Top college striker to skip season after signing with MLS, will enter 2017 SuperDraft

The 2017 MLS SuperDraft class just received its first member. According to the Washington Post, Duke University and United States U-20 striker, Jeremy Ebobisse, will forgo his junior season after signing a deal with Major League Soccer.

Instead of playing at Duke, he'll spend the next five months training with D.C. United and the Richmond Kickers. There's also the possibility that he could join the Kickers in the USL on loan. However, he cannot play for another MLS team until he is drafted in January.

Ebobisse is expected to be a high draft pick in the winter. Atlanta United are guaranteed to have one of the top two draft picks in the next SuperDraft according to MLS expansion protocol.

In the past, a coinflip has decided which of the two incoming Expansion teams would receive the top pick in the SuperDraft, with the other team getting the top pick in the Expansion Draft.

This scenario is likely to occur again this year once Minnesota United is officially announced as entering the league alongside Atlanta. That announcement is expected to be made on Friday.

Ebobisse, who tallied nine goals in two years at Duke, could very well attract the interest of Atlanta United as they look to make a splash in their first ever SuperDraft. Now, he's certain to be an option at the top of the draft order.