Canadian forward Kimani Stewart-Baynes is shown in action with the Halifax Wanderers in a pre-season match on April 7, 2023, at Dalhousie University. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Trevor MacMillan/Halifax Wanderers **MANDATORY CREDIT**
Toronto FC picked Lipscomb University winger Tyrese Spicer first overall Tuesday in the MLS SuperDraft.
The 23-year-old from Trinidad and Tobago was a United Soccer Coaches first-team all-American and a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy this year.
Spicer led the Atlantic Sun Conferencewith 14 goals and added three assists for an ASUN-leading 31 points. He had 29 goals and 18 assists in 57 career appearances for Lipscomb, which is based in Nashville.
Some had wondered whether TFC might stay local and pick Canadian forward Kimani Stewart-Baynes. The Toronto native, who turns 19 on Jan. 17, was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year after scoring three goals and adding seven assists in 14 matches for the University of Maryland.
But Toronto opted for Spicer, with Maple Leafs captain John Tavares announcing the pick.
Stewart-Baynes and University of Virginia freshman forward Stephen Annor Gyamfi (pronounced uh-nore jem-fee) both signed Generation Adidas deals with the league, making them even more attractive given their contracts will not count against the salary cap of the team they go to.
Canadian internationals Tajon Buchanan (2019), Cyle Larin (2015), Richie Laryea (2016), Dayne St. Clair (2019) and Moïse Bombito (2023) all began their professional careers as Generation Adidas signings.
Larin was taken first overall in the 2015 draft by Orlando City SC.
The league has widened the talent pool this year, opening the door to sophomores and juniors with close to 400 players eligible in the three-round draft.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2023.
