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SBI 2017 MLS Draft Big Board (Final Version)

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The 2017 MLS Combine is in the books, and the stage is set for the MLS Draft to take place on Friday in Los Angeles. The Combine saw several top prospects step up and impress, and that is setting things up for a trade-heavy day of action.

Top prospects Miles Robinson, Abu Danladi and Jeremy Ebobisse remain the most sought-after prospects in the draft, though Jonathan Lewis and Chris Odoi-Atsem are fast approaching. That quintet is the reason so many teams are no trying to trade up into the top portion of the draft.

No more talk. Here is the final SBI 2017 MLS Draft Big Board:

SBI 2017 MLS Draft Big Board (Final Version)

$ = Generation adidas, * = Generation adidas Canada, % = Counts as international player

1. ($) MILES ROBINSON, Syracuse, Centerback

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Multiple teams are trying to trade up to select the 6-foot-2 centerback, who put together a solid MLS Combine showing.

2. ($) ABU DANLADI, UCLA, Forward

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Showed enough good glimpses at the MLS Combine to remain a solid Top 3 choice.

3. ($) JEREMY EBOBISSE, Duke, Forward

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Finally played on the Combine’s last day and made an impression, scoring a beautiful goal to make it clear he has something special. The U.S. Under-20 striker is still a candidate for the top pick, but has fewer teams trying to trade up for him than Robinson or Danladi.

4. ($) JONATHAN LEWIS, Akron, Attacking midfielder/winger

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Showed some very good attacking quality, and potential, throughout the Combine, including a knack for scoring goals from midfield. Could crack the top three if one of the teams that rate him succeed in trading up (like D.C. United).

5. CHRIS ODOI-ATSEM, Maryland, Right Back

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Enjoyed a very impressive Combine from start to finish and remains a solid Top 5 choice, with multiple teams looking to trade up to try and land the draft’s best fullback and most pro-ready player.

6. ($) JACKSON YUEILL, UCLA, Winger/Forward

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Did not have the special moments at the Combine that the others above him on this list had, but Yuiell showed his qualities, which include very clean passing and good understanding of positioning in attack. There are doubts about his ability to impact the game on the pro level, which is why some teams don’t see him as a top 5 pick.

7. (%) LALAS ABUBAKAR, Dayton, Centerback

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Was arguably the best player at the Combine, putting together three strong days and showing his toughness as well as strength, aerial dominance and surprising technical quality. The biggest knock against him is his size, which is probably closer to 6-foot, than 6-foot-1, but he plays bigger than his height and should be a Top 10 pick.

8. JACORI HAYES, Wake Forest, Central Midfielder

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Put together a good Combine, and convinced some teams he can hold his own as a central midfielder on the next level. Questions persist about where he will fit positionally in MLS, but there is little denying he is a very good soccer player and he only helped his stock.

9. NICK DEPUY, UCSB, Forward

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Teams needing a target forward had to like what they saw from Depuy at the Combine. His movement, work rate and edge stood out despite playing on a team with limited creative options to set him with chances.

10. ERIC KLENOFSKY, Monmouth, Goalkeeper

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The top goalkeeper in the draft had mixed results at the Combine, showed excellent distribution and a willingness to attack crosses into his area, but made some mistakes that may have left some teams asking questions. There are also concerns about him needing to put more weight on his 6-foot-6 frame. Still very much a first-round talent.

11. NIKO HANSEN, New Mexico, Right winger/Forward

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Quick and dynamic attacker had a strong MLS Combine and definitely has a few teams that could take him in the top 10. Pinning down his best position is one question, but he’s clearly someone who can contribute to an attack, either as a winger or second forward.

12. BRANDON AUBREY, Notre Dame, Centerback

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13. DANIEL JOHNSON, Louisville, Central Midfielder

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14. (%) ZEIKO LEWIS, Boston College, Right Winger/Forward

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15. COLTON STORM, North Carolina, Right Back

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16. MARCUS EPPS, South Florida, Forward/Winger

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17. ADONIJAH REID, Canadian U-20s, Forward

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18. (%) GUILLERMO DELGADO, Delaware, Forward

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19. (%) JULIAN GRESSEL, Providence, Right winger/Central Midfielder

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20. JAKOB NERWINSKI, UConn, Right Back

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21. BRIAN NANA-SINKAM, Stanford, Centerback

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22. BRIAN WRIGHT, Forward, Vermont

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23. JUSTIN SCHMIDT, Washington, Centerback

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24. (*) SHAMIT SHOME, FC Edmonton, Defensive Midfielder

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25. (%) NAZEEM BARTMAN, South Florida, Forward

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26. CHRISTIAN THIERJUNG, California, Forward/Midfielder

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27. WALKER HUME, North Carolina, Centerback

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28. CHRIS NANCO, Syracuse, Forward

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29. (%) JOSEPH HOLLAND, Hofstra, Attacking Midfielder

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30. (%) FRANCIS DEVRIES, St. Francis (PA), Centerback

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31. REAGAN DUNK, Denver, Right Back

32. MICHAEL AMICK, UCLA, Centerback

33. RUSSELL CICERONE, Buffalo, Forward

34. JORDAN WILSON, Kentucky, Centerback

35. (%) JORGE GOMEZ SANCHEZ, Temple, Attacking Midfielder

36. (%) DOMINIC ODURO, FC Nordsjaelland, Right Back

37. ALEC FERRELL, Wake Forest, Goalkeeper

38. DANILO RADJEN, Akron, Centerback

39. ANDREW WHEELER-OMIUNU, Harvard, Defensive Midfielder

40. (%) MATEJ DEKOVIC, Charlotte, Left Back

41. (%) ROBERT MOEWES, Duke, Goalkeeper

42. MIKE DEGRAFFENREIDT, Louisville, Centerback/Right Back

43. JALEN BROWN, Xavier, Defensive Midfielder

44. KWAME AWUAH, UConn, Defensive Midfielder

45. (%) JACK ELLIOTT, West Virginia, Centerback

46. AUDEN SCHILDER, Washington, Goalkeeper

47. CONNOR MALONEY, Penn State, Forward

48. (%) AARON JONES, Clemson, Right Back

49. (%) LINDO MFEKA, South Florida, Central Midfielder

50. LIAM CALLAHAN, Syracuse, Left Back

51. TANNER THOMPSON, Indiana, Central midfielder

52. TREVOR HABERKORN, California, Centerback

53. (%) NAPO MATSOSO, Kentucky, Central Midfielder

54. BRANDT BRONICO, Charlotte, Defensive Midfielder

55. (%) MARTIM GALVAO, Portugal, Central Midfielder

56. SULI DAINKEH, Maryland, Left Back

57. TUCKER HUME, North Carolina, Forward

58. AUSTIN LEDBETTER, SIU-Edwardsville, Centerback

59. ROBBY SAGEL, Penn State, Centerback

60. (%) SOUHAIB DHAFLAOUI, Denmark, Forward

61. CHRIS WEHAN, New Mexico, Central Midfielder/Right Winger

62. (%) FELIX VOBEJDA, UCLA, Right Winger/Right Back

63. SAM HAMILTON, Denver, Defensive Midfielder

64. ALEX NEFF, Utah Valley, Centerback

65. (%) DAVID GOLDSMITH, Butler, Forward

66. IMAN MAFI, Clemson, Left Back

67. JAKE MCGUIRE, Tulsa, Goalkeeper

68. KYLE BJORNETHUN, Seattle U., Centerback

69. TRAVIS NICKLAW, San Diego State, Forward

70. (%) STEFAN CLEVELAND, Louisville, Goalkeeper

71. (%) OYVIND ALSETH, Syracuse, Central Midfielder

72. EDDIE SANCHEZ, Portland, Forward

73. CODY ALBRECHT, Maryland, Defender

74. PADDY FOSS, Virginia, Left Back

75. ETHAN KUTLER, Colgate, Forward

76. EVAN PANKEN, Notre Dame, Midfielder

77. CHRIS WINGATE, New Hampshire, Central Midfielder

78. BILLY MCCONNELL, Indiana, Right Back

79. WUILITO FERNANDES, UMASS-Lowell, Attacking Midfielder/Forward

80. RIGGS LENNON, Creighton, Forward

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Comments

  1. could you do a side be side comparison to the first big board? curious if/how/how much these guys shifted around given their combine performances. for example, it was generally understood that Aubrey disappointed during the 3 games at the combine (not the end of the world by any means and doesn’t discount his college career) but did it impact your feelings on the big board significantly?

    definitely not the most scientific measure, just curious how much of an impact the combine performance as in your eyes.

    Reply

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