addition, Orlando selected U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team and Generation adidas Defender Conor Donovan and University of Tulsa Forward Akeil Barrett with the 22nd and 25th picks, respectively, in the second round of the SuperDraft.
Cyle Larin and his teammates react to selection
Donovan joins the Lions after spending one season at North Carolina State University. During his freshman season, the defender appeared in 15 matches for N.C. State, recording one goal and one assist.
At the international level, Donovan is currently with the U-20 USMNT for the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship underway in Jamaica. Donovan has been a mainstay within the U.S. Youth National Team ranks – earning 33 international caps with the U-17, U-18 and U-20 teams.
Barrett will begin his professional career with Orlando after spending four years at the collegiate level, scoring 22 career goals for the University of Tulsa and the University of Akron.
After playing his freshman season with Akron, Barrett transferred to the University of Tulsa – earning honors such as Conference USA All-Tournament Team (2012), NSCAA All-Midwest Region Third Team (2013), All-Conference USA Second Team (2013) and American Athletic Conference First Team (2014).
Transaction:Orlando City SC Selects Akeil Barrett and Conor Donovan in Second Round of MLS SuperDraft
Name: Conor Donovan
Date of Birth: 01/08/1996
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 176 lbs.
Citizenship: United States of America
Birthplace: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Twitter: @condon20
Name: Akeil Barrett
Date of Birth: 07/07/1992
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 130 lbs.
Citizenship: Jamaica
Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica
Twitter: @akeilmaestro
