D.C. United drafts Georgetown forward Jacob Murrell

If Murrell does not sign, United would retain his MLS rights until Dec. 31, 2025.

Hoyas Coach Brian Wiese said Murrell is “leaning heavily toward coming back,” but that could change as contract talks accelerate.

The 6-foot-3 Murrell is from Forest Hill, north of Baltimore, and played for McDonogh School and Pipeline Soccer Club, which was co-founded by former United forward Santino Quaranta. Murrell was the Gatorade national high school player of the year in 2022.

He had seven goals and four assists in 21 games as a Georgetown freshman, then spent last summer in the National Premier Soccer League with the Annapolis Blues, a fourth-division amateur team. This fall, his stock soared after he scored eight goals in the Hoyas’ first nine matches.

“He is improving at a rate that is pretty frightening,” Wiese said, adding that, should Murrell return to Georgetown, he would be a candidate for the Hermann Trophy, which is awarded to college soccer’s best player.

“When he is running, he is dangerous,” Wiese said. “He still needs to build his game in the box and improve in the air, but he works so hard to get better.”

Wiese said Murrell has the potential to become a player like Duncan McGuire, the Orlando City rookie out of Creighton who had 13 goals this season.

With its first selection of the second round, United selected Clemson captain Brandon Parrish, a senior midfielder who scored in the Tigers’ NCAA championship game victory over Notre Dame last week. Later in the round, United claimed the MLS rights to former North Carolina defender Aldair Sanchez, who is under contract with second-division Sacramento Republic. In the third round, D.C. chose Wisconsin junior goalkeeper Nate Crockford.

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With the draft’s No. 1 pick, Toronto FC claimed Lipscomb forward Tyrese Spicer, a Trinidad and Tobago native who recorded 29 goals and 18 assists in a 57-game NCAA career.

Duke sophomore defender-midfielder Wayne Frederick (St. Albans School and Bethesda Soccer Club) was chosen second by the Colorado Rapids. His father, also named Wayne, is the former Howard University president.

Two picks later, Colorado selected Maryland freshman forward Kimani Stewart-Baynes, the Big Ten freshman of the year who had three goals and seven assists in 14 matches.

The draft came at a busy time for United. Ally Mackay, its new general manager, is conducting the coaching search after the club parted ways with Wayne Rooney in October. No decision is imminent, two people familiar with the matter said.

The draft is among several platforms that Mackay will use to enhance the roster. Free agency is underway, and the international marketplace is open.

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Mackay also is weighing whether to retain playmaker Gabriel Pirani, whose loan from Brazilian club Santos expires Dec. 31, and is overseeing the pursuit of a third designated player to join striker Christian Benteke and midfielder Mateusz Klich on high-end contracts.

This month, United acquired center back Lucas Bartlett and winger Jared Stroud from St. Louis City for defensive midfielder Chris Durkin, then added right back Aaron Herrera from Montreal for Ruan.

United has made several front-office changes. Aside from Mackay’s appointment, Caleb Shreve, who worked with Mackay in Nashville before joining Orlando, was named assistant general manager, and Clarens Cheridieu was picked as director of player personnel after serving as assistant GM of second-division Loudoun United. Technical director Stewart Mairs and director of scouting Sean Howe departed, and longtime executive Dave Kasper moved into a consulting role.

MLS will unveil its 2024 schedule Wednesday. The season will begin in late February. Training camps will open in mid-January, but United has yet to finalize warm-weather camp locations.