HIGH POINT, N.C. — High Point University men's soccer star
Jefferson Amaya, who is one of the most decorated players in program and conference history, was selected by Real Salt Lake (from the New York Red Bulls) with the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday, December 18.
Amaya is the Panthers' second-ever second round pick, joining Keegan Meyer (43rd; 2020) and fourth overall since 2020. He was joined by teammates
Daniel Lugo (1st, 29th) and
Koven Johnson (3rd, 70th) to make history as High Point became the first Big South Conference school to have three players drafted in the same year.
Amaya's career in Purple & White will be one etched in the record books. The senior midfielder has left his mark, becoming the first player in conference history to ever win a different major award in four straight seasons: Big South Freshman of the Year (2022), Big South Offensive Player of the Year (2023), Big South Defensive Player of the Year (2024), and Big South Midfielder of the Year (2025), while earning four straight United Soccer Coaches All-South Region and Big South First Team All-Conference nods as a top No. 26 player in the country.
He also earned three CSC Academic All-District honors and was tabbed a United Soccer Coaches All-South Region and All-American scholar. During his four-year career, he started in 64 of 66 appearances while scoring 17 goals and assisting on 20 for 54 points. The Charlotte native netted eight game-winning goals and was a perfect 6-for-6 on penalty kick attempts in over 5,000 minutes, while dishing out his first two-assist match against #10 Marshall as a senior.
Amaya was a part of the Panthers' first NCAA Tournament win — a 2-0 victory over North Carolina in the 2022 first round — as well as the first round of 32 win — a 3-2 victory over West Virginia in the 2025 second round — for the program's first Sweet Sixteen appearance and best-ever record at 14-2-4 in 2025. In all, he won six Big South championships and was a part of the program's only two NCAA Tournament wins.
The most decorated men's soccer student-athlete in Big South history now heads west to Utah as the Real Salt Lake open the season on Feb. 21 against Lugo's club, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
#GoHPU
All-time High Point MLS Super Draft Picks
2020-21 — Keegan Meyer, N.E. Revolution (2nd, 43rd)
2022-23 — Holden Trent, Philadelphia Union (1st, 28th)
2025-26 —
Daniel Lugo, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1st, 29th)
2025-26 — Jefferson
Amaya, Real Salt Lake (2nd, 42nd)
2025-26 —
Koven Johnson, Colorado Rapids (3rd, 70th)
