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Daniel Lovitz proved this season that he is one of the best prospects Toronto FC have. Lovitz was drafted in the second round (24th overall) by TFC in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. He played four seasons at Elon University in North Carolina, where he made 80 appearance and netting nine goals and 16 assists. He was named the Southern Conference Player of The Year in 2014 and helped his side to third straight conference championship.
Lovitz enjoyed what some may say to be a successful NCAA career. Championships and individual accolades came to him, but now he's on a TFC side that only has one a Trillium Cup and a few Canadian Championships to their name.
Lovitz is a player that can provide a club with many options to deploy. He can play in many positions on a field but mostly on the left side. His strong side seems to the left because he uses his preferred left foot. What fellow Waking The Red writer Dave Rowann said about Lovitz when he was drafted, is that he has to work on how he thinks of the game and how he can execute after beating a defender. If Lovitz can work on those issues, then he can be a force to be reckoned with in the MLS.
Lovitz was initially sent down to the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL PRO. While they are no longer Toronto's affiliate, I just want to extend thanks to the Hammerheads for allowing players like Manuel Aparicio, Quillian Roberts, Jordan Hamilton and Lovitz to play for them. The opportunity it gives the players allows them the professional atmosphere they need to grow to their potential.
That being said, Lovitz made five appearance (all for the starting 11) and scored once while with the Hammerheads. Then he impressed the TFC branch and made his first appearance in a Canadian Championship game versus the Vancouver Whitecaps. After that game, he never looked back at Wilmington and stayed in Toronto for the remainder of the season, in which he made 18 appearance and started five times, recording no goals and 2 assists.
What does the future hold for Lovitz? Well he certainly has the ability to play for the first team, mostly coming off the bench to add a boost to the side. Lovitz can be available to play anywhere in the middle, which is good to have in case of injuries or poor form.
I see Lovitz on the bench next season, and the worst case for him, now since TFC has a USL PRO club, he can spend time there so he doesn't waste time on the bench never getting an opportunity. With the wide spots of the lineup filled by the likes of Dominic Oduro and Jackson, Lovitz can be used as a sub for the two. If he wants that starting role, he's going to work hard and fix mistakes.
Lovitz has the potential to be a force to be afraid of for defenders, and if the team gives him a shot at the starting 11, then he can take it and run with it to the goal, or cross it in.