MLS Draft 2019: Orlando City Selects Syracuse Defender Kamal Miller at No. 27

Orlando City used its first of two second-round selections at the MLS SuperDraft on center back Kamal Miller out of Syracuse University.

A native of Pickering, Ontario in Canada, Miller was a starter all four years for the Orange, starting 78 games and recording seven goals and three assists. He became a regular starter during his freshman year in 2015, starting 25 games and scoring three goals. His sophomore year was his most successful statistically, recording two goals and two assists in 20 starts. His junior year would see the center back be named captain as he started 16 games and scored two goals. This past season, his second as captain, Miller started 17 games, recording one assist.

For his performance during the 2018 season, Miller was named All-South Region Third Team and All-ACC Third Team.

Here’s what he had to say after being drafted:

During the summers, Miller played in the Premier Development League, first for KW United and then for Reading United AC. For KW United, Miller took part in 12 games and played 980 minutes, recording one assist in 2016. In 2017, he played in 11 games, recording 880 minutes and scored twice. This past summer, he played in 13 games for Reading United AC, recording 1,145 minutes.

Miller will be the fifth center back on the Orlando City roster and the second to join the team this week. The returning center backs are Carlos Ascues, Shane O’Neill, and Lamine Sané, while Alex De John joined the club yesterday.

Here is Miller’s highlight package: