PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The fate of the top overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft was as nebulous as it’s ever been. Without a clear top choice and a handful of worthy options, Thursday’s draft at the Philadelphia Convention Center opened to a world of opportunity for D.C. United, the owner of the top overall pick.

D.C.’s opportunity turned into the Union’s Jamaican windfall.

For the second straight year, the team with the No. 1 overall choice offloaded its pick to move down. This time D.C. opted to swap its No. 1 pick with the Philadelphia Union’s No. 2 pick, which allowed the Union to swoop in and take ballyhooed Jamaican keeper and UConn product Andre Blake with the top overall pick. It was a shocking start to a surprisingly unpredictable day, especially considering the Union nabbed Zac MacMath as its hoped keeper of the future in 2011.

For Blake, whose name is now etched in MLS record books as a No. 1 overall draft pick, all that means is an opportunity.

“It’s a great feeling,” Blake said. “It comes with a little pressure, because you’re the first overall pick, so you’ve got to go out there on the pitch and show them it was a good choice, taking you number one. There’s a little bit of pressure, but I’m a goalkeeper. I’ve been under pressure my whole life.”

D.C. United had been rumored to be interested in bolstering its back line with either of Cal's center back duo of Christian Dean or Steve Birnbaum at No. 1, but Philly caught wind of equally strong rumors that Blake might not be around at No. 2 when they picked. Instead of gambling on D.C. either taking Blake or trading down to another team that would, Philly jumped on the draft’s best keeper and one of the best MLS prospects at the position in a long while.

For his part, Blake was entirely in the dark.

“I was thinking maybe I would go in the top four, but I didn’t see number one coming,” Blake said. “I was talking with (the Union) for a little bit, but I was thinking maybe number two, but you never know. I didn’t get a strong word that that’s going to be it.”

Blake first played keeper around seven or eight in his native Jamaica, and he finally made the choice to stick with the position exclusively just before he jumped to the college ranks with UConn. He says he modeled his early game after Edwin van der Sar, and he enjoys watching Donovan Ricketts in MLS now.

Among other things, Blake says his time at UConn helped prep him for what promises to be an eventful career. 

“My time at UConn was great,” Blake said. “I had a lot of experiences, just moving into a different country, having to deal with the cold weather and all of that. It helped me a lot knowing that back in Jamaica, it’s not that fortunate for us as soccer players. So all the facilities here were great, and I think that helped me a lot.”

The shock of the pick didn’t wear off quickly for Blake, who accepted a Union scarf and bathed in a loud chorus of a “One Of Us” chant from a packed Union fan section as he posed for photos with MLS commissioner Don Garber. To be picked first was reason enough for surprise. But to have it happen in his future home city, that was something else.

Later in the first round, Blake spent some time in that same Union support section to show his thanks. It’ll be a transition, but it’s one he’s happy to make.

“I don’t know much about Philly,” Blake said with a smile. “I heard something yesterday about a place for a cheesesteak or something like that. That’s about as much as I know. But I’m pretty sure I’ll get adjusted kicking off and I’ll find out everything I need to know as soon as possible.”

For now, Blake descends into what appears to be a fierce battle for the top spot on the depth chart. MacMath enjoyed a solid end to the 2013 season, and at just 22 years old he appeared to be a developing long-term project for the Union between the pipes. 

Blake’s selection changed things, and in more ways than one.

“It’s a team, and some teams are going to have an established goalkeeper, younger goalkeepers, older goalkeepers,” Blake said. “So my job right now is just to go in and take it one step at a time. Go in, earn my respect in the locker room, earn my respect on the pitch, work as hard as I can and leave the rest to the coach.”

Photo credit: AP Images