Sporting Kansas City selected 22-year-old defender Colton Storm with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday.
Storm, a senior right back out of the University of North Carolina, recorded two goals and eight assists in 69 games during his four-year collegiate career.
As a senior in 2016, he was a Second Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honoree and earned NSCAA Third Team All-South Region accolades. He was also named to the NCAA College Cup Best XI, helping North Carolina reach the final four of the national tournament.
“Colton possesses a lot of the qualities that we look for in players,” Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said. “There is no doubt that he has ambition to be successful and pursue excellence every time he’s on the field.”
“I can’t wait to join Sporting Kansas City for the preseason,” Storm said. “I feel like I can fit into the team and coach Vermes’ system really well, and I look forward to bringing a lot of hard work to the club.”
A native of Mechanicsburg, Pa., Storm started his final 41 matches in North Carolina colors, logging 20 appearances in 2015 and 21 in 2016. He captained the Tar Heels as a senior, leading a defense that notched 12 shutouts in 21 games. North Carolina finished the season with a 14-3-4 record and fell to Stanford in a penalty shootout in the national semifinals on Dec. 9.
As a youth, Storm spent time in the U.S. U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. He played club soccer for HMMS Eagle FC in his hometown.
The 2017 MLS SuperDraft will conclude Tuesday, Jan. 17, with the third and fourth rounds conducted via conference call. Sporting Kansas City currently holds the 58th overall pick in the third round.
Sporting Kansas City will kick off the club’s 22nd season on March 4 at D.C. United, the first match to be televised on FOX Sports Kansas City.
– Story from Sporting KC