ST. LOUIS -- Seattle Sounders FC opened the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by making Generation adidas and Akron striker Steve Zakuani the first pick in club history.
Zakuani, an explosive forward who shunned European offers to join MLS, said his selection was "indescribable."
"Up until the last minute, I had no idea about where I was going to go," Zakuani said. "I told those close to me that if I could pick one team, I would pick Seattle because they were a new team and I liked the coach [Sigi Schmid] a lot. To be drafted No. 1 is amazing."
For the English-bred Zakuani, Seattle is the perfect landing spot because he likes the brand of soccer the Sounders are expected to play and thinks he'll feel at home in the Pacific Northwest.
"I heard the weather is like London," Zakuani said.
• Full coverage >NEWS • Seattle makes Zakuani No. 1
• Zakuani embracing Seattle
• SuperDraft notebook
• Davis: No surprises
• Zakuani hails Gen. adidas
• RSL get athletic Alexandre
• Husidic goes home
• Rapids, Revs take big hauls
• Quiet Quakes add value
• Sounders attack two fronts
• St. Louis fans stay vocal
• Draft deals roundup
• Galaxy turn to Terrapins
• United flesh out roster
• Wizards accomplish mission
• Crew select Gerstenberger
• Cruz falls to round three
• Hoops address needs
• Chivas deal for LA's Jazic
• Prospect bios, stats
VIDEO • SuperDraft first round
• Zakuani on Seattle
• Garber on SuperDraft
• Zakuani taken at No. 1
• Cronin to TFC at No. 2
• Gonzalez to LA at No. 3
• Reds add White at No. 4
• Hoops nab Marosevic
• Wallace to D.C. at No. 6
• United select Pontius
• Besler goes to Wizards
• Lahoud goes to Chivas
• Revs get Alston at 10
GEAR • Buy team jerseys
Toronto FC used the first of its three first-round picks by taking Wake Forest midfielder Sam Cronin second overall. The holding midfielder couldn't wait to link up with TFC.
"I don't know much about the city, but I hear it's great," Cronin said. "Mostly, it's about being a part of a team that is on the up and a team that is improving every year. They're getting better and getting closer to the playoffs every year."
The holding midfielder posed for cameras sporting stitches picked up from a wayward elbow thrown at the MLS Player Combine last weekend.
"Ten stitches," Cronin said. "But I won the ball."
Los Angeles selected Generation adidas and Maryland defender Omar Gonzalez with the third pick. The giant Terrapins defender thinks with the defender-needy Galaxy he will be a good fit.
"This was about where I anticipated going," Gonzalez said. "I'm very happy with going to Los Angeles and living there. I'll be playing in front of a great crowd."
Connecticut forward O'Brian White joined his hometown Toronto FC with the fourth selection. White, a former Hermann Trophy winner, hails from nearby Scarborough, Ont.
"Going back home is always good," White said. "They have a very good team. The atmosphere is electrifying. I'm looking forward to join the team and helping them in any way that I can."
In need of a forward after dealing Dominic Oduro to New York earlier this week in exchange for Dave van den Bergh, FC Dallas selected Generation adidas and Michigan forward Peri Marosevic with the fifth pick.
Marosevic led the MLS Player Combine with three goals and expressed his gratitude about having the chance to join MLS.
"I can't say enough about how much this means to me," Marosevic said. "As a little child, I have always wanted to pursue my life as a professional soccer player. Today is a new beginning. It's a beginning that I'm looking forward to and I will never forget."
D.C. United entered the fray with the sixth and seventh picks and selected Generation adidas and Maryland defender Rodney Wallace and UC Santa Barbara striker Chris Pontius. Kansas City picked Matt Besler, a defender out of Notre Dame and a product of nearby Overland Park, Kan., with the eighth selection. Chivas USA selected Wake Forest midfielder Michael Lahoud with the ninth pick before New England grabbed Generation adidas and Indiana defender Kevin Alston with No. 10.
New York made Generation adidas midfielder Jeremy Hall the third Maryland player selected in the first round with the 11th pick. Real Salt Lake sprung a surprise by selecting Lynn University's Jean Alexandre at 12th overall before Toronto FC picked Generation adidas and California goalkeeper Stefan Frei with the 13th pick.
"This is a spot where I feel like I can contribute to the team," Frei said. "Maybe not step right into the goal, but push the senior players to get better. If they call me and need me to step in, I think I'll be ready to perform."
Washington defender George John went to FC Dallas with the 14th pick before New England concluded the first round by selecting Tampa midfielder Ryan Maxwell.
Ten teams selected players in the first round, leaving five others to join the draft at a later stage. San Jose opened up its draft by picking Indiana midfielder Brad Ring at number 17. Chicago traded up to acquire Generation adidas and Illinois-Chicago midfielder Baggio Husidic three picks later. Colorado swooped for George Mason forward Kwame Adjeman-Pamboe with the 28th selection. Columbus took Boston College defender Paul Gerstenberger with the final pick of the second round (30th overall). Houston opened its draft last by selecting Generation adidas and UNLV midfielder Danny Cruz with the 41st pick.
The Revolution took the most players, selecting seven in all. The Colorado Rapids selected six.
Wake Forest University led all schools with six players selected, followed by NCAA Division I national champion Maryland, who had five taken. But the Terrapins had three players selected in the first round, the second time in MLS history three players from the same school were taken in the first round (UCLA, 2000).
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