Ten Seniors to Watch for the 2009 MLS SuperDraft
February 2nd, 2008 . 9:01 pm . By: Buzz CarrickIt’s a long time till the draft comes around again, but there is already some fantastic talent to be seen in next year’s senior class. As bad as this year’s forward class was, next year’s has the potential to be dynamite just with seniors alone. It’s just the opposite in the back where the defensive pickings look much slimmer than the packed 2007 class. For the purpose of this list I’m just going to look at seniors and not try to predict a year in advance who might be a Generation adidas target, although they will of course be highly coveted. Ten Seniors to Watch for the 2009 MLS SuperDraftMarcus Tracy, Wake Forest, Forward – The top two forwards appear to be the cream of the crop at this point and are kinda similar. Which one you like depends on your taste; college production or hypothetical upside. I happen to really like Tracy as he’s a big game player for the big stage with massive upside in my opinion. He’s tall, strong, super fast and has really great touch. He’s the prototypical pro forward package, which is why MLS was so hot to sign him to a Generation adidas deal this year. O’Brian White, Connecticut, Forward - Another player MLS actively sought to sign this year. Herman Trophy winner, NSCAA Player of the Year, and Soccer America Player of the Year with an astounding 23 goals in 2007. Same skill set as Tracy and he scored more goals in college, although in a slightly weaker conference. He might just be the slightest bit less valuable cause he’s a Jamaican International from Canada. Bruno Guarda, SMU, Midfield - The Ponies terrific two-way Brazilian midfielder, he’s a touch short but stocky and strong. Guarda is a gifted passer with terrific vision and anticipation, reads the game well in advance of the ball. MLS ready two years ago, but never a GA target due to citizenship. Already twice C-USA Player of the Year and twice an All-American. Alejandro Bedoya, Boston College, Midfield - After two years at Fairleigh Dickinson University Bedoya moved to Boston College and immediately nabbed the ACC Offensive Player of the Year award. Soccer American MVP, College Soccer News First Team All-American, First Team NSCAA All-American, and most recently a US U23 call up are also on his resume. A tremendously gifted midfielder with all the tools for the pro game. Mike Grella, Duke, Forward - Not as large and physically gifted as White and Tracy, but still scores a bunch of goals in the tough as nails ACC. Second Team All-American as a junior, smart and savvy goal scorer and a terrific soccer player. US U18 and U20. Chris Clements, Tulsa, Defender - Tall and mobile with a terrific soccer mind, he has a reputation as a srtong reader of the game in the back for Tulsa. Third Team All-American and First Team C-USA. Out of the storied Dallas Texans club, Clements is also a former US U20. Brad Ring, Indiana, Midfield - Two years ago a MLS coach told me Ring was going to be special and that’s proving to be the case. Ring led Indiana in scoring out of the midfield this year and was a unanimous First Team Big Ten selection. College Soccer News Second Team All-American, NSCAA Second Team All-American, and Soccer American 2nd Team MVP. Zack Simmons, Massachusetts, Goalkeeper – A former walk on who almost single handedly carried UMass to their first ever College Cup with 118 saves and a 0.79 GAA. UMBRO/Soccer News Net National Player of the Year, NSCAA Third Team All-American, Soccer American MVP, A-10 Tournament MVP, A-10 First-Team, and A-10 Men’s Soccer Student-Athlete of the Year. Sam Cronin, Wake Forest, Midfield – A very smart soccer player who controls the middle of the park for Wake and dictates the pace of the game. Great vision, but less nifty on the ball than Guarda. Can win the ball, hold it, and disperse to danger positions. Second Team All-American, Soccer America MVP, and First Team All-ACC. Calum Angus, St. Louis, Defender - A-10 Defensive Player of the Year, Second Team All-American, Third Team College Soccer News All-American. The British central defender does contribute a little on the offensive end with 6 goals through his first three seasons. Who Else?If your favorite player’s not on here, We’d love to hear about him. It’s a long way to the 2009 SuperDraft and things will certainly change. These are ten players already getting attention who have some upside. There are a great many more out there and it will make for an interesting season finding them all. 26 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
just curious if Dane Saintus is on the MLS radar?
I’m sure people are aware of Saintus. You can’t teach speed.
Chris Pontius, Jordan Seabrook, Jordan Graye, Jokull Elisabertason, Byron Dacy — just a few other juniors that might make a difference.
O’Brien White is a Jamaican international who resides part time in Toronto (his mother resides in Toronto permanently). He went to high school for a year or two before getting the scholarship to UConn. He’s not a Canadian…he would qualify as an international player in MLS (I am pretty certain)
Eliseo Giusfredi from Seton Hall might be one to watch.
White and Guarda for me are the best one on that list, they are both MLS ready but they are also both international players… I would also like to see Simmons coming to FC Dallas…
I have heard Guarda would love to stay here in Dallas if FC is interested,, but he has also got some call from Europe and from some MLS teams as well
He’s not a senior, but he will likely be highly sought after, as 2009 will be his junior year and he was U-17 material as a freshman- UVa’s Jonathan Villanueva
How awesome is the Duke soccer team? They are a definite powerhouse. I wouldn’t be surprised if Grella got picked up by Europe or MLS. That guy is wicked fast and a goal scoring machine when he’s on point.
Dwayne Reid- Forward for Bloomfield college,. I believe will be the top goal scorer for ncaa D II. He is ª well crafty player with great vision and explosiveness, Reid can single handed turn or improve any team @ any level.I advice scouts and coaches to take ª look @ this player, because ª player of his standard does not come around very often.
We have all seen something that capture our eyes and attention out of amazement. There is this kid a Senior this coming fall at Point Loma Nazerene University. A 6′6″ striker that has talent that only comes around once, like pele, maradona, Zidane ect….I’m sure if he gets a chance to be seen, he’ll be a face of the beautiful game. His name is Duach Jock. Take a look at him. Thanks
There are two players from the college of charleston who are arguably the most dangerous at their positions. Forward Kareem Yearwood (13g, 3a) is incredibly smooth with the ball and is faster with the ball than most players without. Defender Wes Knight (1g, 6a) also has another gear accompanied with great attacking skills for a wingback defender.
Watch Dan Schultz from Boston University. He has been pretty much under the radar. Switched from offense to center back last year, immediately impacted the BU backline and was named to America East 2nd team. Very fast, and tough, great in the air with good technique and field sense. Should be a standout this year
Is there anyone from the University of Portland squad likely to be drafted in 2009? Frankie Lopez is still a year or two away if the MLS is eying him…
Okay, so MLS should definitely be checking out Kyle Patterson from Saint Louis University. From England, like Angus, this kid has mad skill. They just can’t pass him up.
Richard Jata – Senior (MF) from Campbell University has started for the Carolina Dynamo PDL team the last two years, a team that also consisted of Marcus Tracy and Sam Cronin. He had 9 goals and 4 assists last year and he has 8 goals and 4 assists this year so far. His team is 19-0-1 when he scores a goal and Campbell went 9-0 in A-Sun Conference play this year. He is better than Patrick Murray and just as good as Sam Cronin, but he is a scoring MF and that is hard to find. He has an extremely accurate and powerful direct free kick.
Check him out at gocamels.com
i have heard of a freshman from high point university Karo Okiomah he runs a 4.32 40yrd dash he has scored 5 goals and has great touch
Sam Charles, from MSU-Billings in the GNAC conference. Played with the Rapids U23 and led the team last summer. Could be a big surprise selection a year early.
Richard flores out of UCLA. Super quick and plays smart.
even bush akron GK. with out a doubt one of the best keepers in the ncaa this year. teams must be looking
I think Doug Demartin and Zac Scaffidi deserve some talks and looks for this upcoming MLS draft. There is talk about Brad Ring, but he was completely dominated by Zac Scaffidi in the Midfield both times MSU Defeated Indiana. Both were Big Ten All First Team and Doug was Big Ten Player of the Year.
The best midfielder in the big 10 this year with out a doubt was Ohio State’s Danny Irizarry. He had more points (as a D-mid) than both Ring and Scaffidi only to be 2nd team due to the 6th place standing of OSU. Scaffidi would have been nowhere to be found if MSU had not won the big 10. OSU was MSU’s only loss in Big 10 play.
The Big West has a player who I’ve nothing about, Quincy Amarika(UC Davis)15 goals 3 asst very quick and explosive, check out utube goal of the year vs. santa barbara bicycle kick, hidden secret, heard the quakes really like him.
Saint Johns goalie, Neal Kitson great player. Suprised he is not on the list
Squeaky, check the date on this… I wrote this almost a year ago immediately after the 2008 draft…. Kitson at that time had barley even played. He’s obviously on the more recent keeper rankings posted last week on this site.
What about Michael Strong, Senior Forward, Univ Kentucky? Had some injuries this past season but is speedy and scores goals?
[...] Just as we did last year, I thought a quick look at ten seniors to watch for next year would be worth a gander. As I predicted a year ago, 2009 was about strikers. 2010 looks at this stage to be the year of the midfielder. Early signs are some nice attacking mid talent might be available, something that was missing from the 2009 class. [...]