Orlando City SC signed center back Kamal Miller to the roster, the club announced on March 1.
Miller was selected by the Lions in the 2019 Major League Soccer SuperDraft with the third pick of the second round (27th-overall), the Lions’ second pick of the draft.
“We have been extremely impressed with Kamal throughout this preseason,” Lions Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi said, per the release. “He has come to camp with the right mentality and has earned a spot with our group.”
The 21-year-old joins City after spending the past four seasons playing for Syracuse University. There, he was named team captain in his final two seasons, recording seven goals and three assists across 78 appearances in his collegiate career. His sophomore-season back line notched 11 shutouts, third-most in school history.
Miller earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference and All-South Region honors after his senior season. The Ontario native, Canada, native has also played for Canada’s youth national teams.
In the preseason, Miller started and played all 90 minutes of a 2-1 win over New York City FC in the 2019 Orlando City Invitational. He and forward Santiago Patiño are the Lions’ only draftees to have signed contracts with the team. Fellow City draftees Tommy Madden (Second round, 38th-overall) and Scott DeVoss (Third round, 59th-overall) were cut during preseason, according to ProSoccerUSA.com’s Jordan Culver.
Orlando City open the 2019 season against NYCFC on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Orlando City Stadium. This will be the third time the 2015 expansion sides have opened an MLS season against each other (2015, 2017).
For more on the Lions, as they embark their fifth MLS season, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
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