2015 MLS Draft Mock Draft v 2.0

by TopDrawerSoccer

January 9, 2015

ORDER	TEAM	NAME	COLLEGE	POS	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
1		Cyle Larin*	Connecticut	F	6-2	190
The rising Canadian star gets to grow in sunny Orlando after being plucked with the first overall pick. Look for Orlando to possibly shop this pick for more MLS-ready talent.
2		Cristian Roldan*	Washington	M	5-8	-
Should Jason Kreis opt for his favored diamond formation, Roldan offers a good fit in terms of a versatile option who can break down opposing attacks.
3		Khiry Shelton	Oregon State	F	6-3	175
The Texas native had a banner season, earning Pac-12 Player of the Year honors as a crafty forward player. The Impact grab him here in an effort to boost its offense.
4		Ramon Martin Del Campo	UC Davis	D	6-2	198
It's hard to see the Quakes passing on the local product and U.S. U23 defender.
5		Conor Donovan*	NC State	D	6-2	176
The U.S. U20 MNT defender goes to Portland, offering both a GA player and a promising talent to groom for the future. The Timbers' weary defense sure could use some depth at the back as well.
6		Alex Bono*	Syracuse	GK	6-3	195
Even with three goalkeepers already on the roster, TFC would be foolish to pass on Bono, who proved himself to be one of the best players in the country in 2014, regardless of position. His GA status would make him even more worthwhile, and his relative proximity to Toronto should make him no stranger to the TFC brass.
7		Romario Williams*	UCF	F	5-11	170
GA picks continue to fly off the board, and Chicago add the forward who could line up as a winger for a team that struggled to manufacture goals at important times in 2014.
8		Otis Earle	UC Riverside	D	6-0	170
Houston's new regime is difficult to read, but grabbing Earle would provide depth at left back, a position of need for just about every team in MLS.
9		Oumar Ballo	UMBC	D	6-2	190
The transfer of Doneil Henry to West Ham leaves TFC in need of center back reinforcements, and Ballo is an athletic defender who has all the physical tools to compete in MLS.
10		Nick Besler	Notre Dame	M	6-0	160
It's a reunion in KC for the Besler brothers, as SKC opts for the Notre Dame standout. Besler is a capable central midfielder who doesn't do anything glamorous, but he can compete for minutes in the upcoming season behind recent re-addition Roger Espinoza.
11		Andy Thoma	Washington	D	6-0	-
A speedy left back who enjoyed a stellar career with the Huskies, Thoma projects at either spot on the left flank of the field. Would bolster the defensive corps of a TFC team that struggled at times at the back in 2014.
12		Andy Craven	North Carolina	F	5-11	167
Having spent the bulk of his college career in a three-forward setup, Craven would have an easy transition to Sporting KC's formation, and he'll provide the work rate that head coach Peter Vermes loves. SKC could probably deal at least one of their three first round picks on draft day.
13		Fatai Alashe	Michigan State	M	6-0	173
Alashe's selection here would represent a best player available approach. Plus, we all know Vancouver loves to stockpile defensive-minded midfielders.
14		Leo Stolz	UCLA	M	5-11	170
The uncertainty over Stolz's desire to play in MLS (at least according to reports) means he'll likely slip on draft day. He'd be a smart addition to Gregg Berhalter's midfield machine, and would be a great asset next to Wil Trapp.
15		Dan Metzger	Maryland	M	5-9	155
The Maryland midfielder is composed and calm on the ball, making Metzger a nice fit for Oscar Pareja's side. He's someone who can come in to add depth right away.
16		Eric Bird	Virginia	M	5-11	170
A skilled midfielder for the national champions, Bird has the kind of midfield ability that has thrived in the RSL diamond setup in the past.
17		Andrew Wolverton	Penn State	GK	6-6	222
Only two goalkeepers are currently on United's roster, making the selection of Wolverton a nice pickup to bolster the team's goalkeeping corps. He's like Joe Willis 2.0.
18		Boyd Okwuonu	North Carolina	D	5-8	175
Questions surround Okwuonu and his transition to MLS -- is he big enough to be a center back? Would he be a right back instead? Can he play in either spot? The Red Bulls can grab him here and give him looks in both a central and an outside back role.
19		Saad Abdul-Salaam	Akron	D	6-3	170
An athletic right back who's shown a lot of promise, Abdul-Salaam is also a candidate to play out wide. With Marvell Wynne gone, he proves the kind of wide versatility the Rapids need.
20		Tim Parker	St. John's	D	6-2	190
Central defense is an issue that Sporting KC needs to address in some capcity, and Parker is a skilled and tough center back who could thrive in KC.
21		Seth Casiple	California	M	5-9	155
While Bruce Arena might have the audacity to decline to take anyone in the draft, Casiple is a decent option. He's a smart midfielder who makes up for his lack of athleticism with a high soccer IQ.

ROUND 2

ORDER	TEAM	NAME	COLLEGE	POS	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
22		Jose Ribas	Creighton	D	5-9	155
The marauding left back is a good add for the expansion side, as they continue to build their new roster for the 2015 season.
23		Skylar Thomas	Syracuse	D	6-3	180
NYCFC needs warm bodies just about anywhere on the field, and Thomas is an accomplished center back who enjoyed a strong 2014 campaign.
24		Ricky Garbanzo	Coastal Carolina	M	5-7	140
Coastal Carolina is generating players with professional attributes at a steady rate and Garbanzo is the latest from that pipeline. Talented and determined, Garbanzo would be a great fit in Caleb Porter's midfield.
25		Tyler Arnone	Michigan	M	5-10	175
Arnone was the heart of the Michigan program for the past two seasons and earned an invite to the Combine thanks to his sharp mind. He could be a great fit with Orlando.
26		Andy Bevin	West Virginia	F	5-9	160
The Kiwi is a hard-working center forward coming off the best season of his career as a senior, bagging 13 goals and adding eight assists. Not much went right for Colorado in 2014 and Bevin's addition gives them another option in front of goal.
27		Kyler Sullivan	Virginia	D	5-8	170
The Sounders add a versatile converted right back candidate in Sullivan, a critical figure in UVA's national title triumph.
28		Wesley Charpie	South Florida	D	6-0	164
Charpie started all 81 games during his career with the Bulls. He's remarkably consistent and finished near the top in assists for his team every year. He's likely an outside back at the MLS level.
29		Akeil Barrett	Tulsa	M/F	5-7	130
The Jamaican livewire can man either flank or possibly play up front underneath a target forward like Gilberto.
30		Luke Mishu	Notre Dame	D	6-0	165
Sporting KC dips back into the Irish draft pool, grabbing a right back in Mishu, a problem spot for the side last season.
31		Manolo Sanchez	Clemson	M	6-0	205
Should the Union add Sanchez, it would be a homecoming for the Philly native, a wide midfielder with plenty of ability but one who struggles at times to be consistent.
32		Cameron Iwasa	UC Irvine	M/F	5-10	175
Iwasa is a creative player who works hard and could plug into a few different roles for the expansion side. The UC Irvine standout could be a good option off the bench in his debut season.
33		Sergio Campbell	Connecticut	D	6-4	192
With the reported departure of A.J. Soares, Campbell is a more than adequate candidate to boost the team's depth in central defense.
34		Adria Beso Marco	Connecticut	M	5-6	158
Portland rarely goes in the direction many suspect, but Beso would the player that could shine in the Timbers' style of play. He is a technical player that takes on the role of the washing machine as he can clean up bad passes and touches in the middle of the field and help circulate the action.
35		Axel Sjoberg	Marquette	D	6-7	210
Center back depth is a concern the Crew could try to address in the draft, and they could take a chance here with Sjoberg, a big man who moves decently well and has enough skills on the ball to fit into Berhalter's scheme.
36		Anthony Manning	Saint Louis	D	6-4	200
Manning is an athletic defender with good vision. He has composure on the ball and likes to facilitate with the game in front of him.
37		Miguel Aguilar	San Francisco	F	5-9	172
With its fifth pick from the first two rounds of the draft, Toronto once again takes another attacking talent. Aguilar enjoyed success at both San Francisco and with Portland's PDL side.
38		Nikola Paunic	South Florida	D	6-3	-
The Whitecaps bolster center back depth with the addition of Nikola Paunic, who spent time with the Canadian U20s during his college years.
39		Connor Hallisey	California	M	5-10	155
The attack-minded midfielder saved his best for last in Berkely, bagging eight goals and adding 11 assists.
40		James Rogers	New Mexico	M	5-8	150
Rogers could be Seattle's replacement for Lamar Neagle moving forward. His technical ability needs work, but he is quick and he played with a bite to his game. He would definitely help the Sounders' USL team in 2015.
41		Jordan Murrell	Syracuse	D	5-10	155
The Union grab a decent left back candidate by selecting Murrell, who mysteriously wasn't invited to the MLS combine.
42		Joseph Greenspan	Navy	D	6-6	209
This may be a bit high for Greenspan to come off the board given his service commitments, but the All-American's proximity to Washington, D.C. might make the odds of him carving out a pro career a bit better, meaning United could take him here.