NEW YORK – Two Portland Pilots men's soccer athletes made the 44-player shortlist for the 2023 adidas MLS College Showcase on Tuesday, with forward Jacob Babalai and defender Kevin Bonilla each making the cut. They are the first Pilots to be invited since Jacobo Reyes participated back in 2019.
 
The adidas College Showcase is a closed-door scouting event ahead of MLS SuperDraft 2024 that will take place from Dec. 6-9 in Phoenix, Ariz. The four-day event allows MLS staffs to scout 44 invitees from 28 different schools who are considered the top collegiate prospects in the nation. The SuperDraft will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 19.
 
Babalai was a top-tier striker in college soccer this past year, notching 12 goals and four assists for 28 points in 17 games. His 12 goals and 28 points led the West coast Conference and ranked 15^th and 20^th in the country respectively. Babalai made the All-WCC First Team as well as the All-West Region Second Team for the first time in his career. His 12 goals were the most by a Pilot through 17 games since Stevie Evans in 2012.
 
Bonilla, meanwhile, put together one of the most complete seasons of any outside back in the nation. He scored one goal – a game-winner against San Diego – and added 10 assists across 17 games, becoming the first Pilot to post at least 10 assists in a season since Rey Ortiz in 2017. He was eighth in the nation and first in the WCC in assists as well. The Dallas native was a mainstay defensively as well, captaining a defense that led the WCC in goals-against average (.882) and shutout percentage (.471). He was named the WCC Defender of the Year and made the All-WCC First Team as well as the All-West Region First Team.

The Pilots have seen several players take their talents to the next level since 2018. The Pilots have had three players sign homegrown contracts with MLS clubs, with Benji Michel signing with Orlando SC in 2018 and Delentz Pierre and Brandon Cambridge signing with Real Salt Lake and Charlotte FC respectively in 2022. The Pilots have also seen two players get drafted in the MLS SuperDraft, with Paul Christensen being selected in 2018 by Atlanta United with the 70th pick and Rey Ortiz getting drafted in 2020 by FC Cincinatti with the 29th overall pick.
 
The Pilots are coming off a historic year that saw them go 12-5 and earn a first-round bye for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988. They boasted a home unbeaten streak of 26-0-2 that was a program record and the longest in the nation. They led the WCC in 11 different categories and nationally ranked second in assists per game (3.18), third in scoring offense (2.65), fourth in assists (54), fifth in points (144), sixth in goals (45) and goal differential (30), 12^th in shutout percentage (.471), 21^st in overall win percentage (.706) and 24^th in goals-against average (.882). Get Your Tickets Now!
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