Who should Sporting KC select in the 2026 MLS Draft? Part Three

Last up in the series on who Sporting Kansas City should take with the number four pick of the 2026 MLS Super Draft, I wanted to highlight a right back who could potentially add depth and quality to the roster: Luca Nikolai from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. More on Luca below.

Be sure to check out the first two parts of this series.

Scouting Methods

For starters, to find these prospects, I pulled from the MLS’s college showcase list, as these players always tend to be drafted and often have players who are selected for Generation Adidas contracts. I do keep in mind that there are players who would have been invited but have teams that are playing in the college soccer cup. I scouted these players by watching one game without notes just to get a feel for their playing style and watching another game while taking notes. What I present are my raw notes on these players and their games. I also offer an overall assessment of their game based on the games I’ve watched and a summary of their potential fit with Sporting KC.

Luka Nikolai, Right Back, North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Scouting vs Lipscomb

Player Profile

• Tall and strong on the pitch
• Really good size for a right back
• Very right-foot dominant

Technical

• Has a laser of a right foot
• Really good long shot
• Good shot across the goal
• A lot of power and pace on the shot
• On a free kick, blasts the ball off the post
• Accurate long passer, just has not shown much of it
• As a progressive passer, he is really good
• Plays accurate through balls and is always finding runners
• Good cross, driven and in a dangerous area
• Poor pass leads to an opportunity on the other end (lazy pass)
• Misplaced two casual passes that should have led to goals

In Possession / Attacking

• Not afraid to get forward
• Really good at making underlapping runs
• Confident on the ball, nice play out of trouble
• Surprised at how comfortable he is in the central midfield
• Very simple on the ball, just gets it and plays
• Strong understanding of where the space is
• Recognizes space at the top of the box and moves there
• Four shots and two goals from that position
• Another goal at the top of the box
• For the fourth time, he comes up at the top of the box and gets a shot off
• Interplay on the right wing is his strength
• Knows how to pass and move, always plays to runners
• Understands how to make space for wingers

Defensive

• I like his positioning, stays where he can get the ball
• A little concerned about his defensive positioning
• Gets caught up high and does not get back to help the center backs
• Gets caught out of position trying to pressure the ball in midfield
• For the third time, Lipscomb switches play and he is out of position
• Only seen him run back to help his center back once
• Has not defended one-on-one much
• Finally, a one-on-one duel, uses his strength to body a defender off the ball
• Stays in good positions to cut off passes

Physical

• Not a fast player
• Uses a change of pace to get past defenders
• Uses his strength well

Overall Assessment: Offensively, I can see the ability. Nikolai will have the size and the technical ability to compete in the MLS. He is a great long passer and has a cannon of a right foot. He really does remind me of Graham Zusi. Where I think he will struggle is defensively. He has the size to compete with physical wingers, but it’s the speedy wingers that will give him trouble. If he can find a way to maximize his defensive positioning, I think he could be a good pick. I would draft him, knowing he needs a lot of development.

How does he fit with Sporting KC?

With Sporting KC’s only right back option also the team’s starting central midfielder in Jake Davis, a right back is a must for the squad. It must be noted that for nearly every MLS, right back has been the position where most teams have drawn on more developmental players, such as academy standouts or draft picks. Thus, Luca would have a great opportunity for immediate playing time if he were selected. His ability going forward would be a major plus. He understands positioning well, which is a necessity in a possession-based team. He is also a great long-ball passer, which is equally as valuable for SKC. The real question is his defensive ability. If that can improve, with his size, positioning, and passing, he would immediately be a solid MLS starting right back.