Major League Soccer’s latest batch of hopeful rookies learn the next steps of their professional careers beginning Friday with the first two rounds of the MLS SuperDraft.
There are several intriguing prospects, including accomplished Stanford center back Tomas Hilliard-Arce and dangerous Michigan winger Francis Atuahene.
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An MLS mock draft is always tricky given the wildly varying opinions on players from the college game. This year, it’s even trickier as clubs without picks and some with multiple first round picks may be looking to move up and down even more than the norm.
Here’s how we think the draft could play out:
- LAFC - Tomas Hilliard-Arce, CB, Stanford
- LA Galaxy - Jon Bakero, FW, Wake Forest
- DC United - Francis Atuahene, FW, Michigan
- Montreal - Joao Moutinho, LB, Akron
- Minnesota - Wyatt Omsberg, CB, Dartmouth
- Orlando City - Ema Twumasi, FW, Wake Forest
- Montreal - Chris Mueller, FW, Wisconsin
- New England - Mo Adams, MF, Syracuse
- New England - Chris Lema, MF, Georgetown
- Real Salt Lake - Justin Fiddes, LB, Washington
- FC Dallas - Marcelo Acuna, FW, Virginia Tech
- San Jose - Brandon Bye, RB, Western Michigan
- Sporting KC - Ed Opoku, FW, Virginia
- Atlanta - Alex Roldan, MF, Seattle
- Chicago - Mason Toye, FW, Indiana
- New York Red Bulls - Alan Winn, MF, North Carolina
- Vancouver - Tristan Blackmon, RB, Pacific
- Sporting KC - Jon Gallagher, FW, Notre Dame
- New York City FC - Daniel Musovski, FW, UNLV
- Houston - Mo Thiaw, FW, Louisville
- Columbus - Brian White, FW, Duke
- Seattle - Tim Kubel, MF, Louisville
- Toronto FC - Oliver Shannon, MF, Clemson
There are a few players to keep an eye on for the later rounds that I won’t project for the first round due almost exclusively to first person bias (Some I’ve seen play in college, others at other levels). Afonso Pinheiro from Albany produced like crazy until this season, and Bowling Green defender Alexis Souahy has a skill set that could really transmit to the MLS level.
Mac Steeves (Providence) is a prototypical big body scorer, while Evansville’s heady Ian McGrath has a flair for the absurd and can play almost every position up the center of the pitch. Charleston’s Thomas Vancaeyezeele was a D-2 monster and is probably worth a shot earlier than people suspect.