Hoops could look to deal on draft day

FRISCO, Texas -- Like every other club in Major League Soccer, FC Dallas will look to strengthen their roster on Thursday at the 2009 SuperDraft. While many sides will be looking to add some great, young talent to their fold, FCD, which last year had one of the youngest rosters in the entire league, might be looking to add just one player and could trade its other picks.

That's because FCD currently has five Generation adidas players on their roster. Midfielder Eric Avila, goalkeeper Josh Lambo and defender Brek Shea were all drafted last year while midfielder Bruno Guarda was acquired in a trade with Colorado last summer. The other name on that list, defender Anthony Wallace, who is entering his third season, was the ninth overall pick in 2007 and is still just 20.

FCD had six players on that list before left back Blake Wagner graduated to the senior roster after last season. Wagner played in a career-high 24 games for the Hoops last year and spent much of the year as the starting left back.

While Michael Hitchcock, the Hoops president/general manager, wouldn't rule out FCD taking another Generation adidas player to put their roster at the maximum of six allowed per league rules, he also admitted that the roster was about as young as he and head coach Schellas Hyndman wanted it to be.

"That's a fair statement," Hitchcock said. "If there's a good Generation adidas player at the No. 5 pick or the No. 14 pick, we can add one more Generation adidas player to our roster, but then we'll be at the max. We've built a good group of young players we feel have a really bright future here."

In 2008, FCD had the second and eighth overall picks. The Hoops took Shea with the second choice and the versatile 18-year-old played midfield and forward before Hyndman decided to try him as a center back late in the season. Shea's rookie campaign ended when he had knee surgery in mid-September but he looks to be ready for preseason, which begins on January 21.

Lambo went with the eighth pick and he too had an eventful rookie year. In his first start for the FCD reserves, he collided with a Chivas USA player and missed the next 11 games with a concussion and broken jaw. He returned to the field in mid-July and also made several appearances for the U.S. under-20 national team last year.

Avila was considered a steal at No. 19. He played in 14 games and contributed two assists. His only three starts in an attacking midfield role came in late July and early August after two-time all-star Juan Toja was transferred to a club in Romania. His playing time dwindled after Guarda arrived, something Hyndman chalked up to Avila not being the type of two-way player he wanted at that spot.

In 12 games, nine of which were starts, Guarda delivered mixed results. The talented Brazilian had one goal and one assist but admittedly looked lost at times on the field, which is to be expected from a rookie who was just a few months removed from being a star in college soccer. Depending on whether or not FCD is able to bring in a No. 10 before the start of the season, Avila and Guarda could again be battling for playing time.

On Tuesday, FCD traded forward Dominic Oduro and a second-round pick to New York for left-sided midfielder Dave van den Bergh. With Oduro gone, FCD now has just three forwards on their roster, so drafting some help up front at either the No. 5 or No. 14 spot or in both places, could be a top priority.

Then again, the Hoops also need help in the back although at least one signing of a center back appears to be imminent. Either way, Hitchcock calls this year's draft a deep one.

"I think it's a deep player pool," he said. "You've got a handful of players that look like they could be very special. There are more and more quality players in the draft. There is probably not a lot of difference between players who could go No. 5 and No. 20 in the draft. We've got a nice stable of talented, young players and Generation adidas players. For us, we're approaching the draft that pick didn't have a lot of value because we've already got such a young team. We're going to look at our two first-round picks and try to get some good players that will come in and complement what we already have."

Alexandre highlights RSL's draft haul

ST. LOUIS -- With few picks in the day, Real Salt Lake looked to add some young talent to their roster. With their first pick of the day, No. 12 overall, RSL selected midfielder Jean Alexandre from Lynn University.

"We're moving to a grass field. We wanted to get more athletic," Real Salt Lake general manager Garth Lagerway said. "We got the best athlete in the draft."

And then they waited until the fourth round. Real Salt Lake selected midfielder Raphael Cox, out of the University of Washington, with the No. 54 overall selection and Alabama A&M forward Futhi Bhembe (No. 57) to round out the day.

  • Draft Tracker >
  • 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

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"Both players represent something we don't currently have on the team," Real Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis said. "They're two players we'd like take a bit of a chance on."

In his four seasons at Lynn, Alexandre appeared in 69 games, with 34 goals and 16 assists. He wrapped up his college career with 23 goals and seven assists in 2008. Real Salt Lake might have been the only team familiar with Alexandre. And getting him with the No. 12 pick, Kreis said will work to their advantage.

"We played against Jean last year in Ft. Lauderdale," Kreis said. "After the game, the whole coaching and technical staff said he was the best player on the field -- both teams included. He still had college eligibility left, so we couldn't make an acquisition. We were hopeful that he'd still be around at No. 12 and he was.

Cox comes to Salt Lake after spending three seasons with the University of Washington. The Tacoma, Wash. native played in 59 matches with 14 goals and 17 assists. He earned All-Pacific 10 Conference in his final two seasons. Cox had a career high seven goals and six assists in his senior campaign.

A native of Swaziland, Bhembe joins the club after playing at Alabama A&M University. He tied for third in NCAA Division I in goals per game, scoring 14 goals in 16 games last season.

Hamm's charity soccer game kicks off Saturday

While young girls on soccer fields around the country are trying to be like Mia Hamm, she was trying to be like Tony Hawk -- at least for a short time.

"I grew up watching him skate and I told him the story about me trying to skate when I was 13," Hamm said.

Those aspirations for Hamm were short lived, but Hawk will get to test his soccer skills again on Saturday when he joins a bevy of celebrities at the second annual Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra Celebrity Soccer Challenge at The Home Depot Center.

The match, which will kickoff at 1 p.m. PT, benefits the Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Mia Hamm Foundation.

Hawk played in last year's game, which raised more than $150,000 with the help of partners that included Nike, Gatorade, WMG, AEG and Stanford Financial.

"I think we were surprised at just the enthusiasm of everyone involved, from the soccer community (in Los Angeles) to the celebrities that were in the area," Hamm said. "They just came out and said whatever you want us to do we're willing to do, from participation to signing autographs."

The most rewarding part of last year's game, though, was learned recently when a bone marrow transplant match was made from the donor drive held throughout the Soccer Challenge.

"The odds of that happening are so small," Hamm said.

The cause is close to Hamm, who lost her brother, Garrett, in 1997 after complications from a bone marrow transplant.

"Our family struggled financially to find out how we're going to fund the procedures he had to go through and all that stress and strain," she said. "All these things we went through we wanted to alleviate the stress and strain on people's lives. It definitely hits close to home."

So Hamm, along with the help of her husband Nomar Garciaparra of the Los Angeles Dodgers, decided to raise awareness and immediately the soccer community responded.

Nomar and I are so grateful," Hamm said. "It is a special community to be a part of, it's something that none of us take lightly. The love for the game has brought us all together and we love sharing what this game has brought to our lives. Saturday is just going to be another testament to that."

Landon Donovan, Cobi Jones, Brandi Chastain, Alexi Lalas and Eric Wynalda joined an array of celebrities and other athletes, including NFL great Marcus Allen, U.S. Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh, Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo and Extreme Makeover host Ty Pennington.

The same is true this year. According to Lalas, the Hamm name is still carries a lot of weight.

"As far as I'm concerned, Mia Hamm is soccer community royalty," Lalas said. "When the queen calls, you go."

While the small-sided game should again provide excitement for the crowd, the most poignant part of the day will be at halftime when patients who suffer from leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases will be introduced in person for the very first time to their bone marrow donors.

The donor and recipient meetings will recognize all those who have given hope to patients in need of a life-saving transplant by joining the National Marrow Donor Program Registry. Fans in attendance will be given the opportunity to register and become donors themselves.

"We can demonstrate exactly what signing up can do for a family. It can change their lives," Hamm said. "No matter what Nomar and I say, it doesn't do it justice until you see it in person."

Sounders make Zakuani top SuperDraft pick

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.

  • Draft Tracker >
  • 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

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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).

MLS Combine wraps up Wednesday

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The time to make a good impression is now over.

With MLS personnel and college players en route to St. Louis after concluding the adidas MLS Player Combine on Tuesday, attendees can only hope they made enough of an impression to hear their name called in St. Louis on Thursday afternoon.

The common theme among the players: It took time to adjust to the unique Combine setting. Saturday was a rough adjustment for most players and the quality of play showed it, but Sunday and Tuesday made more of an impression after players worked out the nerves and figured out how to play with their new teammates.

"As the weekend went along, I think I showed a lot better than I did to start with," Saint Louis University defender Calum Angus said. "The biggest thing was getting to know the players around me and all of the lads getting to know each other. It helps out a lot. That's probably the main reason."

For at least a few players, the was a step up in quality from what they had seen during their college seasons, even though the players were well removed from the regular season and the promises of full fitness it brings.

"It was a good experience for me to be playing with older guys," UNLV and Generation adidas midfielder Danny Cruz said. It was rough, just like I thought it would be. It was good."

As concerned as the players are about how they fared, MLS teams are even more attentive to every detail as they assemble their draft boards. The circumstances surrounding the Combine -- unfamiliar players, bumpy field and out-of-season fitness -- can make it difficult for MLS coaches and technical directors to evaluate prospects.

"You have to take everything into consideration here," Revolution vice president of player personnel Mike Burns said. "A lot of these kids haven't played for a couple of months. They're playing with players they haven't played with. Some of them are playing out of position due to an injury or something else. There are a lot of things you have to weigh."

Those calculations will continue through until the SuperDraft. MLS teams are loathe to tip their hands at this point, keeping evaluations under wraps and floating rumors out there to cover up their true intentions. Trade talks will heat up on Wednesday night and Thursday morning as teams attempt to position themselves to acquire the players they rate.

With the Combine in the rearview mirror, here are a few players that observers picked out as possibly helping or hampering their SuperDraft stock this weekend.

Rising1. Sam Cronin, Wake Forest midfielder: Cronin's stock couldn't go much higher, but his tidy play in midfielder may just indicate he can contribute sooner rather than later.

2. Chris Pontius, UC Santa Barbara forward: Versatility is the buzzword here after Pontius excelled on the left wing and up top during Combine play.

3. Kevin Alston, Indiana defender (Generation adidas): Alston consistently showed a great engine up and down the right flank and will benefit from being roster protected.

4. Peri Marosevic, Michigan forward (Generation adidas): A compact frame, a quick turning radius and an unwillingness to let defenders take the ball off his foot helped Marosevic lead the Combine with three goals.

5. Ryan Maxwell, Tampa midfielder: Maxwell's blazing speed and willingness to attack defenders led some to compare him to Dane Richards and others to ponder whether he would be a nice pick in the third or fourth round.

Five other climbers: A.J. Delagarza (Maryland defender), Kyle Patterson (Saint Louis midfielder), Michael Lahoud (Wake Forest midfielder), David Hertel (Michigan State defender), Quincy Amarikwa (UC Davis forward)

Falling1. Yohance Marshall, South Florida defender: The Trinidadian defender had first-round buzz heading into the Combine, but a weekend filled with mistakes and questionable positioning has damaged those hopes.

2. Andrei Gotsmanov, Creighton midfielder: Questions surround Gotsmanov's position at the next level, but he couldn't answer them after fighting injury all weekend.

3. Baggio Husidic, Illinois-Chicago midfielder (Generation adidas): Husidic is another college playmaker who projects to drop further into midfield at the next level, but didn't always show the work rate and tenacity he'll need.

4. Calum Angus, Saint Louis defender: Mooted by some as a potential first-round pick, Angus raised questions about whether his lack of size and pace will hamper him as he transitions to right back in MLS.

5. Raphael Cox, Washington midfielder: Cox is blessed with good speed but displayed questionable decision making throughout the weekend.

Five other fallers: Graham Zusi (Maryland midfielder), Nick Perera (UC Santa Barbara forward), Akeem Priestley (UConn midfielder), Chris Clements (Tulsa defender), Neal Kitson (St. John's goalkeeper)

Chivas deal for Jazic in busy draft

ST. LOUIS -- The Chivas USA coaching staff quadrupled their pleasure Thursday at the MLS SuperDraft in St. Louis. After having only one draft pick in 2008, head coach Preki and his staff picked up midfielder Michael Lahoud and then traded their second-round pick (19th overall) to their neighbors, the Los Angeles Galaxy, in exchange for left back Ante Jazic, the fifth pick in the third round and the fourth pick in the fourth round, Nos. 35 and 49 overall.

"We got [four] players. It was an OK day for us," said Preki.

Looking to boost their offensive production, Chivas USA chose Lahoud, a Wake Forest University, with the ninth overall pick. The 5-foot-8, 22-year-old midfielder scored 14 goals to go with 20 assists in his four-year stint at the school quickly becoming well-known for cultivating professional quality soccer players.

"I'm excited, speechless. It's everything I've ever dreamed of. Not a lot of kids get this chance growing up, and I'm just looking to make the most of it," said Lahoud after a brief conference with his new head coach.

  • Draft Tracker >
  • 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

"I've heard great things about [Preki]. He has a great soccer mind, and I'm hoping to learn much from that," Lahoud added.

The sharp passing and pacy Lahoud is known for his ability to cover a lot of ground and go from defense to attack quickly. He is also versatile, anchoring the Deamon Deacons as the holding midfielder despite playing the position for the first time. His skills and mindset will be tested in his move from the East to southern California.

"He's a young, exciting player who can play different roles," said Preki. "He has a bright future, [but] it is going to be up to him to come into camp and be ready to challenge for a spot. ... We hope that he has the mentality required on this level."

"I really don't know what to expect from preseason, but I'm prepared for it," said Lahoud. "I had great preparation at Wake, and growing up I had the right people pulling for me. I'm happy to be in L.A., happy to be with Chivas and looking forward to helping them out any way possible."

Many pundits had predicted Chivas USA would shore up their goalkeeping position, which had become a questionable spot after Brad Guzan transferred to Aston Villa of the English Premier League late last season.

"They projected wrong," Preki said, confirming that he is comfortable with current netminders Dan Kennedy and Zach Thornton.

Instead, Chivas USA strengthened their backline by acquiring Jazic, a 32-year-old Canadian international who spent three seasons with the Galaxy playing 44 games and gaining three assists. The left back has been injury prone with 18 games being the most he has played in his three MLS seasons.

"We needed a left-sided player, an experienced guy whose been in the league for a while, a guy who knows how to attack," Preki stated. "We're pretty happy with the addition."

Chivas used their first acquired pick (35th overall) to add a second attacker in forward Kyle Christensen from the University of Denver. The 23-year-old played three seasons from 2003 to 2007, taking a two-year mission trip in between, scoring 21 goals and adding eight assists. Midfielder Jaime Franks, another Wake Forest product, was their final pick of the day.

"[Christensen] was one of the better guys at the combine," said Preki. "So we felt he had something and felt we needed to bring him in and give him a shot."

Of the 22-year-old Franks, Preki said, "I've watched him play a few times. He's an exciting player who has a good ability. He can be a really good soccer player."

After losing out to Real Salt Lake and the Kansas City Wizards in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs the last two seasons after first- and second-place finishes in the Western Conference, Chivas USA will begin their preseason on Jan. 26.