By VINCE MADURI
Toronto FC lead the way at the 2013 MLS SuperDraft after trading the number one overall selection, then taking Canadian duo Kyle Bekker and Emery Welshman among other selections.
TFC traded the top pick to the New England Revolution, who used it on consensus number one prospect, defender Andrew Farrell of Louisville.
Rounding out the top three, Chivas USA selected UConn attacking midfielder Carlos Alvarez before Toronto selected the midfielder Kyle Bekker.
Throughout the entire afternoon, TFC President and GM Kevin Payne clearly set a priority on stockpiling extra selections and allocation money by trading down. The fourth overall selection TFC received from the Revs was turned around and swapped with the Vancouver Whitecaps for the 10th overall pick, which was then spun to the Seattle Sounders. Toronto finally picked again at 16 where they selected Bekker’s teammate at Sigma FC Youth Academy, forward Emery Welshman.
Generations adidas forward Jason Johnson, who went into the Combine as the projected top forward slipped down the draft board to the Houston Dynamo at number 13.
US U-20 defender Walker Zimmerman went number seven to FC Dallas, while Indiana forward/defender and Hermann Trophy finalist Eriq Zavaleta went to Seattle with the 10th overall selection. Sigi Schmidt says he will wait to decide which role Zavaleta will fill for the Sounders but that he currently likes him better as a defender.
FIRST ROUND
1. New England Revolution – Andrew Farrell, DEF – Louisville
2. Chivas USA – Carlos Alvarez, MID – UConn
3. Toronto FC – Kyle Bekker, MID – Boston College
4. Vancouver Whitecaps – Kekuta Menneh, FWD – Austin Aztex
5. Vancouver Whitecaps – Erik Hurtado, FWD – Santa Clara
6. Colorado Rapids – Deshorn Brown, FWD – Central Florida
7. FC Dallas – Walker Zimmerman, DEF – Furman
8. Montreal Impact – Blake Smith, MID – New Mexico
9. Columbus Crew – Ryan Finley, FWD – Notre Dame
10. Seattle Sounders – Eriq Zavaleta, FWD/DEF – Indiana
11. Colorado Rapids – Dillon Powers, MID – Notre Dame
12. Real Salt Lake – John Stertzer, MID – Maryland
13. Houston Dynamo – Jason Johnson, FWD – VCU
14. Sporting Kansas City – Mikey Lopez, MID – North Carolina
15. San Jose Earthquakes – Tommy Muller, DEF – Georgetown
16. Toronto FC – Emery Welshman, FWD – Oregon State
17. DC United – Taylor Kemp, DEF – Maryland
18. Montreal Impact – Fernando Monge, MID – UCLA
19. LA Galaxy – Charlie Rugg, FWD – Boston College
SECOND ROUND
20. FC Dallas – Ryan Hollingshead, MID – UCLA
21. New England Revolution – Donnie Smith, FWD – UNC Charlotte
22. New York Red Bulls – Ian Christianson, MID – Georgetown
23. New England Revolution – Luke Spencer, FWD – Xavier
24. LA Galaxy – Kofi Opare, DEF – Michigan
25. Colorado Rapids – Kory Kindle, DEF – Cal State Bakersfield
26. Philadelphia Union – Don Anding, FWD – Northeastern
27. Montreal Impact – Paulo DelPiccolo, MID – Louisville
28. Columbus Crew – Drew Beckie, DEF – Denver
29. Real Salt Lake – Devon Sandoval, FWD – New Mexico
30. Chicago Fire – Yazid Atouba Emane, FWD – Rainbow FC (Cameroon)
31. Philadelphia Union – Stephen Okai, MID – Mobile
32. Montreal Impact – Brad Stuver, GK – Cleveland State
33. San Jose Earthquakes – Dan Delgado, MID – San Diego
34. Portland Timbers – Dylan Tucker-Gangnes, DEF – Washington
35. Seattle Sounders – Dylan Remick, DEF – Brown
36. New England Revolution – Luis Soffner, GK – Indiana
37. Houston Dynamo – Jimmy Nealis, DEF – Georgetown
38. LA Galaxy – Greg Cochrane, DEF – Louisville
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What do you think of the selections? Which ones impressed you the most? Which left you scratching your head?
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