Atlanta United Academy Alumni Kareve Richards Enters MLS Superdraft

Kareve Richards will depart the Mercer Bears ahead of his senior Spring season for the MLS Superdraft.

Richards has played an outsized role for his Mercer teams, starting nearly every match since his freshman season back in 2017. Richards’ defensive versatility proves to be his greatest asset as he played a team-high 1941 minutes in 2019 between the defense and the midfield. Richards offered a calming and steady influence to the Bears’ defense, helping his squad limit opponents to 1.09 and 1.11 goals per game in his first two seasons on the backline.

For that solid work, he garnered All-Conference honors twice and looks to close-out his senior campaign on an equally high note. Recipient of the Southern Conference’s All-Freshmen Honors, and 2018 All-Conference First Team Awards, Richards departs an Atlanta United alumni-heavy roster that suffered a disappointing Fall non-conference season.

Richards gains his place in Atlanta United’s history as the first-ever academy player to enter the MLS Superdraft. In a pool of nearly 180 players, his experience and talent should be enough to earn him a place on an MLS roster or as a defensive regular for a top-tier USL Championship side. Richards is originally from Ontario so a return to a Canadian side may be in the cards.