2013 MLS SuperDraft Mock Draft v 3.0

by J.R. Eskilson & Travis Clark

January 15, 2013

ROUND 1

* indicates Generation adidas

ORDER	TEAM	NAME	COLLEGE	POS	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
1		Andrew Farrell *	Louisville	D/MF	5-11	165
More or less the consensus top player, the GA signing is likely to come off the board first for whomever holds the No. 1 overall pick. TFC needs help in midfield and at the back, and Farrell can help in both spots, either as a right back, center back or defensive midfielder.
2		Carlos Alvarez	Connecticut	MF	5-10	160
Chivas USA head coach Jose Luiz Sanchez (aka El Chelis) told MLSsoccer.com on Monday that he will be drafting Carlos Alvarez with the second pick on Thursday. Alvarez is a creative, attacking talent originally from Los Angeles.
3		Mikey Lopez *	North Carolina	MF	5-8	160
With Chivas USA passing on Lopez, Toronto FC snags a player who could immediately step into the midfield. The U.S. U20 MNT mid has the tools to improve the Canadian club. Also look for TFC to move this pick after grabbing their man with the first pick.
4		Eriq Zavaleta *	Indiana	D/F	6-1	185
Eriq Zavaleta offers a piece for the New England Revolution to build around for the future. The Hoosier will fit better as a forward with the young core in New England.
5		Dillon Powers	Notre Dame	MF	5-11	172
Questions will follow Powers from the college game to the pro level, as he’ll need to find a position on the field to play, along with committing to coping with more defensive responsibilities. But he is equipped to jump in and play some minutes next year, a good pickup for the Whitecaps.
6		Walker Zimmerman*	Furman	D	6-3	185
Missing out on the combine due to injury probably hurt Zimmerman's chances of hearing his name in the first three picks, though it could end up helping him in the end. The U.S. U20 MNT defender will flourish under the coaching staff in Denver.
7		John Stertzer	Maryland	MF	6-0	170
Julian De Guzman’s likely departure and Daniel Hernandez’s retirement leaves FCD light of options in the middle of midfield. In light of that, Stertzer is a good pickup here.
8		Kyle Bekker	Boston College	MF	5-10	165
The Impact snaps up the creative midfielder from Toronto, adding a Canadian international who can play some minutes in 2013.
9		Deshorn Brown*	UCF	F	6-2	170
Options up front are one of the spots the Crew will be looking to address in this draft, and adding a GA player like Brown provides cap relief and a promising prospect who could sneak in some minutes.
10		Emery Welshman	Oregon State	F	5-11	180
As a Canadian and standout in the Pacific Northwest, Welshmen goes off the board perhaps a bit early here to the Whitecaps, providing another speed option along with Darren Mattocks.
11		Kekuta Manneh*	Lonestar SC/Austin Aztex	F	5-9	160
It would be a surprise to see the prospect drop this far in the draft after reports of a solid combine trickle in, though Manneh would be a good fit in Chicago alongside Patrick Nyarko as another small, tricky player with good pace and ball skills.
12		Erik Hurtado	Santa Clara	F	5-9	180
Portland’s loss is Real Salt Lake’s gain, as the Oregon-native did not qualify for Homegrown status in the eyes of MLS and is now shooting up draft boards. Hurtado is a dynamic combination of speed and skill, and will make an impact at the next level in the right environment.
13		Blake Smith	New Mexico	MF	5-10	150
Hurtado and Blake Smith will likely go near each other in the draft, as they are in a different class than the other wingers available.
14		Jason Johnson*	VCU	F	6-0	180
Sporting KC’s needs are more in defensive midfield role, but it would be hard to pass on a talent like Johnson, with his Generation adidas status providing cap relief, while also adding yet another offensive weapon up front.
15		Tommy Muller	Georgetown	D	5-11	168
Questions about his size and durability follow Muller, but he’s a guy who can thrive in MLS and provides an additional body for the Earthquakes back line.
16		Chris Thomas	Elon	F	5-10	191
Seattle goes for help up front in the form of Thomas, adding the NCAA’s leading scorer in 2012 to an attack that is set to lose Fredy Montero. Could work nicely alongside Eddie Johnson.
17		Ian Christianson	Georgetown	MF	5-11	165
A team that has done well in the draft in recent history, Christianson should be extremely familiar to United, and gives them some support for Perry Kitchen in the middle of the park.
18		Ashton Bennett	Coastal Carolina	F	5-9	167
Forward options are always good to have, and Bennett’s Canadian residency makes him all the more likely to come off the board to the Impact here.
19		Kory Kindle	CSU Bakersfield	D	5-11	185
Galaxy need the depth at outside back if the MLS Cup Champions want to make a run at the continental title. Kindle offers the speed and skill to fit in with head coach Bruce Arena’s style of the play.

ROUND 2

ORDER	TEAM	NAME	COLLEGE	POS	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
20		Taylor Kemp	Maryland	D	5-11	153
FCD grabs a second Maryland product on the day, giving themselves depth at left back in the form of Kemp, who some say is ready for minutes in 2013.
21		Jimmy Nealis	Georgetown	D	6-0	162
It’s uncertain if Nealis will be a left back in MLS, but he has the tools to thrive either there or at left midfield for the Revs if he's given the opportunity.
22		Machael David	UCSB	MF	5-8	160
Currently lacking midfield support, David’s injury problems will likely trigger a drop down draft board, but if he slips to New York here they’ll likely snap him up, adding a first round talent in the second round.
23		Don Anding	Northeastern	F	5-11	-
In need of speed, the Revolution grab perhaps the fastest player available with in Anding, who might end up playing as a wide midfielder, or even an outside back.
24		Dylan Tucker-Gangnes	Washington	D	6-3	190
The Galaxy continue to stock up on defensive options in the second round, adding the promising center back from the Huskies.
25		Jose Gomez	Creighton	MF	5-9	155
While the Rapids have plenty of options in the No. 10 role, adding Gomez in the second round would be a huge coup, as Oscar Pareja would be able to get the most out of Gomez’s unique skillset.
26		Greg Cochrane	Louisville	D	5-8	140
The Union goes local and adds a veteran of their PDL affiliate in Cochrane, a player who can play either spot on the left side of the field.
27		Ryan Finley	Notre Dame	F	6-0	180
The Impact grab another scoring option up front, reuniting Finley with former Duke teammate Andrew Wenger.
28		Eric Schoenle	West Virginia	D	6-2	150
Defensive depth is needed in Columbus and Schoenle slipping to the Crew in the second round could turn out to be a huge bonus.
29		Stephen Okai	Mobile	MF	-	-
The Union affiliation with Reading pays off again, as Philly pick up a much needed midfielder in Okai, the NAIA Player of the Year in 2012.
30		John Gallagher	Penn State	D	5-10	160
Left back is always a spot almost every team needs help with, and the Rapids reach for Gallagher here as a possible option to help at the back.
31		Paolo DelPiccolo	Louisville	MF	5-10	165
Despite skipping out on the combine for a trial in Germany, RSL roll the dice and pick DelPiccolo, who could turn into a nice compliment/understudy for Kyle Beckerman.
32		Kofi Opare	Michigan	D	6-2	190
While Opare doesn’t fit the bill of a player with Italian heritage, his Canadian residency status and ability at the back is likely to draw attention from clubs north of the border, and the Impact take advantage of it.
33		Will Bates	Virginia	F	6-0	185
An ACL injury suffered his junior year is the only reason Bates wasn’t in the league a year ago, and if he drops to San Jose in the 2nd round, the Earthquakes get another physically imposing forward to wear down opposing back lines.
34		Donnie Smith	Charlotte	MF	5-11	158
Smith is a more traditional winger than Sam Garza, who San Jose took in last year’s draft. The left winger will fit in well with head coach Frank Yallop’s direct approach.
35		Anthony Arena	Wake Forest	D	5-11	170
The local connection pays off here, as Seattle add a player who can slot in at both left back and centrally, less than a year after playing for Sounders U23 PDL team.
36		Marc Cintron	Providence	MF	6-1	165
With seven of eight international spots used, Revolution is limited in who it can select at this point, but Cintron has talent and shown some quality at the international stage with Puerto Rico.
37		Shaun Foster	Hofstra	D	6-2	175
The English center back is the three-time Colonial Athletic Association Defender of the Year. Foster has played against some decent players over the years and could be a steal for Dynamo at this spot.
38		Joe Franco	Cal State Northridge	D	5-9	150
Currently out with an injury, Franco is going into the draft without any buzz. As a local boy, Galaxy are very familiar with his attributes and see the value in snatching him up here.