By IVES GALARCEP
The MLS Draft is exactly one week away and the Generation adidas class that once seemed in jeopardy of being a paltry group has shaped up to be a formidable collection of top college talent.
U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team defender Conor Donovan has signed a Generation adidas contract, rounding out a five-player class for the 2015 MLS Draft, sources confirmed to SBI on Thursday.
A 19-year-old central defender who just completed his freshman season at North Carolina State, Donovan has impressed with the U.S. Under-20s in recent camps, boosting his stock and forcing his way into the GA conversation despite the league’s previous intentions to keep the class smaller.
Donovan joins a GA class that also includes UConn forward Cyle Larin and Central Florida forward Romario Williams. University of Washington playmaker Cristian Roldan also finalized a GA deal this week, while sources close to Syracuse goalkeeper Alex Bono confirmed a Wednesday report that he too had signed a GA deal.
Donovan and Larin will not take part in the MLS Combine or MLS Draft as both are playing in the Under-20 World Cup qualifying tournament in Jamaica. Larin, Williams and Bono are expected to take part in the combine.
Larin is the No. 1 rated player on the latest SBI MLS Draft Big Board, with Roldan at No. 2 and Williams at No. 3.
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What do you think of this development?
Share your thoughts below.
“…will not take part in the MLS Combine or the MLS Draft…”
As in, they won’t be physically present for the draft, ’cause I sure as hell hope they’re available for the Draft and that Garber doesn’t pull some new allocation system from his butt.
Great News!
“Donovan has signed a Generation adidas contract”
It’s the Dalai Lama of US soccer!
DONOVAN IS BACK IN THE MLS!!!!
(and yes, it is THE mls…like THE Ohio State. ha)
There is only 1. We can deal with an MLS when someone starts another.
Yes, I am a big fan of The Major League Soccer.