After three days of celebrating its first two rounds, Major League Soccer will complete its surprise-ridden 2017 SuperDraft on Tuesday with a 2 p.m. EDT conference call.
Friday’s first round featured fewer trades than many expected, and a bit of a stunner in its first overall pick: Minnesota United tabbed UCLA attacker Abu Danladi.
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Danladi would’ve gone soon after, however, with most of the surprises coming outside of the Top Six. Vancouver’s opted for outside back Jakob Nerwinski (UConn) at 7, Houston tabbed Hofstra’s Joe Holland at 10, and Colorado looked to its backyard for Denver’s Sam Hamilton.
That helped Brandon Aubrey slide to 21st, while Canada’s two Generation Adidas players, Adonijah Reid and Shamit Shome, dipped deep into the second round.
It also means some very productive college players, and supposed first round prospects, could be hungry steals when the draft returns today. Here’s some low-risk, high-reward players for rounds that sometimes see teams pass on individual picks altogether.
Chris Wingate, MID, New Hampshire -- Engine room feature piece at UNH
Wulito Fernandes, FWD, UMass Lowell -- Cape Verde striker has flair
Jorge Gomez Sanchez, FWD, Temple -- 27 goals in two years is good
Chris Nanco, FWD, Syracuse -- Showed big upside at MLS Combine
Brandt Bronico, MID, Charlotte -- Steadied any worries at Combine
Daniel Deakin, FWD, South Carolina -- English striker great at set pieces
Russell Cicerone, FWD, Buffalo -- Combine overshadowed solid four years
Christian Thierjung, FWD, California -- 18 goals last two seasons
Eddie Sanchez, MID, Portland -- Game changer in WCC; Can it translate?
Jordan Wilson, DEF, Kentucky -- Scottish center back did well at UK
