GOAL analyzes some of the brightest prospects that have declared for the 2025 MLS SuperDraft
While MLS Commissioner Don Garber recently noted the league's SuperDraft has been deemphasized compared to other player acquisition mechanisms, it remains a valuable tool for unearthing talent. Players such as Duncan McGuire and Moises Bombito are just two examples of standouts discovered in the past five years.
Last week, 44 players participated in the 2025 MLS College Showcase in San Diego, vying for a chance to shine and secure selection in the upcoming SuperDraft on Dec. 20.
The four-day event gave coaches, scouts, and front-office staff a closer look at NCAA collegiate players who may have slipped through the cracks. For MLS clubs, it’s an opportunity to uncover the next diamond in the rough – or perhaps the next Cyle Larin. The Canada international, the 2015 MLS Rookie of the Year, has become a gold standard for SuperDraft success: a regular with his national team and now a top forward in Europe.
The 2025 MLS SuperDraft takes place Friday at 2 p.m. ET, offering the next generation of North American talent a shot at stardom.
There are list 477 players available in this year's draft. However, five players on that list truly stand out from the rest, and could be some of the first names off the board. GOAL takes a look at the top five prospects.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowPape Mar Boye, Phoenix Rising
Offered a Generation Adidas Contract after winning the 2023 NCAA Championship with Clemson, the 20-year-old turned down the opportunity and signed with USL side Phoenix Rising FC instead – opting out of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. However, he is available for selection for the 2025 edition, and may be the first overall pick as a result.
With Rising across 2024, he appeared 31 times, becoming a Young Player of the Year finalist and an all-League second team selection in his debut professional season.
The young central defender turned heads in his freshman season at Clemson, and he was even named Defensive MVP after their College Cup National Championship victory. Now, two years later, he appears to have his sights on MLS after opting in for the 2025 Draft.
Born in Dakar, Senegal, the 20-year-old stands six-foot-one and he scored two goals and recorded two assists in the USL Championship in 2024.
AdvertisementHakim Karamoko, NC State
In 2024, Karamoko scored seven goals and recorded two assists as one of the standout players in the country. A left-footed inverted winger, Karamoko can play on both sides of the pitch, but excelled on the right. Aat 6-0, he was a foul magnet for The Wolfpack on the right side of the pitch, but was often found dribbling out of tight spaces or delivering outstanding holdup play in the final-third.
The combination of size, skill and pace could entice an MLS side to take him early on in the draft simply due to the potential profile he presents. That, and his highlight reel in 2024 included a few superb long-range efforts with his left boot.
Emil Jaaskelainen, Akron
The nation's top scorer, Jaaskelainen was named Big East Offensive Player of the Year after he scored 23 goals over the course of the 2024 season. Son of Jussi Jaaskelainen, Bolton Wanderers goalkeeping legend, Emil is expected to be one of – if not the first – strikers off the board.
He led the nation in game-winning goals in 2024 (six), goals per-game (1.10) and in points per match (2.57). He finished 2024 as Akron's second all-time leading scorer across a single season.
Four of his 23 regular season strikes came from the penalty spot, but he expressed versatility in and around the box throughout the entire campaign, whether on his left or right foot – or his head. A massive presence in the box, his aerial prowess may be what sets him apart from other forwards this draft.
Michael Adedokun, Ohio State
Adedokun might well be the first midfielder off the board. The Ohio State man, who can slide into a winger role, scored eight goals and recorded 11 assists in 2024 for the Buckeyes.
Nominated for the MAC Herman Trophy this year, the Nigeria native broke out in 2024, named the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and a First Team All-Big Ten selection. He led the Big Ten entering the postseason in total points with 27.
His physical composure in the midfield, along with his dominant presence caught attention in 2024 as he displayed a blend of speed, strength and dynamism in the middle of the park.