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MLS SuperDraft Special: Five Sleepers in MLS History
With the MLS SuperDraft set to go on Thursday, Goal.com's Greg Lalas looks back at the a handful of diamonds in the rough that teams have unearthed over the years on draft day.
Jan 14, 2009 4:23:15 PM
ST. LOUIS, Mo.—When Thursday’s MLS SuperDraft gets under way in the shadow of the glimmering famous arch, more than a few observers might be scanning CraigsList for St. Louis Blues tickets rather than paying attention to the later rounds. The truth is, most people here believe the pickings are slim, especially after the first couple of picks.
Sam Cronin, the steady midfielder out of Wake Forest, seems as close to a sure thing as people will venture. Some people like Omar Gonzalez, others Stefan Frei. But the absence of several big names—Hermann Trophy winner Marcus Tracy, who is set for a move to Denmark; Duke striker Mike Grella, who is being shopped around in Europe—has robbed this year’s draft of some of its potential dazzle.
Then again, we pundits seem to say this every January. The truth is, soccer is not statistically measurable or thankfully under the sway of sabermetric gurus (yet), so drafting is about as reliable as predicting an election in Ohio. Usually, you have to wait a few years to really know who scored on draft day and who didn't.
The main reason for this is all the sleepers (and, inversely, all the busts). MLS’s history sparkles with gems sifted out from the pebbles. Here are five of the best sleepers in MLS history, and, for context, the player picked right before each of them:
1. Davy Arnaud (Kansas City), 5th Rd., 2002: Drafted by the Wizards out of Division II West Texas A&M—where is Canyon, TX?—Arnaud took a little time to show his quality. He played just 43 minutes his rookie year. But since then, he’s become one of the most dynamic, tireless attackers in the league. In seven seasons, the 28-year-old has made 166 appearances and scored 32 goals, plus has earned two caps with the national team.
The Previous Pick: Erik Ozimek, San Jose. Never played in MLS. Currently, women’s coach at Belmont Abbey College (NC), co-founder of Boot Room Soccer School.
2. Eddie Lewis (Los Angeles Galaxy), 3rd Rd., 1996 College Draft (selected by San Jose Clash): MLS stocked teams for its inaugural season with a massive 16-round draft, which featured mostly pros. The so-called College Draft followed. Somehow, Lewis, UCLA’s leading scorer in 1995, fell to the third round. He didn’t receive too much PT his rookie year, but he made his first appearance for the national team in October 1996 (note: the US regulars boycotted the game, versus Peru, over a salary dispute). Lewis has since earned 81 more caps (and counting), enjoyed a successful eight-year stint in England, and joined Bruce Arena’s rebuilding program in L.A.
The Previous Pick: Hamisi Amani-Dove, New York. Bounced around clubs in Holland, Austria, and Israel. Made six appearances with Dallas in 2001. Retired from USL in 2005.
3. Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), 4th Rd., 2006: Chivas’s then-coach Bob Bradley obviously knew something no one else did. Namely, that the UCLA forward would make a fine left back. So fine, in fact, that Bornstein was named the starter and at season’s end he claimed Rookie of the Year honors. Injuries have slowed his development, but the 24-year-old named an MLS All-Star in 2008 and, with 13 caps to his name, he is a regular for the national team, at least, when he’s healthy.
The Previous Pick: Chris Dunsheath, Los Angeles. Never played in MLS.
4. Chris Rolfe (Chicago), 3rd Rd., 2005: Who’d have guessed that a oft-injured no-name out of the University of Dayton—go Flyers!—would wind up earning nine caps for the national team and scoring 30 goals in his first four seasons? Obviously not any of the teams that didn’t pick Rolfe. The Fire, of course, had some inside knowledge, having watched Rolfe score six goals in 11 games for their developmental league affiliate. Still, no one expected him to lead the team in goals his rookie year and go on to become one of the most fearsome attacking threats in MLS.
The Previous Pick: Chris Gomez, Dallas. Never played in MLS.
5. Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), 3rd Rd., 35th overall, 2000, (selected by Miami Fusion): On the surface of it, Rimando looked set for back-up status. He is undersized (5’10”) and although he had some youth international experience, he was very green when he came out as a sophomore. But he shockingly beat out Jeff Cassar for the starting role for the now-defunct Fusion in his rookie year and then backstopped the club to the 2001 Supporter’s Shield. The following year, he earned his only international cap. In 2004, he won the 2004 MLS Cup with DC United, and now, with 202 career starts and a 1.33 GAA, he the clear first-choice keeper for RSL. Coincidentally, his goalkeeper coach today is Cassar.
The Previous Pick: Steve Bernal, Dallas. Never played in MLS. Won an A-League championship with Milwaukee in 2003.
Greg Lalas is Site Director for Goal.com USA.
Sam Cronin, the steady midfielder out of Wake Forest, seems as close to a sure thing as people will venture. Some people like Omar Gonzalez, others Stefan Frei. But the absence of several big names—Hermann Trophy winner Marcus Tracy, who is set for a move to Denmark; Duke striker Mike Grella, who is being shopped around in Europe—has robbed this year’s draft of some of its potential dazzle.
Then again, we pundits seem to say this every January. The truth is, soccer is not statistically measurable or thankfully under the sway of sabermetric gurus (yet), so drafting is about as reliable as predicting an election in Ohio. Usually, you have to wait a few years to really know who scored on draft day and who didn't.
The main reason for this is all the sleepers (and, inversely, all the busts). MLS’s history sparkles with gems sifted out from the pebbles. Here are five of the best sleepers in MLS history, and, for context, the player picked right before each of them:
1. Davy Arnaud (Kansas City), 5th Rd., 2002: Drafted by the Wizards out of Division II West Texas A&M—where is Canyon, TX?—Arnaud took a little time to show his quality. He played just 43 minutes his rookie year. But since then, he’s become one of the most dynamic, tireless attackers in the league. In seven seasons, the 28-year-old has made 166 appearances and scored 32 goals, plus has earned two caps with the national team.
The Previous Pick: Erik Ozimek, San Jose. Never played in MLS. Currently, women’s coach at Belmont Abbey College (NC), co-founder of Boot Room Soccer School.
2. Eddie Lewis (Los Angeles Galaxy), 3rd Rd., 1996 College Draft (selected by San Jose Clash): MLS stocked teams for its inaugural season with a massive 16-round draft, which featured mostly pros. The so-called College Draft followed. Somehow, Lewis, UCLA’s leading scorer in 1995, fell to the third round. He didn’t receive too much PT his rookie year, but he made his first appearance for the national team in October 1996 (note: the US regulars boycotted the game, versus Peru, over a salary dispute). Lewis has since earned 81 more caps (and counting), enjoyed a successful eight-year stint in England, and joined Bruce Arena’s rebuilding program in L.A.
The Previous Pick: Hamisi Amani-Dove, New York. Bounced around clubs in Holland, Austria, and Israel. Made six appearances with Dallas in 2001. Retired from USL in 2005.
3. Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), 4th Rd., 2006: Chivas’s then-coach Bob Bradley obviously knew something no one else did. Namely, that the UCLA forward would make a fine left back. So fine, in fact, that Bornstein was named the starter and at season’s end he claimed Rookie of the Year honors. Injuries have slowed his development, but the 24-year-old named an MLS All-Star in 2008 and, with 13 caps to his name, he is a regular for the national team, at least, when he’s healthy.
The Previous Pick: Chris Dunsheath, Los Angeles. Never played in MLS.
4. Chris Rolfe (Chicago), 3rd Rd., 2005: Who’d have guessed that a oft-injured no-name out of the University of Dayton—go Flyers!—would wind up earning nine caps for the national team and scoring 30 goals in his first four seasons? Obviously not any of the teams that didn’t pick Rolfe. The Fire, of course, had some inside knowledge, having watched Rolfe score six goals in 11 games for their developmental league affiliate. Still, no one expected him to lead the team in goals his rookie year and go on to become one of the most fearsome attacking threats in MLS.
The Previous Pick: Chris Gomez, Dallas. Never played in MLS.
5. Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), 3rd Rd., 35th overall, 2000, (selected by Miami Fusion): On the surface of it, Rimando looked set for back-up status. He is undersized (5’10”) and although he had some youth international experience, he was very green when he came out as a sophomore. But he shockingly beat out Jeff Cassar for the starting role for the now-defunct Fusion in his rookie year and then backstopped the club to the 2001 Supporter’s Shield. The following year, he earned his only international cap. In 2004, he won the 2004 MLS Cup with DC United, and now, with 202 career starts and a 1.33 GAA, he the clear first-choice keeper for RSL. Coincidentally, his goalkeeper coach today is Cassar.
The Previous Pick: Steve Bernal, Dallas. Never played in MLS. Won an A-League championship with Milwaukee in 2003.
Greg Lalas is Site Director for Goal.com USA.
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