California men's soccer forward Arik Duncan became the latest Golden Bear to join the professional ranks when he was selected by CF Montreal in the MLS SuperDraft on Friday. The club chose the senior – Cal's leading scorer in 2024 – with the No. 14 pick in the second round, which was the 44th selection overall.
 
"It felt surreal to be drafted," Duncan said. "Excitement came over me, and I felt really grateful."
 
The product of Decatur, Georgia, has never been to Montreal.
 
"I'm going to have to learn some French," he laughed.
 
In his second season at Cal after starting his college career at RPI, Duncan led Cal in points (13) and goals (5) and collected three assists after starting 12 times in 18 games in 2024. He also ranked second in shots on goal (11) and tied for second in shots (22) for the Bears.
 
He tallied a big goal in Cal's 2-0 ACC Championship quarterfinal win at then-No. 2 Duke, scoring off a volley in the 17th minute. Duncan also came up huge in a 3-3 draw with Louisville during the regular season. With Cal trailing the Cardinals 2-0, Duncan scored in the 25th minute, and, later with the Bears down 3-1, he struck again in the 61st minute, with Gaku Nishimura eventually notching the equalizer.
 
Duncan is the third member of Cal's current team drafted into MLS, including Wyatt Meyer and Kevin Carmichael, both of whom Nashville SC selected last December. Duncan is also one of 21 players from the Atlantic Coast Conference chosen in this year's MLS SuperDraft, with the 21 selections the most of any conference.
 
"I'm thrilled and so excited for him and our program," Cal head coach Leonard Griffin said. "This is a testament to Arik's character, his hard work and grind, to our staff for continuing to prioritize player development, and to his teammates for pushing him to get better on the field.
 
"These guys' goals are to become professionals, and we're here to help them on their journeys. Three draft picks in two years – that's what we want to see. This is a place that you can come to and live out your dreams."
 
"The environment at Cal that Leonard and his staff have created allows players to express themselves in a tough environment," Duncan added. "The opportunity they gave me has been crucial in me having this opportunity now to be drafted. I'm super grateful."
 
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