5 Prospects Revs Should Select in 2024 MLS SuperDraft
The 2024 MLS SuperDraft possesses a number of quality prospects, but here are five guys the Revolution should have on their shortlist entering Tuesday's draft!
December 19th marks a first for Curt Onalfo as the newly appointed Sporting Director and the club participates in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft.
Whether under Brad Friedel or Bruce Arena, the Revolution has selected several quality prospects over the past few years. Fan favorites like Tajon Buchanan, Brandon Bye, Henry Kessler, and DeJuan Jones all found their way to the Revolution via the MLS SuperDraft.
Curt Onalfo and the scouting department will look to continue the Revolution’s recent SuperDraft successes as they possess the 20th and 78th overall picks in the draft.
As we prepare for Tuesday’s draft, I compiled a list of five interesting prospects I’d like to see the Revolution select.
Gevork Diarbian - Forward, Providence College
I would be shocked if Diarbian isn’t on the Revolution’s shortlist of potential selections.
The Cranston, Rhode Island native enters the draft after wrapping up a four-season collegiate career at Providence College. The forward ends his time at PC with 12 goals and 17 assists over 64 appearances.
During his time at Providence, Gevork racked up numerous individual honors, including three straight All-Big EAST Second Team selections (2021, 2022, and 2023), 2020-21 All-Big EAST Third Team, Big EAST Freshman of the Week (March 8, 2021), United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Second Team (2021), and United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Third Team (2022).
Diarbian might be a familiar name to Blazing Musket readers as he spent the summer of 2023 with USL League 2 side Vermont Green FC, where he tallied four goals. Gevork is familiar with the Revolution as he rose through the Revolution Academy and trialed with Revolution II this summer.
Gevork Diarbian also expressed an interest in having the Revolution select him. On December 5th, Diarbian spoke with his former USL League 2 side Peoria City. During his chat with Peoria, Diarbian said he had been “dreaming about this moment” ever since he was a kid. Gevork added the Revolution are “a club I would love to play for.”
It seems the former Revs Academy prospect still admires New England. I genuinely hope to hear his name called when the Revolution is on the clock.
Alec Hughes - Forward, University of Massachusetts
Hughes enters the draft after four seasons at UMass. The Glastonbury, Connecticut native tallied 35 goals and seven assists over 65 appearances for the Minutemen.
Like Diarbian, Hughes racked up numerous individual honors during his time at UMass including 2020-21 United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Region, 2020-21 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, 2021 Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference selection, 2022 Atlantic 10 Co-Offensive Player of the Year, 2022 A-10 First-Team selection, and 2022 United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second-Team.
Depth at the forward position is something the Revolution seriously lacks entering 2024. Considering Hughes’ success at the collegiate level, he may be a prospect the Revolution has an eye on entering the draft.
Kevin Bonilla - Defender, University of Portland
The former FC Dallas Academy product enters the draft following a four-season career in Portland, where he tallied three goals and 17 assists over 57 appearances.
Bonilla appeared in 17 matches for Portland in 2023, where he helped the program concede only 15 goals.
During his time with the Pilots, Bonilla received numerous honors including 2021 All-West Region Third Team, 2021 Top Drawer Soccer Freshman Best XI First Team, 2022 All-WCC Second Team, and WCC Player of the Week (9/5/22).
Bonilla also garnered international attention as he received a US U-20 call-up in 2019.
Considering Revolution II has lost several key defenders, Bonilla’s addition would fill the gap at Revolution II while also being additional full back depth for the first team.
Edrey Caceres - Midfielder, Marquette University
Caceres enters the draft following three seasons at Marquette, where he tallied 11 goals and 14 assists over 50 appearances.
During his time with the Golden Eagles, Caceres racked up numerous honors, like two 2021 Big EAST Freshman of the Week (Aug. 30, Sep. 26), 2021 Big EAST Offensive Player of the Week (Sep. 26), and three straight All-Big East Second Team selections (2021, 2022, and 2023).
The former Houston Dynamo Academy Player of the Year (2019) also garnered international attention as he’s had previous experience with the U-23 El Salvador National Team.
Bryan Dowd - Goalkeeper, Notre Dame
Dowd enters the draft following a four-year career at Notre Dame, where he etched a 32-17-13 record. Dowd’s senior season saw him put up some of the best D1 numbers nationally as he ended the 2023 campaign with 70 saves (#20), 11 shutouts (T-2), 15 goals conceded, and a .699 goals against average (#9).
Despite falling short in the final, Dowd was instrumental to Notre Dame’s run in 2023’s College Cup, as he only conceded three goals over 490 minutes. Two of those goals unfortunately came during Clemson’s 2-1 victory in the College Cup Final.
While the Revolution has quantifiable depth at the goalkeeper position, it’s one the club is looking to improve quality-wise. Dowd is on the heels of a historic season and looks like a quality prospect who could follow the path paved by SuperDraft goalkeepers like Roman Celentano and Patrick Schulte.
Can we take all five. Hard to just pick one out of these five. Good choices.