2013 MLS Mock Draft Debut
This 2013 MLS Mock Draft Debut will list some of the players to keep an eye on in a year from now depending on which underclassmen return. I am sticking with the current MLS Draft order for 2013 for now unless an announcement gets made on whether the league is sticking with 19 teams or going to 20 in 2013 because of the rumors about expanding a team to New York, Detroit, Las Vegas, or Orlando. Until an official announcement gets made I’m sticking with the current 19 teams.
The Connecticut Huskies College Soccer team could have 3 top 5 picks in 2013 if 2 of their sophomores return to Connecticut.
If you think there are any underclassmen not on this list that I should keep an eye on let me know by emailing me at [email protected] and I will try to do more research on those players to determine where they should go in future mock drafts.
1. Montreal Impact Giuseppe Gentile Forward Charlotte Sophomore I was originally going to put Eriq Zavaleta here. Giuseppe Gentile led Charlotte with 10 goals and 2 assists as a true freshman. Gentile led Charlotte in tournament action with 3 goals and an assist.
I realize Zavaleta impressed with 10 goals as a true freshman. I don’t think you can ignore how Charlotte took the 2011 College Cup by storm the same way Virginia Commonwealth took the 2011 NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament by storm which is why Gentile is my top pick here. Gentile has earned the right to be the top pick in my inaugural 2013 MLS Mock Draft with his impressive play in 2011.
2012 First Round Pick Andrew Wenger Defenseman Duke
2. Vancouver Whitecaps Andrew Jean Baptiste Defenseman Connecticut Junior Andrew Jean Baptiste has a chance to be a top 5 pick if he comes out in 2012 if he gets a Generation Adidas Deal. Andrew Jean Baptiste may compete for the #1 pick if he returns to school in 2012. Connecticut will win a title if Jean Baptiste and Diouf both return to Connecticut.
The 6 foot 2 205 pound center back won the Big East player of the Year award in 2011. Andrew Jean Baptiste would be the top center back in the 2013 MLS Draft if he returned to school.
Vancouver will likely take UCLA midfielder Kelyn Rowe now that Mattocks is going to Europe to turn down a Generation Adidas deal. This puts off Vancouver’s plan to draft a center back for another year.
2012 First Round Pick Kelyn Rowe Midfielder UCLA
3. New England Revolution Mamadou Diouf Forward Connecticut Junior Diouf scored 13 goals as a sophomore in 2011. If New England gets a midfielder i 2012 like Enzo Martinez then Diouf could be an option in 2013. I think New England would take a hometown prospect like Diouf with this selection.
2012 First Round Pick Enzo Martinez Defenseman
4. Toronto FC Jared Watts Defenseman Wake Forest Junior Watts is a defensive midfielder with a very aggressive game. Watts has the versatility to convert to center back as well.
I gave Toronto a forward and center back in 2012. Toronto uses this pick on an aggressive defensive midfielder like Wake Forest defender Jared Watts who could be a top 5 pick in 2013 if he gets a Generation Adidas Deal.
2012 First Round Picks Billy Schuler Forward North Carolina and Austin Berry Defenseman Louisville
5. Chivas USA Andre Blake Goalie Connecticut Sophomore Blake started 25 games as a true freshman at goalie playing 2,337 minutes at goaltender. Blake had a .385 GAA which was the 2nd lowest in the entire country as a true freshman.
Andre Blake is an outstanding goalie. After winning an award for Big East Player Of the Year, Andrew Jean Baptiste stated that Blake made his job a lot easier at goaltender. Both Jean Baptiste and Blake could win a title with Connecticut next season.
Blake deserves a Generation Adidas offer and he should be a top 5 pick.
2012 First Round Pick Luis Silva Midfielder UC Santa Barbara
6. San Jose Earthquakes Tyler Polak Defenseman Creighton Junior The Earthquakes could use a left back at some point.
2012 First Round Pick Nick DeLeon Forward/Midfielder/Defenseman Louisville
7. DC United Aodhan Quinn Midfielder Akron Junior DC United can take a left back in 2012. The DC United need a double digit assist man like Quinn if the left back cannot solidify the final hole on thier roster.
2012 First Round Pick Taylor Kemp Defenseman Maryland
8. Portland Timbers Eriq Zavaleta Forward Indiana Sophomore Zavaleta was the #1 overall recruit in 2011. Zavaleta had 10 goals for Indiana as a true freshman.
2012 First Round Pick Matt Hedges Defenseman North Carolina
9. Chicago Fire David Opoku Forward UC Santa Barbara Junior Opoku could be a top 10 pick in 2013 if he decides to return to school for another year. Opoku has great size and physical ability.
2012 First Round Pick Brian “Cobi” Span Midfielder Virginia Sophomore
10. Columbus Crew Nick Palodichuk Midfielder Duke Sophomore Palodichuk is the #2 overall recruit in the country before his freshman season in 2011 behind Zavaleta.
2012 First Round Pick Aaron Maund Defenseman Notre Dame Senior
11. FC Dallas Dillon Powers Defenseman Notre Dame Senior Dillon Powers could help out FC Dallas as a defensive midfielder or as a center back. I think Generation Adidas turns down Powers which forces him to return for his senior season.
2012 First Round Pick Casey Townsend Forward Maryland
12. New York Red Bulls Eric Schoelne Defenseman West Virginia Senior The Red Bulls could use a center back after giving up too many easy plays. Schoelne would be the top center back here.
2012 First Round Pick No First Round Pick
13. Philadelphia Union Blake Smith Forward New Mexico Senior Smith is a left winger. He would add another winger for the Union on offense.
2012 First Round Pick Tommy Meyer Defenseman Indiana
14. Colorado Rapids Will Bates Forward Virginia Senior Redshirt Will Bates should be a late round pick in 2013 if he has a dominant senior season while staying healthy.
2012 First Round Pick Chris Estridge Defenseman Indiana
15. Seattle Sounders Carlos Alvarez Forward/Midfield Connecticut Senior Alvarez could be used as an attacking midfielder for offensive ammunition.
2012 First Round Pick Hunter Jumper Defenseman Virginia
16. Sporting Kansas City Marcello Castro Defenseman Sacred Heart Senior Redshirt Sporting Kansas City could really use a center back. Marcello Castro will be one of the top center back prospects in 2013.
2012 First Round Pick Brian Rowe Goalie UCLA Senior
17. Real Salt Lake Ashani Fariclough Defenseman South Florida Senior Fariclough can play center back or defensive midfielder. Fariclough is the best available player at this point.
2012 First Round Pick Chandler Hoffman Forward UCLA Junior
18. Houston Dynamo Kevin Durr Midfielder Air Force Senior Durr had 10 assists for Air Force as a junior. Durr has the high character and amazing playmaking ability to warrant a high first round pick.
2012 First Round Pick Ben Speas Forward North Carolina Junior
19. Los Angeles Galaxy Matt Lodge Midfielder Kentucky Senior Lodge had double digit assists as a junior for Kentucky. Lodge will be a late first round pick if he returns for his senior season in 2013.
2012 First Round Pick Dom Dwyer Forward South Florida
