Where Crew’s 2021 MLS draft picks fit in
The Crew made two picks in Thursday’s MLS Superdraft, a primary offseason date on the Major League Soccer calendar that continues to lose its impact on team rosters year to year.
The Crew selected defender Justin Malou of Clemson at No. 27 overall, the final pick in the first round, then took Ohio State defender Joshua Jacksonketchup at No. 52 before passing on its third-round pick.
There’s no telling when the Crew can begin defending its MLS Cup championship in 2021 — with MLS and its players’ union locked in a contentious negotiation over a new collective bargaining agreement — but it’s unlikely that any of the picks from Thursday will factor into this next season.
With the growth of MLS academies and teams preferring to sign players through their academies, the impact of the draft has dwindled significantly from the league’s first 15 years.
The Crew, for example, has only one draft pick on its current roster. Miguel Berry was a 2020 first-round pick who spent the year on loan at San Diego Loyal in the United Soccer League. The Crew signed only their first-round picks in the 2019 and ’20 drafts.
That said, there’s still talent in the college ranks, as evident from the Crew’s four homegrown signings, who all played a year of college soccer before turning pro.
“Every year it’s proven that the draft produces players for the league. Maybe fewer and fewer, but there are players that step up to the next level and play,” Crew president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said.
“At the same time, we’re exploring adding a Crew 2 team and so even if this player isn’t offered an MLS contract, they can come in, learn for a year or two and then maybe have a little bit more time to develop into an MLS pro.”
The only spot on the Crew roster with a glaring need for depth is at outside back, behind starter Harrison Afful. It’s possible that neither Malou nor Jackson-ketchup will be signed by the Crew before the season, let alone play in any competition unless a roster spot opens because of injury.
With the last pick of the first round, the Crew went with the player it believed was the best available. Crew coach Caleb Porter said Malou comes from a Clemson program with a winning culture and has the athleticism to potentially to develop into a rotation player.
Malou, a native of Senegal, made 50 starts in 60 career games with the Tigers, the 2020 Atlantic Coast Conference champions. He had a career-high six assists in 2019 and scored one goal in 11 games this season.
“Where will Justin fit, it’s up to him obviously, but there is a hole in that second spot” at right back, Porter said. “At the minimum the third spot, which pushes him to potentially the second team. And with his profile being athletic, we thought it made sense.”
Jackson-ketchup has been a regular starter at Ohio State since his freshman season, making 50 starts among 54 appearances. It’s doubtful he ever plays for the Crew, though technical director Pat Onstad believes he can develop on a reserve team.
“It’s going to be a long shot,” Onstad said. “He’s the 52nd pick in the draft. That’s a difficult one to try to make it, but we’re hoping to have a second team and that might be where he starts out, and then see if he can make the jump.” jmyers@dispatch.com @_jcmyers