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SuperDraft

Austin FC Selects Kipp Keller in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft

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In the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, Austin FC selected Generation adidas defender Kipp Keller in the first round with the fifth overall pick.

Kipp Keller

Kellee, a St. Louis, Missouri native, made 49 appearances (48 starts) for Saint Louis University from 2019 to 2021, recording five goals and two 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 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.

Additionally, defender Charlie Asensio was drafted in the second round with the 35th overall pick, and midfielder Michael Knapp in the third round with the 61st overall pick.

Austin FC Picks 5 Players in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft

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Austin FC drafted five players over three rounds of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.

Austin FC’s picks include the top overall pick, Daniel Pereira, and two additional first-rounders, Freddy Kleeman and Aedan Stanley.

Midfielder Daniel Steedman was the 28th pick in round two and goalkeeper Noah Lawrence was the 55th pick in round three.

Austin FC obtained the 11th pick in the first round through an Expansion Draft trade with CF Montréal to draft Freddy Kleemann, the 6’4” defender from the University of Washington. Kleeman made 28 appearances for the Huskies in 2018 and 2019, starting 22 of those matches.

The 21st draft pick was received by Austin FC via a trade with the Colorado Rapids, and the team used it to select Aedan Stanley. Stanley played 37 matches between 2018 and 2019 with Duke University before signing with Portland Timbers II of the USL Championship for the 2020 season.

Scottish-born Daniel Steedman played at the University of Virginia in 2018 and 2019 before moving to the USL Championship’s Atlanta United 2 in January 2020. He made the ACC All-Freshman team in 2018 and helped lead top-seeded Virginia to the finals of the 2019 NCAA College Cup with a three-goal, seven-assist season. He also made the College Cup All-Tournament Team that same year. Steedman also featured in USL with the Charlotte Independence in 2018.

With the first pick in the third round, Austin FC added to the Club’s goalkeepers with Noah Lawrence. Lawrence transferred to Ohio State for a pandemic-halted senior season after 36 appearances in three seasons for the University of Cincinnati. He was developed in both the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United academies and featured in the U.S. Men’s Youth National Team U-19 pool.

There are currently 22 players on the Austin FC roster.