December 21st 2024.
On Friday afternoon, it seemed like the Colorado Rapids had exhausted all their options for the MLS SuperDraft. But just when it seemed like they were out of cards to deal, they pulled a few more out of their sleeve.
In the first round alone, the club made three trades that resulted in them acquiring the No. 4, 6, and 12 picks, as well as $75,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) for the 2026 season. This was on top of the $312,500 in GAM they had already obtained, as well as an international roster slot for the 2025 season.
This year's draft was unique due to new rules that allowed sophomores and juniors to be eligible for selection. The Rapids took advantage of this flexibility last year and selected players from both classes with top-five picks. They also drafted freshman Kimani Stewart-Baynes, who was a Generation Adidas player.
This year was no different, as the Rapids made five picks in the first round, including a sophomore Generation Adidas forward, two junior defenders, a sophomore midfielder, and another sophomore forward. They then went on to make a second-round pick and three third-round selections, with the majority of these players expected to join the team for preseason starting on January 11th.
According to Rapids President Pádraig Smith, the club successfully drafted six out of their top 10 players on their draft board. Let's take a closer look at the Rapids' 2025 SuperDraft class.
In the first round, the Rapids selected Alex Harris, a sophomore forward from Cornell. Harris was the second-to-last Generation Adidas player to be selected and is known for his ability to score goals. In his two years at Cornell, he scored an impressive 31 goals and had nine assists, with a 89% success rate on penalty kicks. As a freshman, he was voted unanimously as the Ivy League rookie of the year, and this season he was named a MAC Hermann Award semifinalist, one of only two sophomores to receive this honor. Smith described Harris as a "little menace" on the field with a strong work ethic that makes him a nightmare for defenders.
With the No. 6 pick, the Rapids selected Matthew Senanou, a 6-foot-4 junior defender from Xavier. The Rapids have a history of drafting tall defenders, and Senanou fits the mold perfectly. He was a key player in a defense that only allowed one goal per game this season. In his interview with the club, Senanou expressed his admiration for former Rapids center back Moïse Bombito and his dreams of following a similar career path. Smith was impressed with Senanou's personality and said that his pre-draft interview is now in the conversation for the best one he's ever had.
The Rapids then traded for the No. 12 pick, where they selected Efetobo Aror, a sophomore defensive midfielder from Portland. Aror only played 10 games this year due to a torn meniscus, but Smith felt that he was worth the risk. He described Aror as an explosive player with great ball control and a no-brainer pick for the Rapids. In exchange for the pick, the Rapids gave up a 2025 international roster slot and $75,000 in GAM to Austin FC.
With the No. 16 pick, the Rapids selected Sydney Wathuta, a sophomore forward from Vermont. Wathuta was a key player in Vermont's 2024 NCAA national championship win and is known for his playmaking abilities. He ranked second in the nation with 14 assists this season, along with a goal. The Rapids are excited to see what Wathuta can bring to the team.
With their final pick in the first round, the Rapids selected Josh Copeland, a sophomore midfielder from Detroit Mercy. Copeland was a standout player at a smaller school, and the Rapids had been in discussions with him for a while before the draft. They see potential in the 6-foot-3 midfielder and believe they can build on his skills.
Moving on to the second round, the Rapids selected Charlie Harper, a junior defender from North Carolina with the No. 38 pick. Harper impressed the Rapids in his pre-draft interview, with his unique background of being born in Australia, attending high school in Japan, and being fluent in Japanese. He also has a solid 6-foot-2 frame and scored one goal in 2024.
In the third round, the Rapids picked up Donavan Phillip, a sophomore midfielder/forward from NC State, with the No. 62 pick. Phillip scored six goals and had four assists in 2024 and is from Saint Lucia. The Rapids are unsure if he will return to college or join the team in January, but they are hoping for the latter.
The No. 68 pick went to Shawn Smart, a defender from Las Vegas Lights, a USL Championship team. Smart is currently under contract with the Lights until 2025, but the Rapids drafted his MLS rights and have the first right of refusal once his contract ends. Smith believes it's best for Smart to continue developing and gaining experience in the USL Championship before joining the Rapids.
The final pick for the Rapids was Matthew Van Horn, a sophomore forward from Georgetown with the No. 75 pick. Van Horn is from North Pole, Alaska, and is the only player expected to return to school for at least another year. His Georgetown team was seeded fourth in the NCAA Tournament but was upset by Phillip's unranked NC State team in the second round.
It's clear that the Rapids have high hopes for their 2025 SuperDraft class and believe they hit the mark with six out of their top 10 players. With a mix of talented sophomores and juniors, the Rapids are excited to see how these players will contribute to the team.
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