“MLS has shown a lot of good faith,” he said, “but they are aware of opportunities overseas.”

Several draft experts predict Yaro would be the first selection, if he signs with the league. The Chicago Fire holds the top pick, followed by the Colorado Rapids and Philadelphia Union. The draft will take place Jan. 14 at Baltimore Convention Center.

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Yaro would have been a top-three selection last year but chose to remain in school. A first-team scholar all-American with diplomatic aspirations, Yaro is on pace to graduate in three years. He is close enough to a government degree that he would probably finish course work remotely while embarking on a pro soccer career.

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Abdi declined to say what foreign clubs are interested in Yaro, who is from Ghana and attended prep school in California. One source said Yaro has a “legitimate offer” from a club in Denmark, something that Abdi would not confirm or deny.

Yaro is working with Abdi specifically as his legal counsel. If he decided to stay in school, he might be able to retain a final year of NCAA eligibility.

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In reality, though, Yaro is on track to turn pro. Georgetown officials said they would be surprised if he returned.

Each winter, MLS offers several Generation Adidas contracts to non-senior and youth national team prospects. As an incentive to leave school early, the league sweetens the deal with larger base salaries and bonuses than those afforded to seniors.

Last year’s top pick, Orlando’s Cyle Larin, left Connecticut after two seasons and received a $125,000 base salary and $167,000 in guaranteed compensation, according to MLS Players Union data. The No. 2 selection, New York City’s Khiry Shelton, an Oregon State senior, made $70,000/$87,500.

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If Yaro signs with MLS, Abdi said he would expect him to receive one of the largest rookie contracts since 2010, when Philadelphia forward Danny Mwanga, the No. 1 overall pick, collected guaranteed compensation of $206,250 in his first season.

GA players are also eligible for stipends to continue their education. Teams are tempted to draft GAs because they are exempt from the salary cap for sometimes several seasons.

MLS, which negotiates all pre-draft contracts, is planning to unveil the 2016 Generation Adidas class as early as Monday. That announcement, however, does not preclude additional signings before the draft. All GAs, as well as other draft-eligible players, are available to the 20 teams in the four-round draft: The first two stages are Jan. 14, the last two via conference call the following week. [Complete order]

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The draft, though, has been steadily losing importance because a growing number of elite college players are affiliated with youth academies run by MLS clubs and, consequently, exempt from selection. Many end up signing homegrown contracts with their respective MLS teams.

Still, several prospects, such as Yaro, are not affiliated with youth academies and remain prime targets in the draft.

Yaro is a center back with vision and speed uncommon at the college level. With him marshaling the backline, the Hoyas posted six consecutive shutouts during a 14-game winning streak and rose to No. 2 in the coaches’ poll before losing to Boston College on penalty kicks in the NCAA tournament’s round of 16.

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Because of Yaro’s smallish size (5 feet 11 and 163 pounds), a pro team might end up converting him to outside back.

Abdi said Yaro has not ruled out attending the scouting combine, which will begin Thursday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.