Lukas Burns and Colin Griffith among the 44 players invited to MLS College Showcase

Major League Soccer has announced the 44 invitees for the 2024 adidas MLS College Showcase, which will take place from December 11-14 in San Diego, Calif.

The four-day talent evaluation event will give technical staffs from each MLS club an opportunity to scout top collegiate prospects in the nation ahead of MLS SuperDraft 2025, which will take place on Friday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. ET.

The list of attendees is subject to change prior to the event, but it includes two players with local ties, including Philadelphia Union Academy grad Lukas Burns from Cinnaminson, N.J. and Maryland junior Colin Griffith from Stroudsburg, Pa.

Burns, a goalkeeper, completed his college eligibility in the fall with Providence as a grad student, recording a career high in clean sheets with 8 while boasting a .96 goals against average. The 2020 YSC Academy grad finished his collegiate career with 24 clean sheets in 73 appearances. Griffith, who was MLS Next U-19 MVP his last year with PDA, had a career high six goals to go with an assist while starting 19 games for the Terps this fall. He was named second team all Big 10.

Additional draft prospects from the area who weren’t on the invite list include Florida Atlantic senior forward Mamadou Diarra (Drexel Hill, Pa.), Drexel grad forward Dominick Bachstein and Vermont grad center back Zach Barrett among others.