MLS' second draft was today via conference call, and Sporting KC added 4 new players to their roster today. Sporting had 4 picks in the draft and used all 4 to add more players to their list of players down in Arizona at this time. With the way the roster shapes out right now, it'll be a fight for any of these four players to make the roster.
With their first round pick in the draft, Sporting took former SKC Junior, Christian Duke. The San Diego senior spent much of his time in midfield, but has been listed as a defender in the information that Sporting has put out. He helped lead San Diego to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament this year and earned second team All West Coast Conference this past year. From looking at some pictures of yesterday's training in Arizona, Duke is already there with the team participating with the team in preseason.
The surprise on my part came from the fact that KC had to use a draft pick on Duke. I had figured that since Duke had been in the Sporting academy for a year he met the requirements to be used as a homegrown player. I was wrong on that count, apparently while at San Diego, Duke did not meet the minimum requirements for training with Sporting to qualify as a home grown signing. Which is why Sporting had to use a draft pick on the player.
In the second round Sporting selected a midfielder from Campbell, Mitchell Cardenas. Cardenas is a Mexican citizen who holds residency in the United States. He had 8 goals and 14 assists this past season, earning first team All Big South and All South Atlantic region. Cardenas also spent part of the summer of 2012 training with Sporting KC.
In the third round, Sporting selected defender Brian Fekete from the University of Tampa. Fekete was a 3 time All American.
In the final round, Sporting went back to the midfield again, selecting Mike Reidy of Colgate University. He had 7 goals and 2 assists this past year, earning him offensive player of the year for the Patriot League.
If the players are not already on their way to Arizona they will be soon hoping to impress Peter Vermes and earn a roster spot.
I was really hoping we would pick up Kevin Durr, although I don't know if he will even be able to play (obviously Seattle thinks so). Cardenas really looks like he has potential, but I trust PV. Good luck to all.
ReplyDeleteI am proud of Christian duke, he deserves to be drafted from sporting kansas city, I went to high school with this kid and he was a wonderful soccer player back then. we both met when I was a freshman and he was a senior at Shawnee mission south high school.
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