Charlotte FC goes for defense in MLS SuperDraft

STANFORD ATHLETICS

Charlotte FC took former Stanford defender Will Cleary with the 22nd overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft.

For the first time since 2022, Charlotte FC stood pat in the MLS SuperDraft by selecting defenders Will Cleary and Luke Adams, as well as goalkeeper Jahiem Wickham.

In that first draft prior to the club’s inaugural season, Charlotte had the first pick in each of the three rounds. Before the 2023 draft, Charlotte traded up to the first pick with expansion side St. Louis City to take Hamady Diop who was later snatched away in the 2025 expansion draft by San Diego FC.

They also acquired the 12th pick from the Colorado Rapids to select Patrick Agyemang, who was sold this past season to Derby County in the English Championship. Andrew Privett was their third pick in that draft, 69th overall in the third round. 

They traded up to get the 14th pick in 2024 draft and took Tyger Smalls, whose playing time has grown since Dean Smith became head coach. They also bought the 38th pick to select Jahlane Forbes, whose contract option was declined at the conclusion of the 2025 season. 

With the 22nd pick, the Crown chose Cleary, who played at Stanford. Though listed as a midfielder/defender, Cleary was an anchor of the Cardinal back line that tallied seven clean sheets and a 0.85 goals against average. In 2025, he scored four goals and three assists in a balanced attack that featured six players with at least four goals.

SOUTH FLORIDA ATHLETICS

Jahiem Wickham, who tallied three clean sheets, and 61 saves for South Florida in 2025, was taken 82nd by Charlotte FC in the MLS SuperDraft.

Stanford went 14-4-2 in the regular season before losing 1-0 to NCAA College Cup champion Washington in the third round. A team captain, Cleary was also named first team CSC Academic All-American.

The 52nd overall pick was used on Adams, a 6-4 redshirt sophomore from Tulsa who fits the tall centerback profile that coach Dean Smith likes. He started all 13 games he appeared in this year as well as all 15 matches in 2024. Adams, a McKinney, Texas, native, led the Golden Hurricane backline to five clean sheets and earned American Conference Defender of the Year. 

With the 82nd pick, Charlotte chose Wickham, who played at South Florida. A redshirt sophomore, the 6-4 Wickham hails from Brampton, Ontario, and previously played at Syracuse and Toronto FC Academy. He appeared in 17 matches (9-3-5) with three shutouts, 61 saves and a 1.47 goals-against average. 

Wickham earned American Conference Co-Goalkeeper of the Year honors.

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