It’s fair to say that NYCFC have done pretty well out of the MLS SuperDraft in our two years of participation…
In our first entry in 2015, we picked up Khiry Shelton in Philly but last year it was all about Jack Harrison.
It was January 14 in Baltimore when Jack was the youngest-available player at the draft.
In 2015, he had become the only freshman to be selected for any of the three All-American teams, making the NSCAA First Team All-American.
He won a whole host of college awards too, including the Gatorade National Player of the Year title as part of the Wake Forest University team.
Chicago Fire picked up Harrison in the first round of the SuperDraft before he was traded to NYCFC in exchange for the #4 overall pick and allocation money.
Harrison said, “I am really excited. I’m looking forward to working with Patrick Vieira and working with some great players.
“It’s great to be back in Manhattan. I’m happy to be back in New York City, it’s been my second home since moving to the United States, so I’m really excited.”
Sporting Director Claudio Reyna added, “We’re very excited. Not only is he a player for the future, but we think he can contribute right away in an attacking position. He’s a great kid. He’s been in the New York area for the last three years at Manhattan Soccer Club playing for one of our Youth Affiliates. It’s a great story, but more than anything we got a fantastic kid and an excellent player.”
Since…
Jack was named the second best player under the age of 24 by MLS last season and was nominated for Rookie of the Year following an outstanding breakthrough year.
He also reached the final for the Goal of the Year award for his incredible solo strike against Montreal – a goal which told you everything about the prodigious talent Jack is blessed with.
In Numbers…
Games: 21
Goals: 4
Assists: 7
Vieira on Harrison…
“He has a lot of talent and he’s a really important player for us. He had a tough period of injuries but we know what we’re getting with Jack.
“It wasn’t easy to get him in the draft but we did our homework really well and that’s why I’m happy with Claudio and David, to be working with them, because they made the magic happen.”
Follow SuperDraft 2017
The 2017 MLS SuperDraft takes place in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon. We’ll have a live stream of the MLS SuperDraft here on NYCFC.com, as well as live coverage of any moves as-they-happen on Twitter.
