Atlanta United selected goalkeepers Jayden Hibbert of Connecticut and Casper Mols from Kentucky in the MLS draft on Tuesday.
Atlanta United Vice President Carlos Bocanegra said they selected two goalkeepers (Hibbert with the 19th overall pick and Mols at No. 77) to help bridge the gap between the team’s trio of veterans and those in the academy. Bocanegra said both have good size and potential to play in MLS. Bocanegra said they are having conversations with both about whether they will sign now or return to school.
“It was really just something we wanted to bulk up that position,” Bocanegra said. “And we’re really happy with the two that were selected.”
Hibbert, who has family in Atlanta and Savannah, was considered the No. 2-rated goalkeeper in this draft. Hibbert, a sophomore, has made 20 appearances for the Huskies. Hibbert said his dream is to play professionally. He said he hopes that negotiations go well.
“I’d love to start my career at Atlanta united,” he said. “I think the academy is great. I think the second team is great. I think the first team environment is phenomenal. So I’m so ecstatic that they selected me in the draft with the 19th pick.”
If Hibbert returns to school, Atlanta United would retain his rights.
Hibbert said he is good with the ball at his feet because of his experience in youth soccer playing as a right wing. When he turned eight years old, Hibbert said he played goalkeeper two age groups up for one team and right wing for his age group on another. This continued until he turned 13 when he moved to the Red Bulls academy.
Hibbert said he hopes to “be a sponge” and learn from Brad Guzan, Quentin Westberg and Josh Cohen. Hibbert said he understands that he will most likely play for Atlanta United 2 in MLS Next Pro.
“I’ve seen the level and it’s just a step up from college,” he said. “So I’m super-excited to learn from the goalkeeper coach, f rom the goalkeepers and ultimately get some minutes with the second team to help the team win some games.”
Mols, a sophomore from Kentucky, allowed 16 goals in 15 appearances this season.
Additionally, the team traded Garrison Tubbs, whom it just signed to a Homegrown contract on Friday, to D.C. United in exchange for more than $200,000 in Allocation Money. Bocanegra said there was interest in Tubbs, so signing him was a way for the team generate some Allocation Money for other moves it hopes to make.
Atlanta United received the 33rd pick in the draft in a trade with the L.A. Galaxy in exchange for the rights to Miguel Berry. Atlanta United traded that pick and the 72nd pick to Chicago for $50,000 in General Allocation Money.
The team selected Javier Armas, a senior midfielder/defender from Oregon State, with the No. 48 pick. He made 77 appearances, with 71 starts. Armas played in Deportivo La Coruna’s academy in Spain. Bocanegra said they liked his versatility.
Atlanta United has had more misses than hits in the drafts, which is not uncommon. The hits include selecting Miles Robinson and Julian Gressel in its first draft in 2017, Jon Gallagher the next year and Aiden McFadden in 2021.
Atlanta United draft selections through the years:
2017: Miles Robinson, Julian Gressel, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu, Alex Kapp
2018: Jon Gallagher, Oliver Shannon, Gordon Wild, Paul Christensen
2019: Anderson Asiedu, Amir Bashti
2020: Patrick Nielsen, Phillip Goodrum
2021: Josh Bauer
2022: Tristan Trager, Daniel Bloyou, Erik Centeno, Tola Showumni
2023: Jayden Hibbert, Javier Armas, Casper Mols
For more content about Atlanta United
Follow me on Twitter @DougRobersonAJC
On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now
On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson
Atlanta United coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Southern Fried Soccer podcast can be found
Apple - https://apple.co/3ISD6Ve
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3L8TN0C
Google podcasts - https://bit.ly/32KlZW3
If you are listening to us for the first time, please follow us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast ... and if you like what you hear, please give us a good rating so we can grow the show. If you have questions about the MLS team, you can email Doug Roberson at droberson@ajc.com, DM him on Twitter @dougrobersonajc or call 404-526-2527.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a special offer for our podcast listeners. If you subscribe today, you can get three months of unlimited digital access for just 99 cents. That’s all of our sports coverage, politics, breaking news, investigations, food and dining, and so much more on AJC.com. Plus, access to our ePaper and our assortment of newsletters. So, join our community by going to subscribe.ajc.com/podcasts that’s subscribe.ajc.com/podcasts so you always know what’s really going on.
About the Author
