Five Union Academy grads, several others with local ties eligible for MLS SuperDraft
MLS SuperDraft is next Thursday
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Matt Ralph
Five Philadelphia Union Academy alums and several others with local ties are on a list of 176 players eligible for next week’s MLS SuperDraft.
Justin McMaster, Lamine Conte, Josue Monge, Dawson McCartney and Jahmali Waite, who all spent time with Bethlehem Steel FC prior to college and graduated high school from YSC Academy, are all listed.
McMaster, a winger/forward for Wake Forest is considered the best prospect of the group (No. 15 in SBI’s Big Board) and McCartney recently transferred to Notre Dame so he’d likely put a pro career on hold if he is drafted.
Philadelphia Union trading Kalil ElMedkhar’s homegrown rights to FC Dallas
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Dave Musante
Philadelphia Union Academy grad Kalil ElMedkhar, a first round prospect for the upcoming MLS SuperDraft, is getting his homegrown rights traded to FC Dallas, according to multiple sources.
The Middletown, Del. native scored 20 goals and collected 21 assists in four seasons at the University of Kentucky and was a regular for Reading United in their back-to-back runs to the USL League Two championships in 2018 and 2019.
ElMedkhar graduated from YSC Academy in 2017. He joined the Union Academy from Penn Fusion Academy in their first season in the U.S. Development Academy in 2013. During his time in the academy, ElMedkhar played as a winger in the 4-2-3-1 formation that was preferred then. The team down through the academy now employs the 4-4-2 diamond midfield setup, which doesn’t utilize traditional wingers.
Real Jersey FC 2004 boys show their quality against MLS Next competition
The defending national champion 2004 boys team hosted Players Development Academy at a showcase event and won 5-3
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Matt Ralph
South Jersey club Real Jersey FC hosted a showcase event last weekend and one of the highlights was a battle between their 2004 boys team and MLS Next opponent Players Development Academy on Saturday.
Fresh off helping lead Shawnee High School to a Group 4 regional title, forward Andrew Kitch had a hat trick and Cade McGrath and Julian Pittoulis also added goals for the hosts. PDA scored three times on set pieces, including a penalty that was initially stopped by the Real keeper but trickled in past the line.