2018 MLS Combine visits Orlando
The cloak and dagger show also known as the 2018 Major League Soccer Combine has come to a conclusion in Orlando today and now moves on for more fun and games in Philadelphia this weekend as the 2018 MLS SuperDraft takes place.
Since last Saturday, MLS technical staff and scouts from all the 23 major clubs have been in Orlando to cast an eye over some of the best talent in collegiate soccer today. The invitation only event saw 70 seniors from schools throughout the country as well as seven Generation Adidas players descend to play three games at Orlando City Soccer stadium during the week. Each player was analyzed and put through their paces in front of all the leading figures in American soccer today as they fought for a chance to fulfill their dream of playing in Major League Soccer.
The majority of the draft prospects are college seniors from NCAA schools while Generation Adidas players are those who participate in a joint program between MLS and Adidas that is dedicated to developing exceptional domestic talent in a professional environment.
The five day evaluation by MLS coaches and scouts now moves onto Philadelphia where teams will have the opportunity to select the brightest talent available. The SuperDraft consists of four rounds, each with 23 picks. Two rounds will take place on Friday 19th January with the remaining two rounds on 21st January via conference call at 2pm to 3pm Eastern Time.
Notable selections in past years include former New England Revolution and current Seattle Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey in 2004, 2016 AT&T Rookie of the Year Sounders FC forward Jordan Morris and 2017 AT&T Rookie of the Year Atlanta United’s Julian Gressel.
As a 2018 expansion team, the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) holds the first overall selection in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. The following 10 selections are then made by the teams that did not qualify for the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs, beginning with the team that earned the fewest points in the 2017 regular season, unless selections have already been traded. The remaining 12 slots are then ranked by fewest regular season points among the teams that were eliminated in the same round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Orlando City Soccer has the number 6 pick in Round 1 after LAFC, L.A. Galaxy, D.C. Utd., Montreal Impact (from Colorado Rapids) and Minnesota United. The club has no other picks available in future rounds having traded them away to FC Dallas (Round 2), New York City FC (Round 3) and Sporting Kansas (Round 4).
Players to watch out for in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft:
Goalkeeper:
Ben Lundgaard 22
Defenders:
Andre Morrison 24
Carter Manley 21
Mark Segbers 21
Lucas Stauffer 22
Tristan Blackmon 21
Midfielders:
Matias Pyysalo 22
AJ Paterson 21
Thomas Vancaeyezeele 23
Brian Iloski 22
Harry Cooksley 23
Forwards:
Mamadou Guirassy 22
Frandtzy Pierrot 22
Jordan Jones 22
Joe Bakero 21
Francis Atuahene 21
Giovanni Godoy 22
