College Stars Selected in 2017 MLS SuperDraft
The 22 MLS teams are selecting from 200 draft eligible players today at the SuperDraft held in Los Angeles during the NSCAA convention. With the tradition of exuberant passion for the beautiful game, the MLS SuperDraft kicked off at noon with the first round draft pick selected.
Expansion team Minnesota United had the honors of going first followed by Atlanta United.
MLS Soccer News: The 2017 MLS SuperDraft takes place in Los Angeles as the top college players in the country begin their transition as professional players.
From UCLA, Abu Danladi was selected as the first MLS draft pick for 2017. The 5’10 Ghana born forward left his family behind and came to Santa Barbara, CA, when he was 16-years-old and started playing for Lloyd Biggs at Santa Barbara Soccer Club.
“Abu is the most creative attacking player I have seen in all my 25 years of coaching,” said Biggs. “Abu has the ability to change games and excite crowds whenever he gets on the ball.”
Giving thanks to Biggs for helping him develop into the player he is today, Danladi is a determined goal scorer who is excited to be selected by the expansion team.
Danladi moved to the United States as a member of the Right to Dream Academy – a program that provides talented children from West Africa with opportunities to fulfill their potential through educational and athletic opportunities. He attended Dunn High School, winning the 2013-14 Gatorade National Player of the Year award before committing to UCLA.
Never having been to Minnesota, this is an entirely new experience for the boy from Takoradi, Ghana. A 2016 MAC-Herman trophy watch list player, Danladi handled the pressure of immense press questioning with ease.
Saying he had no idea he would become the No. 1 draft pick until he heard his name called, Danladi looks forward to working hard to impress his new coach and learning how to become the best player he can be.
“As soon as our team saw Abu, we knew he had talents that were beyond anyone in California,” said Biggs. “He has a bright future and congratulations to Minnesota for selecting Abu. It’s fantastic that he is the No. 1 draft pick for 2017.”
SoccerToday spoke with Danladi following his draft selection as he takes his talents to Minnesota United.
Diane Scavuzzo: When you came to the USA and settled in Santa Barbara, CA, what youth soccer club team did you play for?
Abu Danladi: Santa Barbara Soccer Club.
Diane Scavuzzo: Did you play for the Director of Coaching Lloyd Biggs?
Abu Danladi: Yes, he was my coach — I played for Lloyd Biggs for two years. Lloyd’s a great coach.
Diane Scavuzzo: What did you like best about Biggs?
Abu Danladi: He’s really energetic. He is so good — He really knows the game and always kept it fun — he is very passionate.
Diane Scavuzzo: How did he help you?
Abu Danladi: I was able to play different positions and really develop my skills. Lloyd would tell me what to do and show me how to improve.
Lloyd Biggs helped me to improve a lot and being able to discover talents I didn’t know I had as a player. He really helped me develop.
Diane Scavuzzo: When you first came to the United States what did you think of the soccer that was played here?
Abu Danladi: I discovered soccer was different. In Ghana, the game is more physical and faster. Here, in the USA, it’s more technical. Soccer isn’t played as physically — so you are able to think about the game more, rather than trying to use your body to play the game. I was able to use my speed more.
Diane Scavuzzo: Are you faster than most other players?
Abu Danladi: I would say that I am, but you never know who you are going to play against.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is your special talent? What do you really bring as a player?
Abu Danladi: I’m a goal scorer. Sometimes I go 1v1 against goalies. I can score from outside the 18. I’m a good finisher in the box as well.
Diane Scavuzzo: Are you a good team player?
Abu Danladi: Yes, it’s not about me. It’s about scoring goals — so if there is another player in a better position to score than I am — if the opportunity is not right for me to score, the goal is for the team to score.
Round 1
1st Pick: Abu Danladi – Forward – UCLA (Minnesota United FC)
2nd Pick: Miles Robinson – Defender – Syracuse (Atlanta United)
*Chicago Fire trade the 3rd overall pick to NYCFC for $250K of general allocation money.
3rd Pick: Jonathan Lewis – Forward – Univ. of Akron (New York City FC)
*Portland Timbers trade $100k in GAM, 10th pick and an international roster spot for Houston Dynamo’s 4th overall pick.
4th Pick: Jeremy Ebobisse – Forward – Duke (Portland Timbers)
5th Pick: Alhassan Abubakar – Defender – Univ. of Dayton (Columbus Crew SC)
6th Pick: Jackson Yueill – Midfielder – UCLA (San Jose Earthquakes)
7th Pick: Jakob Nerwinski – Defender – UCONN (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
8th Pick: Julian Gressel – Midfielder – Providence College (Atlanta United)
9th Pick: Niko Hansen – Forward – Univ. of New Mexico (Columbus Crew SC)
10th Pick: Joe Holland – Midfielder – Hofstra Univ. (Houston Dynamo)
11th Pick: Daniel Johnson – Midfielder – Univ. of Louisville (Chicago Fire)
12th Pick: Chris Odoi-Atsem – Defender – Maryland (D.C. United)
13th Pick: Reagan Dunk – Defender – Univ. of Denver (Real Salt Lake)
14th Pick: Colton Storm – Defender – UNC (Sporting Kansas City)
15th Pick: Sam Hamilton – Midfielder – Univ. of Denver (Colorado Rapids)
16th Pick: Kwame Awuah – Midfielder – UCONN (New York City FC)
17th Pick: Zeiko Lewis – Midfielder – Boston College (New York Red Bulls)
18th Pick: Jacori Hayes – Midfielder – Wake Forest (FC Dallas)
19th Pick: Nick Depuy – Forward – UC Santa Barbara (Montreal Impact)
20th Pick: Brian Wright – Forward – Univ. of Vermont (New England Revolution)
21st Pick: Brandon Aubrey – Defender – Notre Dame (Toronto FC)
22nd Pick: Brian Nana-Sinkam – Defender – Stanford (Seattle Sounders FC)
Round 2
23rd Pick: Alec Ferrell – Goalkeeper – Wake Forest (Minnesota United)
24th Pick: Liam Callahan – Midfielder/Defender – Syracuse (Colorado Rapids)
25th Pick: Marcus Epps – Midfielder/Forward – Univ. of South Florida (Philadelphia Union)
26th Pick: Stefan Cleveland – Goalkeeper – Louisville (Chicago Fire)
27th Pick: Guillermo Delgado – Forward – Delaware (Chicago Fire)
28th Pick: Lindo Mfeka – Midfielder/Forward – Univ. of South Florida (San Jose Earthquakes)
29th Pick: Francis de Vries – Defender – St. Francis Univ. (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
30th Pick: Jake McGuire – Goalkeeper – Tulsa (Houston Dynamo)
31st Pick: Napo Matsoso – Midfielder – Kentucky (New England Revolution)
32nd Pick: Michael Amick – Defender – UCLA (Portland Timbers)
33rd Pick: Aaron Jones – Defender – Clemson (Philadelphia Union)
34th Pick: Eric Klenofsky – Goalkeeper – Monmouth Univ. (D.C. United)
35th Pick: Justin Schmidt – Defender – Washington (Real Salt Lake)
36th Pick: Danilo Radjen – Defender – Akron (Houston Dynamo)
37th Pick: Walker Hume – Defender – North Carolina (FC Dallas)
38th Pick: Jalen Brown – Forward – Xavier Univ.(New York City FC)
39th Pick: Ethan Kutler – Forward – Colgate (NY Red Bulls)
40th Pick: Adonijah Reid – Forward – Canada Soccer (FC Dallas)
41st Pick: Shamit Shome – Midfielder – FC Edmonton (Montreal Impact)
42nd Pick: Thomas de Villardi – Defender – Delaware (Minnesota United)
43rd Pick: Jo Vetle Rimstad – Defender – Radford (D.C. United)
44th Pick: Dom Oduro – Defender – Youth International (Seattle Sounders)
