Toronto FC announced today that the club has selected midfielder Tyrese Spicer from Lipscomb University with the first overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas.
“We are thrilled to select Tyrese with the number one overall pick after an exemplary NCAA career," said Toronto FC General Manager Jason Hernandez. "Tyrese possesses a unique combination of technical and physical qualities that align with our player profile and tactical blueprint. He also has a resilient mindset and a drive to improve, which makes him a great fit for TFC. We look forward to working with Tyrese to accelerate his growth as a player and person while helping us achieve our goals as a club.”
Spicer, 23, spent the past four seasons at Lipscomb University, where he registered 29 goals and 18 assists through 57 appearances. In his last year with the Bisons, Spicer was named the 2023 Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) Player of the Year after he led the ASUN Conference with 14 goals and three assists in 16 appearances. The Trinidad and Tobago native scored in 10 consecutive matches to begin the 2023 season and finished the regular season as the ASUN leader in goals, points, shots on goal, goals per game, points per game and game-winning goals, and led the nation in goals per game. The midfielder was also named to the 2023 ASUN First Team All-Conference, earned United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American and First Team All-Region honours and was recently named a semi-finalist for the 2023 MAC Hermann Trophy, the most coveted individual honour in NCAA Division I soccer, for his prolific campaign with the Bisons.
Spicer previously earned ASUN Second Team All-Conference honours in 2022, after scoring four goals and registering seven assists in 18 appearances, and ASUN First Team All-Conference honours in 2021, after scoring eight goals and registering seven assists in 17 appearances as a sophomore. In his freshman year, Spicer scored three goals in six appearances, including a goal on his college debut against Evansville on February 6, 2021. Prior to the Bisons, Spicer attended St. Augustine Secondary School in Trinidad where he earned top goalscorer honours (2019) and the Most Valuable Player accolade (2018), after helping the school become North Zone Champions in 2017.
TRANSACTION: Toronto FC draft midfielder Tyrese Spicer from Lipscomb University with the first overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft.
TYRESE SPICER
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 153 lbs.
Birthdate: December 4, 2000 (Age – 23)
Hometown: Trincity, Trinidad and Tobago
Nationality: Trinidadian
College: Lipscomb University
Acquired: Selected with the No. 1 selection in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft
