Sporting Signs Cameron Duke as Homegrown Player
July 18, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City announced today that the club has signed 18-year-old midfielder Cameron Duke as a Homegrown Player. Duke has been added to the Sporting Kansas City roster, signing an MLS contract through 2022 with an option for 2023.
A native of Overland Park, Kansas, Duke becomes the 11th Homegrown Player in club history. He entered the Sporting Kansas City Academy in 2012, rising from the U-12 to the U-19 ranks, and has represented United States youth national teams at the U-14, U-15, U-16 and U-18 levels.
MEDIA ADVISORY: Duke will join Sporting KC Manager and Sporting Director Peter Vermes and Sporting KC Academy Director Jon Parry for a press conference at approximately 10:45 a.m. CT Friday in the Media Studio at Pinnacle (1913 Pinnacle Way, Kansas City, KS).
Following the press conference, U.S. Men's National Team assistant coach Josh Wolff will also be available to media. Wolff, who starred for the Kansas City Wizards for seven seasons, will be inducted into the Sporting Legends hall of honor on Saturday when Sporting hosts FC Dallas at Children's Mercy Park. Media planning to attend on Friday can contact Sporting KC Communications & Digital Lead Patrik Bergabo at pbergabo@sportingkc.com or 203-300-9927.
"Cam is someone I have known his entire life, and he has been in our system for several years," Sporting Kansas City Manager and Sporting Director Peter Vermes said. "He has worked very hard to reach this goal, and we are glad to see that he has become a part of the Sporting Kansas City first team. He still has a lot left to accomplish, much like all the young players who transition from our Academy into the MLS roster. This is the next step in trying to make his professional dreams possible."
Duke most recently helped the Sporting KC Academy U-19s reach the quarterfinals of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs last month in Oceanside, California. After the U-19s secured the No. 4 overall seed with a 16-4-3 regular-season record, Duke spearheaded a first-place finish in the group stage with a goal and an assist.
Duke is one of the most heralded players of the 2019 high school class. The versatile midfielder is the No. 1 prospect in the Heartland Region and the 20th-ranked player nationally at TopDrawerSoccer.com, having graduated from Blue Valley West High School in May.
Duke's 2016-17 and 2017-18 Development Academy campaigns both culminated with postseason honors. He earned Central Conference Best XI accolades in 2017 alongside current Sporting teammate Gianluca Busio, leading the Sporting KC U-16s to their first-ever appearance in the Development Academy quarterfinals. Last summer, Duke was named the 2018 Central Conference Player of the Year after pacing the U-17s to a playoff berth with four goals in 19 league matches and also featuring for the U-19s.
On the international stage, Duke competed at several training camps with the United States U-14s and U-15s before guiding the U.S. U-16 Boys' National Team to a third-place finish at the Val-de-Marne Tournament in France in October 2016. The following February, Duke joined the same team for a training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina, highlighted by three friendlies against local clubs.
Duke earned his first of several calls to the U.S. U-18 Men's National Team in November 2017 and competed at the inaugural Youth National Team Summit in January 2018. He featured for the U.S. U-18s in a pair of friendlies against the Costa Rica U-18s shortly after training with Sporting's first team during the club's 2018 preseason in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Duke is one of six Homegrown Players on Sporting's current MLS roster, joining forward Daniel Salloi (2016), midfielder Gianluca Busio (2017), defender Jaylin Lindsey (2017), midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal (2018) and forward Tyler Freeman (2018). MLS established the Homegrown Player initiative in 2007, allowing teams to promote youth academy players to professional contracts. These players must meet Homegrown Player criteria, including participation in the club's youth system and residence in the team's Homegrown territory.
Duke becomes the third member of his immediate family to play soccer professionally. His father, Chris Duke, notably played for the Kansas City Comets (1989-1991) and Kansas City Attack (1992) of the Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League, respectively. His older brother, 28-year-old Christian Duke, began his professional career with Sporting Kansas City (2013-2014) and served as the Swope Park Rangers captain from 2016-2017, leading the club to consecutive USL Western Conference championships.
Transaction: Sporting Kansas City (MLS) signs midfielder Cameron Duke as a Homegrown Player.
VITALS
Cameron Duke
Number: 28
Position: Midfielder
Born: 2/13/2001 (18 years old)
Height: 5-7
Weight: 135 lbs.
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
Birthplace: Overland Park, Kansas
Citizenship: USA
Twitter: @camduke20
Instagram: @camduke20
All-Time Sporting KC Homegrown Players (11)
2010 - Goalkeeper Jon Kempin
2011 - Defender Kevin Ellis
2013 - Defender Erik Palmer-Brown
2016 - Forward Daniel Salloi *
2017 - Midfielder Gianluca Busio *
2017 - Defender Jaylin Lindsey *
2018 - Defender Matt Lewis
2018 - Forward Zach Wright
2018 - Midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal *
2018 - Forward Tyler Freeman *
2019 - Midfielder Cameron Duke *
* Denotes player on current Sporting KC roster
Major League Soccer Stories from July 18, 2019
- D.C. United Outdistance FC Cincinnati 4-1 - FC Cincinnati
- D.C. United Beat FC Cincinnati 4-1 on the Road - D.C. United
- Know Your Opponent | Portland Timbers - Orlando City SC
- Storylines | City vs. Portland Timbers - Orlando City SC
- Philadelphia Union to Host Liga MX Club Pumas UNAM in International Friendly at Talen Energy Stadium - Philadelphia Union
- LA Galaxy Foundation and Herbalife Nutrition Expand Garden School Foundation to Second Carson Elementary School - LA Galaxy
- Kal Dosanjh Named Whitecaps FC Representative for 2019 MLS WORKS Community MVP - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- FC Dallas Season Ticket Member Chip Dutchik Named as a Finalist for 2019 MLS WORKS Community MVP Contest - FC Dallas
- Sporting Signs Cameron Duke as Homegrown Player - Sporting Kansas City
- Los Angeles Football Club Partners with Satisfi Labs to Launch In-Stadium Order-Ahead on Apple Business Chat - Los Angeles FC
- Seven Academy Players with Canada U15 - Club de Foot Montreal
- MLS, LIGA MX to Expand Leagues Cup to 16 Teams in 2020 - MLS
- Timbers, Thorns FC, T2 Team up with Local Partners to Present Eighth-Annual Stand Together Week July 28-August 3 - Portland Timbers
- Finalists Announced for 2019 MLS WORKS Community MVP Contest Presented by Wells Fargo - D.C. United
- Basketball Superstar James Harden Joins Houston Dynamo & Dash Ownership Group - Houston Dynamo FC
- The Ferris Wheel at Pacific Park to Light up with LA Galaxy Colors Ahead of Match Friday - LA Galaxy
- LAFC and Galaxy Face off on Friday Night at Dignity Health Sports Park - Los Angeles FC
- Earthquakes Acquire Targeted Allocation Money in Trade with Columbus Crew SC - San Jose Earthquakes
- Columbus Crew SC Acquires $110,000 in Allocation Money Via Trade with the San Jose Earthquakes - Columbus Crew SC
- Finalists Announced for 2019 MLS WORKS Community MVP Contest Presented by Wells Fargo - Philadelphia Union
- OSC Weekly Ratings Wrapup - OSC Original by David Carlson
- Goalkeeper Jason Beaulieu Loaned to Ottawa Fury FC - Club de Foot Montreal
- Mexico's Hector Herrera and Portugal's Joao Felix Join Koke to Represent Atletico de Madrid at the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge - MLS
- Sounders FC Falls 3-1 to Borussia Dortmund in International Friendly at CenturyLink Field - Seattle Sounders FC
- FC Dallas Falls to Sevilla FC 3-1 - FC Dallas
- Toronto FC (3) - New York Red Bulls (1) Post Game Summary - Toronto FC
- Chicago Fire Soccer Club Battles Columbus Crew SC to 2-2 Draw - Chicago Fire FC
- Loons Fall to Aston Villa in International Friendly - Minnesota United FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
