DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis senior midfielder Zack Lillington has been selected as one of 45 top collegiate prospects invited to the 2025 Major League Soccer College Showcase, the league announced Tuesday.
The four-day talent evaluation event will take place from Dec. 10-13 in Mesa, Ariz., giving technical staffs from MLS clubs an opportunity to scout the nation's premier collegiate players ahead of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday, Dec. 18.
Lillington enters the showcase following a senior campaign in which he earned All-Big West Second Team recognition for the second consecutive season. He produced one of the most complete seasons in the league, leading the Aggies with 60 shots and 24 shots on goal.
The midfielder totaled three goals and three assists on the year. He scored twice during conference play, highlighted by a game-winner in the 89th minute against rival Sacramento State. Lillington also recorded assists against Washington, San Jose State and Cal State Bakersfield.
"Each year we see young breakout players who previously shined at the MLS College Showcase go on to make a meaningful impact at the first-team level," said Alecko Eskandarian, MLS Vice President, Player Relations & Player Development. "This event is a crucial opportunity for our clubs to evaluate the nation's top collegiate talent, and we are thrilled to welcome these 45 standout individuals to a life-changing showcase in Arizona this year."
The 2025 MLS College Showcase is a closed-door scouting event officially sanctioned by the NCAA. Notable standouts from last year's showcase who went on to impact MLS this season include Manu Duah (San Diego FC) and Tate Johnson (Vancouver Whitecaps FC).
The eligible player list for the 2026 MLS SuperDraft will be announced at a later date following the conclusion of the showcase.
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS:
UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked #1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as #1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27.
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