Distinguished Collegiate Players Named to 2023 Generation adidas Class

NEW YORK – Major League Soccer today announced the first eight distinguished collegians to the 2023 Generation adidas class and the list of 364 players eligible for selection in MLS SuperDraft 2023 presented by adidas. These talented players will be eligible for selection in MLS SuperDraft 2023, which will start at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 21, with SuperDraft coverage streaming live on MLSSoccer.com, the MLS App, Twitter, YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook, beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Throughout the program’s history, Generation adidas players have made a significant impact in MLS and on the international stage. Seven players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup began their MLS careers through the Generation adidas program, including U.S. Men’s National Team members Sean Johnson (No. 51 overall selection, 2010 SuperDraft), Cristian Roldan (No. 16, 2015), and Walker Zimmerman (No. 7, 2013), as well as Canadian National Team players Tajon Buchanan (No. 9, 2019), Cyle Larin (No. 1, 2015), Richie Laryea (No. 7, 2016), and Dayne St. Clair (No. 7, 2019).

The first eight players named to the 2023 Generation adidas class include: Joey Akpunonu (Bowling Green State), Joshua Bolma (Maryland), Moise Bombito (New Hampshire), CJ Fodrey (San Diego State), Shakur Mohammed (Duke), Owen O’Malley (Creighton), Ilijah Paul (Washington) and Joey Skinner (Clemson).

A Toledo, Ohio native, Joey Akpunonu became one of the best defenders in college soccer at Bowling Green State. In 2022, he was an All-MAC first-team selection after leading the team with six goals from defense and playing every second of his 16 starts for the Falcons. Akpunonu also played 1,866 of the team’s 1,877 total minutes in 2021 and was named to the All-MAC second team. A biology major, he was selected to the 2022 Academic All-America first team by the College Sports Communicators after finishing the year with a 4.0 GPA.

Only the fourth player in Maryland history to earn multiple first-team All-Big Ten honors, Joshua Bolma starred in his two years with the Terrapins. In 2022, his eight assists were tied for the second most in the Big Ten. Bolma was also named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2021 after producing four goals and four assists in 18 games. After growing up in Ghana, Bolma went on to play at South Kent High School in Connecticut where he won a high school national championship.

New Hampshire defender Moise Bombito blossomed into one of the best…