On a busy Wednesday, the Colorado Rapids were pressed on the clock in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.
In the end, Colorado selected Moise Bombito, a Generation Adidas central defender out of the University of New Hampshire, with the third overall pick, and added a third goalkeeper in Oliver Semmle from Marshall University with the 41st pick.
It came on the heels of acquiring 2021 Generation Adidas forward Calvin Harris from FC Cincinnati for $200,000 in General Allocation Money. Colorado also traded away the 12th overall pick of the draft to Charlotte FC and secured a first-round pick in next year’s SuperDraft, $50,000 in conditional GAM, and $50,000 in 2023 GAM.
Bombito, a 6-foot-3 junior from Montreal, attended junior college in Iowa for a few seasons before having a breakout fall in which he was a second-team All-American and the America East defender of the year. He will not occupy an international spot because he was a member of a certified, Canadian-approved youth academy growing up in Quebec as he played for Saint-Laurent Soccer Club.
“I think Moise has a lot of upside and without a doubt, was the best domestic player in the draft,” Rapids general manager Pádraig Smith told media following the draft. “Ultimately it comes down to his raw attributes, personality and character. … What he’s got on the field, it’s enticing.”
Semmle, from Germany, was second all-time in program history in shutouts during his two seasons with the Thundering Herd.
“Oliver enjoyed an incredible collegiate career where he won a national title and earned various individual accolades, and he can bring quality competition within the club as we go into preseason,” Smith said.
From here, the next date on the calendar is building toward preseason, as players will report in early January.
