Syracuse currently rosters four players from the area, including starters Olu Oyegunle (also from Brampton), and Christian Curti. The Orange have a rich history of recruiting and developing Canadian players, especially from the greater Toronto area. “I just wanted to be back home, closer to my parents after so many years,” Johnson said. They wanted to be able to drive to his games again, and Syracuse was just a four-hour trip.
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When it was time to choose a school, Syracuse provided the best combination of geography and history of developing professional talent, especially from Ontario.īefore he left Ontario for college, Johnson’s parents attended each and every one of his games. Miles Robinson, Ryan Raposo and Tajon Buchanan all earned Generation Adidas contracts after two years at Syracuse.Ĭharlotte FC fired Ramirez midseason and Johnson didn’t receive a Generation Adidas contract. In mid-December, Johnson worked out for all 28 MLS teams at the MLS Combine, a showcase for the 44 best players in college soccer.īut under MLS rules, Johnson needed a Generation Adidas contract, which is awarded to the top underclassmen in the country, to be draft-eligible as a junior. Roughly a week before Johnson expressed his intention to transfer, Charlotte FC manager Miguel Ramirez called Fewing to tell him he planned on taking Johnson No. Through five games this year, Johnson has led Syracuse to a 4-0-1 record with a goal and two assists. In August, Johnson was nominated to the Hermann Trophy Watch List, the highest honor in college soccer. Johnson transferred to SU, his fourth school in as many years, in time to play its spring season. “(McIntyre) said ‘Happy New Year,’ and I said, ‘It will be if this goes the direction you want it to go,’” Fewing said. Johnson would attend Syracuse and McIntyre would bring his squad on a future road trip to the Pacific Northwest.
Over their phone call, Fewing and McIntyre agreed on a proposal.
His family, especially his mother, wanted him home. After conversations with his family, he decided to transfer to a school closer to home.įor the past few years, Johnson bounced between teams in England, Florida, Utah, Oregon and Washington. After interest in Seattle forward Levonte Johnson for the MLS SuperDraft fell through, Johnson spent time at home in Brampton, Ontario over the holidays. The two wished each other a happy new year, but had other business to handle. On New Year’s Day, Seattle University men’s soccer head coach Pete Fewing gave Syracuse men’s soccer head coach Ian McIntyre a ring to propose a deal. Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox.
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