2008 MLS Prospects Updated...
In the right hand margin you'll notice I've updated the 2008 MLS prospects. There are a few new names with some guys who have been on the list for 4 years now. My, how times flies.
Here are some of the guys who are having solid years and I look forward to seeing at the 2008 MLS Combine (all are seniors since we have little information on potential Generation Adidas players at this time):
Matt Allen - Creighton - GK - 6'-3", 210 lbs. Creighton has quietly climbed into the top 10 with solid play all around. Allen is putting up some strong numbers in the nets with a 0.91 GAA, 8 wins and 4 clean sheets. He has good size and will need to impress to be drafted.
Eric Brunner - Ohio State - D - 6'-4", 165 lbs. Brunner is an athletic player with pace and a good soccer head on his shoulders. He's played both as a full back and center back and knows how to defend. His size makes him dangerous on set pieces in front of the opposing goal.
Paul Dudley - Duke - F - 6'-7", 200 lbs. Yes, you read that correctly...there is a tall kid at Duke not on the basketball team. The American Peter Crouch will have to prove he isn't scoring goals this season purely because he is taller then all the goalies in the country. So far in 2008 he has 7 goals and 1 assist.
Brian Edwards - Wake Forest - GK - 6'-3", 190 lbs. The senior keeper is holding down an amazing season in goal. He has 0.46 GAA with 9 wins and 7 clean sheets. He probably won't make as much of an impact on the SuperDraft as Brad Guzan did a few years ago, but he'll catch someone's attention.
Kevin Forrest - Washington - F - 5'-11", 170 lbs. 6 goals and 3 assists are leading the Huskies in points but not to spectacular results. They only have 1 win in Pac-10 play so far in 2007. Forrest should be able to overcome that to earn a spot at the MLS combine where he'll have to show some skill to get drafted.
David Horst - Old Dominion - D - 6'-4", 195 lbs. In 2006 Horst was named the defensive player of the year in his conference. This year he is helping the Monarchs to the top of the conference with a 5-1 record in conference play. His imposing size could be a real asset in physical MLS.
Andy Iro - UCSB - D - 6'-5", 220. Iro helped the Gauchos win the national championship in 2006 and will no doubt be trying to repeat in 2007. Another big defender has won a lot of praise and awards for his consistent play. He is from Liverpool, England but won't turn 24 until after the MLS season ends in 2008, so he won't count as a senior international.
Julius James - UConn - D - 6'-0", 175 lbs. James has extensive experience playing for Trinidad and Tobago youth teams and has been named to just about every collegiate honor roll possible. He is currently guiding UConn to one of the best records in the country from the back line as their captain. Depending on league rules in 2008, James may be a senior international due to his 24th birthday landing in July of '08.
Stephen King - Maryland - M - 5'-8", 155 lbs. His current coach calls King one of the most underrated players in the country. He is currently leading his team with 8 assists. Maryland is struggling in ACC play but not due to a lack of effort from quality midfielder King. His size is his only weakness.
Joseph Lapira - Notre Dame - F - 5'-8", 150 lbs. The Lousianna native won the Hermann Trophy in 2006 making a lot of us think he would leave college for MLS. However, he didn't and in 2007 he is leading The Fighting Irish to the top of their conference. With 6 goals and 4 assists he isn't as productive as he was last season. Does the Hermann Trophy jinx guys who return to college as well as move on to the pros? Or, is he getting a lot more attention from defenders with all that notoriety. I wonder if he will be able to make an impact in MLS because of his small stature. Typically those guys are forced to the wings where speed really counts.
Peter Lowry - Santa Clara - M - 5'-11", 165 lbs. Lowry is leading Santa Clara in goals scored and showing his versatility. The Broncos are playing well and if Lowry showcases his skill in the NCAA tournament he will certainly get some interest from MLS coaches.
Pat Phelan - Wake Forest - D - 6'-0", 175 lbs. Known for reading the game and understanding how to defend, Phelan could be a great pickup for a MLS team. Wake is having a great year and their stingy defense is being led by Pat. He also has experience as a defensive midfielder so he could be a versatile addition to some lucky team.
Steve Sandbo - SMU - GK - 6'-2", 195 lbs. Sandbo has valuable youth national team experience with both U-17 residency and U-20 tournaments under his belt. His numbers aren't all that impressive for a college keeper with a 1.03 GAA and 4 clean sheets. He should be able to come into the combine and impress based on the fact that he is used to that kind of pressure in national team events.
Andre Sherard - UNC - D - 5'-10", 170 lbs. Sherard is the center of the UNC defense which is part of a struggling UNC team. However, we have to remember the ACC is the toughest conference in the country. In addition to college, he has played well in the PDL during his summer break, making him a more refined prospect.
Julian Valentin - Wake Forest - D - 5'-11", 180 lbs. Valentin's senior season has been a short one due to injury, but his youth national team experience is extensive and he should be able to go deep in the NCAA tournament since his team is currently the best in the country. He has time to impress coaches but he'll have to work hard and make the most of it.
Michael Videira - Duke - M - 6'-1", 170 lbs. Videira is another player who has won almost every award out there all the way back to All-American in high school in 2003 when he got on my list. He's played on most of the youth national teams and has been on the Hermann Trophy list three years running. He'll be at the combine for sure and should be able to show off his size and knowledge of the game.
There you go folks, 16 seniors who will be trying to get into the early rounds of the 2008 MLS draft. We're getting close to NCAA time so more kids will be adding their names to this list as their teams battle for the college national championship.
Here are some of the guys who are having solid years and I look forward to seeing at the 2008 MLS Combine (all are seniors since we have little information on potential Generation Adidas players at this time):
Matt Allen - Creighton - GK - 6'-3", 210 lbs. Creighton has quietly climbed into the top 10 with solid play all around. Allen is putting up some strong numbers in the nets with a 0.91 GAA, 8 wins and 4 clean sheets. He has good size and will need to impress to be drafted.
Eric Brunner - Ohio State - D - 6'-4", 165 lbs. Brunner is an athletic player with pace and a good soccer head on his shoulders. He's played both as a full back and center back and knows how to defend. His size makes him dangerous on set pieces in front of the opposing goal.
Paul Dudley - Duke - F - 6'-7", 200 lbs. Yes, you read that correctly...there is a tall kid at Duke not on the basketball team. The American Peter Crouch will have to prove he isn't scoring goals this season purely because he is taller then all the goalies in the country. So far in 2008 he has 7 goals and 1 assist.
Brian Edwards - Wake Forest - GK - 6'-3", 190 lbs. The senior keeper is holding down an amazing season in goal. He has 0.46 GAA with 9 wins and 7 clean sheets. He probably won't make as much of an impact on the SuperDraft as Brad Guzan did a few years ago, but he'll catch someone's attention.
Kevin Forrest - Washington - F - 5'-11", 170 lbs. 6 goals and 3 assists are leading the Huskies in points but not to spectacular results. They only have 1 win in Pac-10 play so far in 2007. Forrest should be able to overcome that to earn a spot at the MLS combine where he'll have to show some skill to get drafted.
David Horst - Old Dominion - D - 6'-4", 195 lbs. In 2006 Horst was named the defensive player of the year in his conference. This year he is helping the Monarchs to the top of the conference with a 5-1 record in conference play. His imposing size could be a real asset in physical MLS.
Andy Iro - UCSB - D - 6'-5", 220. Iro helped the Gauchos win the national championship in 2006 and will no doubt be trying to repeat in 2007. Another big defender has won a lot of praise and awards for his consistent play. He is from Liverpool, England but won't turn 24 until after the MLS season ends in 2008, so he won't count as a senior international.
Julius James - UConn - D - 6'-0", 175 lbs. James has extensive experience playing for Trinidad and Tobago youth teams and has been named to just about every collegiate honor roll possible. He is currently guiding UConn to one of the best records in the country from the back line as their captain. Depending on league rules in 2008, James may be a senior international due to his 24th birthday landing in July of '08.
Stephen King - Maryland - M - 5'-8", 155 lbs. His current coach calls King one of the most underrated players in the country. He is currently leading his team with 8 assists. Maryland is struggling in ACC play but not due to a lack of effort from quality midfielder King. His size is his only weakness.
Joseph Lapira - Notre Dame - F - 5'-8", 150 lbs. The Lousianna native won the Hermann Trophy in 2006 making a lot of us think he would leave college for MLS. However, he didn't and in 2007 he is leading The Fighting Irish to the top of their conference. With 6 goals and 4 assists he isn't as productive as he was last season. Does the Hermann Trophy jinx guys who return to college as well as move on to the pros? Or, is he getting a lot more attention from defenders with all that notoriety. I wonder if he will be able to make an impact in MLS because of his small stature. Typically those guys are forced to the wings where speed really counts.
Peter Lowry - Santa Clara - M - 5'-11", 165 lbs. Lowry is leading Santa Clara in goals scored and showing his versatility. The Broncos are playing well and if Lowry showcases his skill in the NCAA tournament he will certainly get some interest from MLS coaches.
Pat Phelan - Wake Forest - D - 6'-0", 175 lbs. Known for reading the game and understanding how to defend, Phelan could be a great pickup for a MLS team. Wake is having a great year and their stingy defense is being led by Pat. He also has experience as a defensive midfielder so he could be a versatile addition to some lucky team.
Steve Sandbo - SMU - GK - 6'-2", 195 lbs. Sandbo has valuable youth national team experience with both U-17 residency and U-20 tournaments under his belt. His numbers aren't all that impressive for a college keeper with a 1.03 GAA and 4 clean sheets. He should be able to come into the combine and impress based on the fact that he is used to that kind of pressure in national team events.
Andre Sherard - UNC - D - 5'-10", 170 lbs. Sherard is the center of the UNC defense which is part of a struggling UNC team. However, we have to remember the ACC is the toughest conference in the country. In addition to college, he has played well in the PDL during his summer break, making him a more refined prospect.
Julian Valentin - Wake Forest - D - 5'-11", 180 lbs. Valentin's senior season has been a short one due to injury, but his youth national team experience is extensive and he should be able to go deep in the NCAA tournament since his team is currently the best in the country. He has time to impress coaches but he'll have to work hard and make the most of it.
Michael Videira - Duke - M - 6'-1", 170 lbs. Videira is another player who has won almost every award out there all the way back to All-American in high school in 2003 when he got on my list. He's played on most of the youth national teams and has been on the Hermann Trophy list three years running. He'll be at the combine for sure and should be able to show off his size and knowledge of the game.
There you go folks, 16 seniors who will be trying to get into the early rounds of the 2008 MLS draft. We're getting close to NCAA time so more kids will be adding their names to this list as their teams battle for the college national championship.
Labels: College Soccer, MLS SuperDraft 2008
posted by Bonji at
10:52 AM
3 Comments:
FYI... Shane Westbrook transferred from BU to UC-Irvine.
By
Anonymous, at 11:56 AM
You are forgetting about the awesome defender from SMU Adrian Chevannes... he is a dual threat as he can shutdown the right side and has lethal scoring ablility
By
Anonymous, at 12:41 AM
I believe that this list leaves out some solid players that aren't known as well. For example what about Senior Damon Wilson from MOnmouth Universit who scored some big goals for them and has been a soild playmaker for the two years with that program. He scored against UNC to defeat them at thier own tourny, not to mention socerd against ST. Frains (PA) last year to send his program to the NCAA tourny fro the first time ever.
By
Anonymous, at 1:49 PM
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