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Prior to Saturday’s 2-1 win over FC Tulsa, Sporting Kansas City II signed defender Kayden Pierre to an Academy contract.
In an announcement on Friday, the club said the 17-year-old can play both outside back roles and will retain his NCAA eligibility. The club also stated that he has spent time training with the USL squad in 2019 and 2020, which includes being one of seven Academy players to that joined the squad this past preseason.
Pierre is a native of Rochester Hills, Michigan, and joined the SKC Academy in 2018 after previously playing with Vardar SC. Since his move to Kansas City, Pierre appeared in 59 appearances with the Academy and spent time with the U-15’s, U-17’s, and U-19’s.
Pierre has also been called into camps with the U.S. U-14’s in 2016 and 2017 but was most recently called into the U.S. U-16 camps in 2018 and 2019.
With Dillon Serna logging heavy minutes at left back for SKC II this season, this could be a move to relieve some of his time with six matches remaining in the regular season. Isaiah LeFlore is the only other left back to see time at left back.
At right back, Camden Riley has seemed to have taken over the right back role after Sam Raben initially had the job. Mason Leeth has also gotten limited time at left back as well, but he is off to prepare for his freshman campaign with the St. Louis University Billikens.