2024 Men's Roster

Many of the players are listed on the Web site as juniors, but I think that is because of the extra year every one got due to covid. Can anyone with inside knowledge share who is likely not coming back?

SoreKnees wrote:Many of the players are listed on the Web site as juniors, but I think that is because of the extra year every one got due to covid. Can anyone with inside knowledge share who is likely not coming back?

I do not have inside knowledge, but I can tell you 10 student-athletes were recognized as "seniors" in a pregame ceremony before defeating USF on Veterans Day:

Marios Andreou
Jacob Babalai - Junior
Kevin Bonilla - Junior
Julian Conze
Boyd Curry
Nick Denley
Buba Fofanah - Junior
Jacob McDaniel - Junior
Jose Olmos
Jesus Salazar

As many likely know, the MLS can now draft college sophomores and juniors...not just seniors like in the past...and the draft take place on December 19.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-expands-eligible-player-pool-for-mls-superdraft-presented-by-adidas

With that in mind, there is a very good chance Jacob Babalai, Kevin Bonilla, and Buba Fofanah will be drafted and sign MLS contracts.

Looking at the UP roster, there's a good chance sophomore Nick Fernandez could also be drafted along with Samory Powder, who is listed as a senior.

Efe Aror will likely play just one more year before being drafted after his sophomore year...that's just conjecture, but he sure looks like a pro in the making.

December 6-9 in Phoenix, the 2023 Adidas MLS College Showcase, a closed-door scouting event officially sanctioned by the NCAA, will feature the top college players ranging from freshmen to graduate students participating in training sessions, testing, interviews and match play.

Of the 44 invited, two are from UP:

Jacob Babalai and Kevin Bonilla

"The accolades keep rolling in for Portland Pilots Men's Soccer, with Kevin Bonilla making the United Soccer Coaches All-American First Team and Nick Fernandez making the third team. They are the first United Soccer Coaches All-Americans for Portland since 2018 and it's the first time they've had multiple from United Soccer Coaches since 2001."

https://portlandpilots.com/news/2023/12/8/mens-soccer-bonilla-fernandez-garner-all-american-honors.aspx