When the Vancouver Whitecaps selected Ryan Raposo fourth overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday, the former Syracuse forward became the second-highest selection in program history.

Raposo signed a Generation Adidas contract with the MLS on Dec. 30 and will forego his final two years of eligibility with the Orange. Raposo is the sixth SU player in the last six seasons to sign the Generation Adidas contract, which allows underclassmen to become eligible to be drafted.

After a strong freshman year in which Raposo said he put himself “on the map,” he set a program record for a sophomore with 37 points in 2019. The Hamilton, Ontario native notched 15 goals and seven assists and was an All-ACC first team selection, leading SU to the second round of the NCAA tournament before a 2-1 defeat to St. John’s.

Raposo said signing a Generation Adidas contract and being selected in the MLS SuperDraft has been on his mind “since day one.” 

“I was hungry up until the final whistle at St. John’s to get more,” Raposo said. “Just pushing myself and always asking more and putting myself in the position to where the (MLS) has no choice (but to sign me) because I had that good of a season.”

The Whitecaps finished the 2019 MLS season last in the Western Conference with 34 points, the second-fewest total in the league. Vancouver opens its season on Feb. 29 against Sporting Kansas City.

UPDATED: Jan. 10, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.

Defender Nyal Higgins was also drafted in the first round of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, going 19th overall to Toronto FC. The senior from Ajax, Canada started all 19 games he appeared in last season, and tallied one goal and three points through eight shots. He started his collegiate career at Oakland University, where he started 51 games over three seasons and scored four goals.

Published on January 9, 2020 at 1:42 pm

Contact David: ddschnei@syr.edu