When it comes to professional sports drafts, Major League Soccer has one of the least well known. Even Major League Baseball, which routinely drafts high school kids most of the country has never heard of, gets some modicum of coverage. Not so with the MLS SuperDraft. First off, that is a horrible name that reeks of trying just a bit too hard. Second, few college soccer games ever appear on television and half the country doesn't even play men's soccer.
To the MLS's credit, they ditched the dog and pony show this year. No centralized event. Now big television broadcast. Stream the conference call live for the die hard fans. A few cameras in the top prospect's homes. They seemed to attempt to embrace the K.I.S.S. method of media coverage.
The local squad, Minnesota United ended up picking three new players in this SuperDraft. Finding much information about any of them has been relatively challenging. Since I was doing the digging anyway, I thought I'd compile the links for each of the Minnesota United draft picks in one location.
Minnesota United FC
Round 1 - 18 overall
Noah Billingsley - Defender - UC Santa Barbara
Billingsley started his collegiate career as a forward and transitioned to defense in 2018. Some highlights from the official UC Santa Barbara Gauchos website: (Which does not include any 2019 info...)
"2018: Noah Billingsley started all 18 matches for the Gauchos in his junior season...Finished as one of the most aggressive offensive players this season with 1.33 shots per game and 24 overall despite the change from Forward to Defender...Had the game-winning goal in a conference match against Fullerton in overtime (Oct. 6)...Totaled three points with a goal and an assist each...Billingsley ranked second on the team with 37.5% of his shots being on frame...Played 1465 minutes as a forward...Selected for the preseason All-Conference team, All-Far West Region team, and All-Big West First Team."
Seems rather offensive for a defender but in a fun way.
On a personal level:
- Calls Superbad his favorite movie
- Likes to watch Breaking Bad and Family Guy
- Enjoys reading Zlatan Ibrahimovi?'s autobiography, I am Zlatan.
According to Noozhawk.com, Billingsley was named to the 2019 United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team.
Here are what appears to be highlights before college, circa 2014:
Below Billingsley is interviewed in relation to his time with New Zealand's U20 team in 2015:
And of course, the official MNUFC video with head coach Adrian Heath talking about Billingsley:
Round 2 - No Minnesota United selection.
According to Wikipedia this pick was part of the trade used to acquire Oswaldo Alonso.
#44: Minnesota United → Orlando City. January 10, 2019: Orlando City SC acquired a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and the #4 spot in the MLS Waiver Order from Minnesota United FC in exchange for two fourth-round selections in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft and the #1 spot in the MLS Waiver Order. Minnesota used its waiver spot to sign midfielder Osvaldo Alonso.[24]
Round 3 - No Minnesota United selection.
According to Wikipedia this pick was part of the Darwin Quintero trade with Houston:
#70: Minnesota United → Houston Dynamo. November 13, 2019: Houston Dynamo acquired a third-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and midfielder Darwin Quintero from Minnesota United FC in exchange for midfielder Marlon Hairston, $150,000 in 2020 general allocation money, $150,000 in 2020 targeted allocation money, $150,000 in 2021 general allocation money, and $150,000 in 2021 targeted allocation money.[33]
Round 4 - 88 overall
According to Wikipedia, Minnesota acquired the pick from Chicago.
#88: Chicago Fire → Minnesota United. September 3, 2019: Minnesota United FC acquired a fourth-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and $50,000 in 2020 general allocation money from Chicago Fire in exchange for $50,000 in 2019 general allocation money.[37]
Matthew Bentley - Forward - Missouri State
To their credit, Missouri State is up to date on their website. They even mention Bentley was drafted by the Minnesota United. That happened two days ago! UC Santa Barbara still hasn't added any detail about the 2019 season to Billingsley's page. Here is the 2019 detail from Missori State:
2019: Started in 17 of 20 games, including 15 straight starts to close out the season… Scored 15 goals and added four assists to total 34 points… Recorded an eight-game scoring streak from Oct. 5-Nov. 9 where he tallied 11 goals during the span, highlighted by a trio of multi-goal games against Evansville (Oct. 5), Bradley (Oct. 9), and Valpo (Oct. 30)… Tied the program record for most game-winners in a season with six… His goal at the 0:14 mark against Loyola on Nov. 3 cracked the NCAA Record Book, tying at No. 22 on the list of the fastest goals from the start of a game in Division I history… Tabbed the Valley’s Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 5… Named MVC Offensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in goals (15), points (34), and game-winning goals (6)… Selected as a First Team All-American as well as receiving All-MVC First Team and All-West Region First Team honors… Was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist... Drafted in the fourth round of the MLS SuperDraft by Minnesota United FC.
Sadly Missouri State does not provide any detail as to Bentley's favorite movie or current reading activities.
Here is a 2019 highlight video, seemingly posted by the man himself:
Round 4 - 96 overall
Andrew Booth - Midfielder - Florida International
Minnesota United's final pick of the 2020 SuperDraft was 5'11" midfielder, Andrew Booth. Florida International's website is more in line with UC Santa Barbara than Missouri State.
Here is Booth's blub on the FIU website:
2018 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Appeared in 17 games, starting in 16… Booth finished first on the team in total assists (4), while finishing third in total points (8), goals (2), shots (23), and shots-on-goal (9)… He had a game-high five points in a 5-3 victory on the road against UNF (9/23), including one goal and a game-high three assists… Booth’s three assists in that game were the most by any FIU player in a single game during the 2018 season… He earned C-USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts in the UNF game… Booth scored an equalizing goal at New Mexico (9/29) with a header off a corner kick in the forty-seventh minute… He helped the Panthers score an equalizing goal with an assist in the thirty-fifth minute of a road game against Marshall (9/7)… Booth played the second-most minutes on the team in 2018, logging a total of 1,477… He eclipsed 90-or-more minutes in 12 games during the season… Booth was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team.
While FIU fails to provide us with any favorite movies or books, it is worth noting that Booth was invited to the Jamaican U20 training came previously.
According to Wikipedia this pick was part of the trade used to acquire Oswaldo Alonso.
#44: Minnesota United → Orlando City. January 10, 2019: Orlando City SC acquired a second-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and the #4 spot in the MLS Waiver Order from Minnesota United FC in exchange for two fourth-round selections in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft and the #1 spot in the MLS Waiver Order. Minnesota used its waiver spot to sign midfielder Osvaldo Alonso.[24]
Round 3 - No Minnesota United selection.
According to Wikipedia this pick was part of the Darwin Quintero trade with Houston:
#70: Minnesota United → Houston Dynamo. November 13, 2019: Houston Dynamo acquired a third-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and midfielder Darwin Quintero from Minnesota United FC in exchange for midfielder Marlon Hairston, $150,000 in 2020 general allocation money, $150,000 in 2020 targeted allocation money, $150,000 in 2021 general allocation money, and $150,000 in 2021 targeted allocation money.[33]
According to Wikipedia, Minnesota acquired the pick from Chicago.
#88: Chicago Fire → Minnesota United. September 3, 2019: Minnesota United FC acquired a fourth-round selection in the 2020 SuperDraft and $50,000 in 2020 general allocation money from Chicago Fire in exchange for $50,000 in 2019 general allocation money.[37]
Matthew Bentley - Forward - Missouri State
To their credit, Missouri State is up to date on their website. They even mention Bentley was drafted by the Minnesota United. That happened two days ago! UC Santa Barbara still hasn't added any detail about the 2019 season to Billingsley's page. Here is the 2019 detail from Missori State:
2019: Started in 17 of 20 games, including 15 straight starts to close out the season… Scored 15 goals and added four assists to total 34 points… Recorded an eight-game scoring streak from Oct. 5-Nov. 9 where he tallied 11 goals during the span, highlighted by a trio of multi-goal games against Evansville (Oct. 5), Bradley (Oct. 9), and Valpo (Oct. 30)… Tied the program record for most game-winners in a season with six… His goal at the 0:14 mark against Loyola on Nov. 3 cracked the NCAA Record Book, tying at No. 22 on the list of the fastest goals from the start of a game in Division I history… Tabbed the Valley’s Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 5… Named MVC Offensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in goals (15), points (34), and game-winning goals (6)… Selected as a First Team All-American as well as receiving All-MVC First Team and All-West Region First Team honors… Was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist... Drafted in the fourth round of the MLS SuperDraft by Minnesota United FC.
Sadly Missouri State does not provide any detail as to Bentley's favorite movie or current reading activities.
Here is a 2019 highlight video, seemingly posted by the man himself:
Goal scoring is always a plus, but his video production seems passable as well. Multi-threat prospect.
Bentley was interviewed as part of a Missouri Valley Conference video:
Round 4 - 96 overall
Andrew Booth - Midfielder - Florida International
Minnesota United's final pick of the 2020 SuperDraft was 5'11" midfielder, Andrew Booth. Florida International's website is more in line with UC Santa Barbara than Missouri State.
Here is Booth's blub on the FIU website:
2018 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Appeared in 17 games, starting in 16… Booth finished first on the team in total assists (4), while finishing third in total points (8), goals (2), shots (23), and shots-on-goal (9)… He had a game-high five points in a 5-3 victory on the road against UNF (9/23), including one goal and a game-high three assists… Booth’s three assists in that game were the most by any FIU player in a single game during the 2018 season… He earned C-USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts in the UNF game… Booth scored an equalizing goal at New Mexico (9/29) with a header off a corner kick in the forty-seventh minute… He helped the Panthers score an equalizing goal with an assist in the thirty-fifth minute of a road game against Marshall (9/7)… Booth played the second-most minutes on the team in 2018, logging a total of 1,477… He eclipsed 90-or-more minutes in 12 games during the season… Booth was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team.
While FIU fails to provide us with any favorite movies or books, it is worth noting that Booth was invited to the Jamaican U20 training came previously.
The Miami Herald had a nice story about Booth's relationship with teammate Daniel Gagliardi, who he has known since they both were 10. "This duo — teammates for more than half their lives — lead nationally-ranked FIU soccer." Gagliardi was drafted in the second round of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Vancover.
In my opinion, Bently and Booth are possibilities for camp and perhaps the future but hardly locks to get minutes any time soon. I also think that Billingsley will get a look in camp and likely see the pitch some in 2020 for the Minnesota United as well as through their farm team relationship with Madison.
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