Tajon Buchanan to forgo final 2 years at SU, declare for MLS SuperDraft
Max Freund | Staff Photographer
Syracuse sophomore Tajon Buchanan has signed a contract to enter the MLS SuperDraft, forgoing his final two years at SU, per Goal. Orange head coach Ian McIntyre confirmed in a tweet Thursday morning that Buchanan would attend the draft combine, which invites are given to draft-eligible seniors and underclassmen who earn a Generation Adidas contract.
Good luck to @KMillz_00 @HugoDelho and @TajonBuchanan this week as they continue their journey at the @MLS Combine in Orlando. We are all proudly cheering them on from Syracuse. All the best boys! ?⚽️
— Ian McIntyre (@IanSMcIntyre) January 3, 2019
The forward, who’s “one of the top prospects in the draft” per the report, scored a team-high 20 points for the Orange last season, including a team-leading eight goals.
Following a left knee sprain earlier in the season, the sophomore returned in Syracuse’s Sept. 24 matchup with Colgate and played with a knee brace.
Over the three-game stretch — wins over Akron and then-No. 1 Wake Forest and a road draw to Louisville — that defined the Orange’s season, Buchanan was consistently among the team leaders in shots. He capped his best two-game stretch of the season with a three-goal performance in Syracuse’s 7-0 blowout of St. Bonaventure.
SU rode the success of its star sophomore to a first-round bye in the NCAA Tournament but was knocked out by eventual national semifinalist Akron.
Published on January 3, 2019 at 2:37 pm
Contact Michael: mmcclear@syr.edu | @MikeJMcCleary