MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Selects Six Players in 2022 MLS SuperDraft

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


FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas selected Isaiah Parker (3rd overall, Saint Louis University), Lucas Bartlett (6th overall, St. John's University) and Katlego "Tsiki" Ntsabeleng (28th overall, Oregon State University) in the first round, Alec Smir (62nd overall, University of North Carolina), Chase Niece (66th overall, Saint Louis University) and Holland Rula (87th overall, Wake Forest University) in the third round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas on January 11.

B-roll and photos from FC Dallas' draft room and soundbites from FC Dallas Technical Director Andre Zanotta and Head Coach Nico Estévez available here.

Parker, 19, appeared in 21 matches, including 17 starts, at Saint Louis University. He tallied three goals and seven assists in 1,230 minutes played. Parker was named to the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie team, Top Drawer Soccer First-Team Freshman Best XI team and ranked No. 2 on Top Drawer Soccer's Midseason Men's Top 100 Freshmen list. Parker played in the FC United Academy for five years and helped FC United U-17 and U-19 Academy teams to Development Academy and MLS Next playoffs. The Gurnee, Illinois native is a Generations adidas player.

Bartlett, 24, appeared in 20 matches at St. John's University, where he scored five goals and recorded three assists. Prior to St. John's, Bartlett played 31 matches at Drake University between the 2018-21 seasons and 17 matches at Loyola Chicago. While at St. John's University, he was named to the First Team All-BIG EAST and United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Region. He was one of 44 players nationwide to be invited to the MLS College Showcase.

Ntsabeleng, 23, played in 31 matches for Oregon State University. He scored six goals and recorded 12 assists. He was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team and All-Far West Region First Team during the 2021 season. He is a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference honoree during his time with Coastal Carolina and was named 2018 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year. Ntsabeleng helped Coastal Carolina win the Sun Belt Conference in 2019. He played for the Stars of Africa Football Academy and UJ Club.

Smir, 22, appeared in 66 matches in goal for the University of North Carolina. He recorded a 0.83 goals against average, made 131 saves and had a 70.1 saves percentage. He posted a 21-8-6 record and 13 shutouts in four seasons with North Carolina. Smir earned Second-Team All-ACC honors and led the ACC with 10 shutouts and a 0.57 GAA. He was the NC Fusion Academy goalkeeper for the U-14, U-16 and U-18 teams from 2013-16. He was called up to a U.S. Men's National Team U-18 training camp in January 2017 and previously attended USYNT camps in 2015 and 2016.

Niece, 23, played in 63 matches for Saint Louis University's backline. He scored six goals and added two assists in 2,130 minutes played for the Billikens. He helped anchored a backline to a 16-1-4 record, an undefeated regular season, an Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament titles, and an NCAA quarterfinal appearance. He played for the St. Louis Scott Gallagher Academy in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and appeared in over 80 matches during his four-year academy career.

Rula, 23, appeared in 75 matches for the Wake Forest Deacons backline. He went to Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas and was part of the FC Dallas Academy. He appeared in 18 matches, including 11 starts, during the 2017-18 season and played alongside current FC Dallas midfielder Brandon Servania. Rula also spent two seasons at IMG Academy.

Name: Isaiah Parker

Drafted: 1st Round, No. 3 Overall

Connect with Isaiah: Instagram

Position: Winger

Date of Birth: September 1, 2002 (19)

College: Saint Louis University

Hometown: Gurnee, Illinois

Height: 5-8

Weight: 160

Nationality: USA

Name: Lucas Bartlett

Drafted: 1st Round, No. 6 Overall

Connect with Lucas: Twitter

Position: Defender

Date of Birth: July 26, 1997 (24)

College: St. John's University

Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas

Height: 6-3

Weight: 200

Nationality: USA

Name: Tsiki Ntsabeleng

Pronunciation: SEE-KEE SA-beh-leng

Connect with Tsiki: Instagram

Drafted: 1st Round, No. 28 Overall

Position: Forward

Date of Birth: September 2, 1998 (23)

College: Oregon State University

Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa

Height: 5-7

Weight: 160

Nationality: South Africa

Name: Alec Smir

Drafted: 3rd Round, No. 62 Overall

Connect with Alec: Twitter

Position: Goalkeeper

Date of Birth: April 13, 1999 (22)

College: University of North Carolina

Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina

Height: 6-2

Weight: 190

Nationality: USA

Name: Chase Niece

Drafted: 3rd Round, No. 66 Overall

Connect with Chase: Twitter

Position: Defender

Date of Birth: October 28, 1998 (23)

College: Saint Louis University

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Height: 6-2

Weight: 180

Nationality: USA

Name: Holland Rula

Drafted: 3rd Round, No. 87 Overall

Connect with Holland: Twitter

Position: Defender

Date of Birth: May 15, 1999 (23)

College: Wake Forest University

Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama

Height: 5-11

Weight: 175

Nationality: USA

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Major League Soccer Stories from January 11, 2022


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