The MLS offseason is in full swing as Toronto FC are beginning their rebuild by selecting forward Tyrese Spicer with the first overall pick in then 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Able to play anywhere in a front three, the Lipscomb forward is coming off of a season during which he scored 14 goals in only 16 appearances while being named as a United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-American.
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Toronto only won four games last season finishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, and they’ll now look to improve under head coach John Herdman while Spicer will play a large role in that. From Trinidad and Tobago, being able to play at Lipscomb was a huge opportunity for Spicer and one that he ran with in a big way. Spicer was aware that Toronto was a team that was interested in him as he had discussions with the head coach and assistant coach prior to the draft but the moment of being picked is a surreal experience and one that delighted the 23-year-old while surprising many.
“I just want to say hello to the Toronto fans. Tyrese Spicer is coming to do big things,” the forward said on CBS Sports Golazo Network show Scoreline following the draft.
It’s a statement that shows that Spicer is ready for the pressure that he will feel but he’s also excited to move to Toronto to experience the culture and also push to make enough of an impact to make the Trinidad and Tobago national team. Spicer also has dreams of eventually playing in Europe which Major League Soccer is a good first step for.
Spicer also wasn’t the only Lipscomb forward to be drafted in the top 10 of the MLS SuperDraft as Malachi Jones was drafted eighth overall by New York City FC. Now while the duo won’t be on the same team, they’ll be plying their trade as rivals in the Eastern Conference. It shows how far a young player can come as this certainly wasn’t an easy journey to become a pro for Spicer, reflecting on his time as a youth player.
“When I started in Trinidad in high school, I wasn’t the best. I wasn’t the most technical, the strongest, the fastest. I think over the years there were particular coaches in my life. I would have to say my dad because he coached me in school and a guy called Mr. Work who coached me at internationals,” Spicer said. “They helped me develop my game because I was really one-dimensional. I think over the years, they took me under their wing and really guided me. My coach from nationals used to put me in to play against U17’s when I was 14 to work on my mental toughness and everything.
“There were times that I struggled, honestly, sometimes I didn’t have food. Sometimes I wouldn’t have money to go to school and that impacted my life a little bit, but I overcame that and I got the opportunity to go to Lipscomb, and the coach there, Charles Morrow, really helped me out. He took me and guided me and like helped me direct myself on the right path to where I’m at right now to be able to even get this opportunity right here. ”
It’s quite a story of perseverance for Spicer and one that shows his mentality that shined through to Toronto when he was selected by the team. Everything has now come full circle with him being selected as the number one overall pick in what is only the start of the next chapter of his journey, aiming to get Toronto back to the top.
First round
1
Toronto FC
Tyrese Spicer
Lipscomb
Forward
2
Colorado Rapids
Wayne Frederick
Duke
Midfielder
3
FC Dallas
Logan Farrington
Oregon State
Forward
4
Colorado Rapids
Kimani Stwart-Baynes
University of Maryland
Forward
5
Austin FC
Nate Jones
Washington
Defender
6
Chicago Fire
Bryan Dowd
Notre Dame
Goalkeeper
7
D.C. United
Jacob Murrell
Georgetown
Forward
8
New York City FC
Malachi Jones
Lipscomb
Forward
9
Minnesota United
Hugo Bacharach
Indiana University
Defender
10
CF Montreal
Grayson Doody
UCLA
Defender
11
Nashville SC
Wyatt Meyer
UC Berkeley
Defender
12
New York Red Bulls
Aidan O’Connor
University of Virginia
Defender
13
San Jose Earthquakes
Jamar Ricketts
Cal State Northridge
Defender
14
Charlotte FC
Tyger Smalls
Loyola Marymount
Forward
15
Inter Miami
Yannick Bright
University of New Hampshire
Midfielder
16
Real Salt Lake
Matthew Bell
Marshall
Forward
17
St. Louis City SC
Hosi Kijima
Wake Forest
Midfielder
18
Real Salt Lake
Jose “Kevin” Bonilla
University of Portland
Defender
19
Atlanta United
Jayden Hibbert
University of Connecticut
Goalkeeper
20
Minnesota United
Marcus Calderia
West Virginia
Forward
21
Orlando City SC
Jeorgio Kocvski
Syracuse
Midfielder
22
Sporting Kansas City
Ryan Schewe
Georgetown
Goalkeeper
23
Seattle Sounders
Kalani Kossa-Rienzi
Washington
Midfielder
24
Inter Mami
Ryan Carmichael
Hofstra
Forward
25
Orlando City SC
Yutaro Tsukada
West Virginia
Midfielder
26
Houston Dynamo
Stephen Annor Gyamfi
Virginia
Forward
27
FC Cincinatti
Brian Schaefer
University of South Florida
Defender
28
Los Angeles FC
Jackson Lee
West Virginia
Goalkeeper
29
Columbus Crew
Jayden Da
Duquesne
Forward
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The post 2023 MLS SuperDraft picks: Toronto FC surprisingly pick Lipscomb forward Tyrese Spicer first overall appeared first on WorldNewsEra.