The University of Louisville soccer program had a strong showing at the 2024 Major League Soccer SuperDraft on Tuesday, with three student-athletes being selected. Damien Barker John was taken in the second round with the 37th overall pick by Real Salt Lake, while Josh Jones went to Real Salt Lake in the second round with the 47th overall pick. Gage Guerra rounded out the Louisville selections, going to the Portland Timbers in the third round with the 69th overall pick.
This marks the most selections for the Louisville program since the 2017 season, when four players were taken. The Cardinals have had at least one player selected in 12 of the last 14 seasons, and head coach John Michael Hayden has seen seven players drafted in his five years with the program.
Barker John had an impressive sophomore season, leading the Cardinals with nine goals and 21 points, along with three assists. He also had three matches with multiple goals, becoming only the third Louisville player since 2001 to achieve this feat in a single season.
Jones, a junior and starting center back, earned All-ACC honors in 2023. He recorded over 1,500 minutes in the backline and contributed offensively with three goals and two assists, matching his totals from the previous season.
Guerra had a strong start to his Louisville career before injuries limited his playing time. Despite missing eight matches, he still managed to score six goals, the most by a Louisville player since at least 2001. He finished the season as the team’s second-leading scorer with seven goals.
Both Barker John and Jones were among the 44 players invited to the adidas MLS College Showcase, which took place from Dec. 6-9 in Phoenix, Arizona.
While all three players have the option to return to school and continue their development, they will not be eligible for future drafts. If they choose to go back to college or remain unsigned, the drafting clubs will retain their SuperDraft Priority for approximately two years.
The Louisville Cardinals concluded their 2023 season with a 12-6-3 record and earned a NCAA Tournament berth for the third consecutive season.
For updates and news on Louisville men’s soccer, fans can follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LouisvilleMSOC.
