By Rob Centorani

Staff Writer

Hartwick College senior Tyler Hemming’s first job out of college could have him literally rubbing elbows with his sport’s biggest celebrity.

Toronto FC, an expansion team in Major League Soccer, took Hemming with the 40th pick in Thursday’s supplemental draft.

London, Ontario native Hemming will attend a preseason camp from Feb. 1-9 at Toronto, where he’ll try to secure a roster spot on the club’s opening day roster.

"It’s good because my family and friends are nearby," said Hemming, named the Atlantic Soccer Conference’s Player of the Year as a junior and senior. "It’s two hours from where I live in Canada, so it’s a good situation. I checked their website the other day and saw they’d already sold 10,000 season tickets. Everything is going to be fun, new and exciting."

Should Hemming make the team, he could play next season against the MLS’ newest and brightest star, David Beckham, who recently signed a contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy that could be worth $250 million.

"I guess it is exciting with all the press that’s been going on," Hemming said.

Fifty-one players were selected in the four-round draft, with Hemming the third pick of Toronto.

He said he was surprised he was drafted because Toronto told Hemming it would invite him to the Feb. 1-9 camp after he worked out with the team over Christmas break.[an error occurred while processing this directive]