2012 MLS Mock Draft

By Keaton Robbins, Special to sportsnet.ca

The 2012 MLS SuperDraft in Kansas City is fast approaching, and soccer fans in this country should be ecstatic as Canadian teams hold three of the top four picks.

The Montreal Impact has the honour of selecting first overall, and the league’s newest franchise will have a variety of attacking talent to choose from to help build their roster ahead of their inaugural match. As for the Whitecaps and Toronto FC, both could use some help at the back, but this year’s draft class has some talented midfielders that will be difficult to pass up.

This year MLS awarded Generation adidas contracts to nine NCAA 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 the MLS’s tight salary cap, so usually these guys are drafted high in the first round. On top of being a free player to their club, GA players get to travel to Europe and compete against some of the continent’s best reserve teams in the off-season to further develop their skills.

This year’s Generation adidas players are: Darren Mattocks (forward), Dom Dwyer (forward), Enzo Martinez (midfielder), Sam Garza (midfielder/forward), Andrew Jean- Baptiste (defender), Tyler Polak-Creighton (defender), Chandler Hoffman (forward), and Keyln Rowe (midfielder).

The MLS SuperDraft is always difficult to predict, and with the recent addition of mainly unknown foreign players, it makes things even more difficult to guess who will land where. But TFC supporters understand the value of gambling on a talented foreign player. Joao Plata tore up the player combine last year, but fell into TFC’s lap after many teams said his size was an issue.

Here’s a list of this year’s international players: Gienir Garcia (defender), Jason Banton (midfielder), Yuri Gorentzvaig (forward), Kohei Yamada (midfielder), Benjamin Ubierna (midfielder), Emiliano Bonfigli (forward) and Aldo Paniagua (midfielder).

Of note from the list is Banton, an Englishman whose speed will surely catch the eye of many scouts. Ecuador’s Bonfigli is also an interesting prospect, as he’s known to be a lethal finisher. And finally, Paniagua is a versatile midfielder from Paraguay, who can also play at either back position.

So you have the information, now below are the first round picks. How will the three Canadian teams deal with each other and their picks this year? There are too many questions that won’t be answered until this Thursday in Kansas City, so until then review, and enjoy.

Player: Darren Mattocks, forward, University of Akron (Generation adidas player)

Comments: Mattocks is clearly the most talented attacking player available in the draft. His 39 goals in 47 games over two years is only a taste of what he can do.

Player: Andrew Wenger, defender, Duke University (Generation adidas player)

Comments: Great technical skill-set for a defender. Can play as a defensive midfielder, too. The Whitecaps need all the help they can get at the back. Wenger will step in and make an immediate impact.

Player: Dom Dwyer, forward, University of South Florida (Generation adidas player)

Comments: The Revolution will be more than happy with Dwyer coming to them at the number three pick. Dwyer is a striker with great speed and can flat out finish his chances.

Player: Kelyn Rowe, midfielder, UCLA (Generation adidas player)

Comments: The Reds need to fix the problems at the back, and many would expect them to draft a defender with this pick, but Rowe is too good to pass up. He’s a talented playmaker, and he’s only 20.

Player: Nick DeLeon, midfielder, University of Louisville

Comments: Chivas need a creative midfielder, who can bring some energy to their squad. DeLeon is an attacking player, and a tremendous playmaker. He is exactly what the Goats need.

Player: Luis Silva, midfielder, University of California, Santa Barbara

Comments: This draft is full of promising attacking midfielders and Silva is right near the top of the list. The Earthquakes need help in many areas, and luckily for them Silva will fit right in. Plus he’s a California boy.

Player: Enzo Martinez, midfielder, University of North Carolina (Generation adidas player)

Comments: Martinez had a great year at North Carolina, helping his team win the NCAA D-1 title. United like that Martinez comes to them already a proven winner. They’ll put him beside Dero, to take some of the pressure off.

Player: Matt Hedges, defender, University of North Carolina

Comments: Hedges is a teammate of Martinez, and he could step in right away and play at Jeld-Wen Field. Hedges is strong in the air, and probably the best defender in the draft. The Timbers will be very pleased to land this skillful centre-back.

Player: Chandler Hoffman, forward, UCLA (Generation adidas player)

Comments: The Fire need depth up front, and they would be ecstatic if a GA player slipped to them at the 9th pick. Hoffman scored 18 goals this year, and was the hottest striker in the NCAA.

Player: Ethan Finlay, midfielder/forward, Creighton University

Comments: Like the Fire, the Crew also need some attacking options. With Andres Mendoza gone, the Crew will look to Finlay to step in and instantly contribute. Finlay is quick, can blow past defenders and he plays on the wing.

Player: Sam Garza, midfielder, University of California, Santa Barbara (Generation adidas player)

Comments: Garza is a very versatile young player. Coach Schellas Hyndman can play him on the wing, or up front. Garza will make Hyndman’s job easier after losing the crafty Chavez to San Jose.

Player: Andrew Jean- Baptiste, defender, University of Connecticut (Generation adidas player)

Comments: Although many would like TFC to pick Hunter Jumper simply based on having a great name, Jean-Baptiste is rated higher in most circles than Jumper. AJB is a big defender, and extremely athletic.

Player: Tyler Polak, defender, Creighton University (Generation adidas player)

Comments: The Union could go a couple ways with this pick. With the loss of Justin Mapp to Montreal, the Union would love a winger to fill that hole. At the same time, Polak is too good of a defender for Nowak to pass on.

Player: Tony Cascio, midfielder, University of Connecticut

Comments: The Rapids need depth badly, especially in the midfield with the loss of Sanna Nyassi. Tony Cascio is the most talented winger in the draft, and he can run for days (just like Nyassi).

Player: Casey Townsend, forward, University of Maryland

Comments: The Sounders would love any forward at this point. O’Brian White never panned out like expected, and Pat Noonan and Nate Jaqua are both gone. Townsend has been called the “next Taylor Twellman.” Sounders fans hope it’s true.

Player: Austin Berry, defender, University of Louisville

Comments: Berry is a strong, smart defender, but is lacking quickness. If he’s developed properly, Berry could become a rock solid centre-back for Peter Vermes. SKC had major problems giving up late goals last year, and they need to improve defensively.

Player: Calum Mallace, midfielder, Marquette University

Comments: RSL have two positions to fill. They could be tempted to grab a midfielder or a defender after loosing Andy Williams and Robbie Russell. Mallace is an agressive holding midfielder that fits into Kreis’ game-plan.

Player: Tom Meyer, defender, University of Indiana

Comments: Every MLS team needs depth in defence, and the MLS Cup runners-up are no exeption. Meyer isn’t as highly regarded as Hedges or Berry. But after aquiring Sturgis from Toronto, defence is more of an issue for coach Dom Kinnear in the draft.

Player: Andy Rose, midfielder, UCLA

Comments: Andy Rose is a product of the UCLA Bruins, which means the LA Galaxy know a few things about him. The defensive midfielder will fit in perfectly into the Galaxy squad, who really need a player like Rose in the middle of the park.

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Keaton Robbins is a Toronto-based writer and contributor to Waking the Red, a blog about Toronto FC and Canadian soccer. Follow Keaton on Twitter.