Charlotte FC selects Clemson defender Hamaday Diop FIRST in MLS SuperDraft

Charlotte FC got things started in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft Wednesday by selecting Hamaday Diop out of Clemson University.

The Senegalese defender played three years at the South Carolina school and excelled there the last two, earning second-team All-ACC honors in 2021 and 2022.

A 6ft center back, he made 40 collegiate starts for the Tigers, scoring seven goals and helping them win the 2021 national championship.

Hamady Diop was taken first by Charlotte FC in the MLS SuperDraft on Wednesday night

While expansion outfit St. Louis CITY SC originally had the first pick, they traded it to Charlotte for the No. 20 pick in this year’s draft, as well as $400,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) and conditional GAM.

Charlotte will hope Diop shores up a defensive line that was in the middle of the pack in their first MLS season, as they conceded 52 goals – eighth out of 14 Eastern conference teams.

Elsewhere in the draft, Orlando City selected Duke forward Shakur Mohammed at No. 2 overall, while New Hampshire defender Moise Bombito defender was taken by the Colorado Rapids at No. 3.

Diop helped Clemson University win a national championship in 2021 from center back

He made 40 starts for the ACC school and scored seven goals in his collegiate career

Rounding out the top five, Maryland midfielder Joshua Bolma was taken by the New England Revolution at No. 4 before UNC Greensboro midfielder J.C. Ngando was taken by the Vancouver Whitecaps.

While many talented domestic players are snapped up by MLS teams at younger ages than those in the SuperDraft, history has shown there are certainly gems to be found.

Former USMNT captain Michael Bradley was taken in the SuperDraft in 2004, while eventual Stoke City stalwart Geoff Cameron went to the Houston Dynamo four years later.