The 2013 MLS SuperDraft goes Thursday, as the top soccer prospects from the NCAA get their shot at making the leap to the professional level.
The draft is always a mixed-bag: some sure-fire picks struggle to adapt to the speed and physical demands of MLS, and occasionally clubs are able to uncover a diamond in the rough.
Toronto FC will provide a good deal of intrigue at the top end of this year’s draft. With team president Kevin Payne at the helm for his first off-season, rumours have swirled for weeks on the possibility of the Reds trading one, or both, of the first and third overall pick for established help.
Also, with the Montreal Impact reloading for a run at the playoffs and the Vancouver Whitecaps looking to improve their lot in the west, it should make for quite an interesting day for the league’s Canadian sides.
Sportsnet at the draft: Gerry Dobson and John Molinaro will be in Indianapolis on Wednesday and Thursday to provide in-depth coverage of the MLS SuperDraft for Sportsnet and sportsnet.ca
This year MLS awarded Generation adidas contracts to seven NCAA underclassmen and prospects. Generation adidas is an initiative by the league to develop and award some of the best young North American players. GA players are given lucrative contracts that don’t count against MLS’s salary cap, so these guys are usually drafted high in the first round.
This year’s Generation adidas players are: Defenders Walker Zimmerman (Furman) and Andrew Farrell (Louisville), midfielder Mikey Lopez (North Carolina) and forwards Jason Johnson (Virginia Commonwealth), Eriq Zavaleta (Indiana), DeShorn Brown (University of Central Florida) and Kekuta Manneh (Austin Aztex)
With that in mind, let’s take a look at how the first round could unfold this Thursday in Indianapolis:
#1 – Toronto FC
Player: Andrew Farrell, defender, Louisville (Generation adidas player)
Comment: The question isn’t whether Farrell goes first; it’s whether Toronto holds on to the pick, or deals it for a proven commodity.
#2 – Chivas USA
Player: Mikey Lopez, midfielder, North Carolina (Generation adidas player)
Comment: If all the signs say so, then it shall be: Both player and management have said they’d like for this to happen.
#3 – Toronto FC
Player: Eriq Zavaleta, forward/defender, Indiana (Generation adidas player)
Comment: Zavaleta has played both forward and centre back in his career, and observers say he could end up playing either at the pro level.
#4 – New England Revolution
Player: Walker Zimmerman, defender, Furman (Generation adidas player)
Comment: It’s a toss-up betwene him and Farrell for the most promising defender in the class, but New England will be happy if Zimmerman is around at #4.
#5 – Vancouver Whitecaps
Player: Carlos Alvarez, midfielder, Connecticut
Comment: Vancouver should be pleased to have the highly-touted playmaker if he falls to this spot.
#6 – Colorado Rapids
Player: Jason Johnson, forward, Virginia Commonwealth (Generation adidas player)
Comment: The Jamaican forward put up big college numbers, and could get a chance to play in Colorado.
#7 – FC Dallas
Player: DeShorn Brown, forward, Central Florida (Generation adidas player)
Comment: A speedy forward who can provide a boost to Dallas’ forward corps.
#8 – Montreal Impact
Player: John Stertzer, midfielder, Maryland
Comment: A technically-sound midfielder whose stock seemed to rise at the combine; could be the best all-around midfielder in the draft.
#9 – Columbus Crew
Player: Dillon Powers, midfielder, Notre Dame
Comment: An attacking midfielder who impressed by scoring a rocket of a goal during the opening game of the combine.
#10 – Vancouver Whitecaps
Player: Kyle Bekker, midfielder, Boston College
Comment: If Bekker is still available, Vancouver will likely pounce on the Canadian midfielder.
#11 – Chicago Fire
Player: Kekuta Manneh, forward, Austin Aztex PDL (Generation adidas player)
Comment: The promising Gambian forward may be off the board by the time the Fire get to pick. If he’s still available, they’ll scoop him up.
#12 – Real Salt Lake
Player: Erik Hurtado, forward, Santa Clara
Comment: He has the ability to play up front and out wide – an attractive quality for RSL’s system.
#13 – Houston Dynamo
Player: Blake Smith, midfielder, New Mexico
Comment: Good left-footed midfielders are tough to find in MLS, and with Houston loaded at other positions, they can afford to reach here.
#14 – Sporting Kansas City
Player: Ryan Finley, forward, Notre Dame
Comment: A prolific goal scorer in college and a Hermann Trophy finalist.
#15 – San Jose Earthquakes
Player: Taylor Kemp, defender, Maryland
Comment: Overshadowed by teammate Andrew Farrell, he played an important role on a good Maryland defence.
#16 – Seattle Sounders
Player: Dylan Tucker-Gangnes, defender, Washington
Comment: The Sounders fill a need for defensive depth with a local kid.
#17 – DC United
Player: Tommy Muller, defender, Georgetown
Comment: DC keeps the Florida native in the capital region to begin his pro career.
#18 – Montreal Impact
Player: Ashton Bennett, forward, Coastal Carolina
Comment: If the Impact pass on a forward with their first selection, Bennett (who holds a Canadian passport) is a nice fit for them here.
#19 – Los Angeles Galaxy
Player: Kory Kindle, defender, CSU Bakersfield
Comment: A former forward, the converted left-back has earned raves for his ability to get forward.