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Austin FC Selects Defender Kipp Keller with Fifth Overall Pick of 2022 MLS SuperDraft

January 11, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Austin FC News Release


Austin, TEXAS - In the 2022 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas on Tuesday, Austin FC selected Generation adidas defender Kipp Keller in the first round with the fifth overall pick, defender Charlie Asensio in the second round with the 35th overall pick, and midfielder Michael Knapp in the third round with the 61st overall pick.

A St. Louis, Missouri native, Keller made 49 appearances (48 starts) for Saint Louis University from 2019 to 2021, recording five (5) goals and two (2) assists. Keller was named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection for the Fall 2021 season.

The 21-year-old center back led the Billikens to an undefeated regular season, Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament titles, and an NCAA Tournament quarterfinal appearance. Keller was named a United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American.

Prior to his collegiate career, Keller captained the Saint Louis FC U-19 Academy side He was also a First Team All-State selection at Principia School, leading them to a state championship in his freshman year.

Keller is a Generation adidas selection and will be added to the Club's Supplemental roster. Generation adidas is a joint program between MLS and adidas, which makes select top collegiate underclassmen and youth national team players available in the SuperDraft. Generation adidas player salaries are not charged against an MLS team's annual salary budget.

Defender Charlie Asensio played four (4) seasons of collegiate soccer at Clemson University, recording nine (9) assists in 82 career appearances (79 starts). He played all 90 minutes in the Tigers' 2-0 win over the University of Washington in the 2021 NCAA Men's Soccer National Championship game, assisting on the team's second goal of the match.

Asensio was a Second Team All-ACC selection during his sophomore season in 2019 and was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team in 2018. He was involved with the United States Youth Men's National Teams as well, making six (6) appearances at the U-17 level and three (3) at the U-19 level. He was also part of the U.S. U-17 Residency Program in 2016 and 2017. Prior to playing at Clemson, Asensio was a member of the Atlanta United FC Academy.

Midfielder Michael Knapp played two seasons at Montclair State University, where he appeared in 35 matches and tallied three (3) goals and seven (7) assists. Knapp earned NJAC Rookie of the Year honors and a First Team All-NJAC selection in 2018. He was named NJAC Midfielder of the Year the following season.

A native of Bloomfield, New Jersey, Knapp played for the New York Red Bulls Academy during the 2017-2018 season. He re-joined the Red Bulls organization as a member of New York Red Bulls II for his first season as a professional in 2021. Knapp made 22 appearances (17 starts) for Red Bulls II in the USL Championship during the 2021 season, ranking third on the team in both clearances and tackles won.

Transaction: In the 2022 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, Austin FC selected defender Kipp Keller with the fifth overall pick, defender Charlie Asensio with the 35th overall pick, and midfielder Michael Knapp with the 61st overall pick.

Player Details: Kipp Keller

Position: Defender

Height: 6'3"

Date of birth: July 14, 2000

Age: 21

Born: St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Nationality: United States

College: Saint Louis University

Player Details: Charlie Asensio

Position: Defender

Height: 5'9"

Date of birth: January 18, 2000

Age: 21

Born: Roswell, Georgia, United States

Nationality: United States

College: Clemson University

Player Details: Michael Knapp

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5'11"

Date of birth: January 30, 2000

Age: 21

Born: Bloomfield, New Jersey, United States

Nationality: United States

College: Montclair State University

Last Club: New York Red Bulls II

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