The Columbus Crew drafted three new players at Friday's 2005 MLS SuperDraft in Baltimore, landing North Carolina midfielder Marcus Storey, Maryland midfielder Domenic Mediate and Michigan striker Knox Cameron. The Crew also completed a trade with the Colorado Rapids that sends forward Jeff Cunningham to the Rapids in exchange for Colorado's natural first-round draft pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft.
Cunningham, who has played for the Crew for the last seven years, finished the 2004 season second in scoring for Columbus with 22 points on nine goals and four assists.
Columbus had to wait until the second round of this year's four-round event to make a pick, taking Storey with the 18th overall selection. An attack-minded midfielder, Storey will add speed to the Crew flanks. The 22-year-old Houston native tied for the North Carolina scoring lead in 2004, registering 18 points on six goals and six assists.
The second selection for the Crew was Mediate, a 22-year-old midfielder. He appeared in three College Cup Final Fours during his college career at Maryland, once capturing the ACC title on the way. Also a Texas native, Mediate started all 25 games for the Terrapins in 2004, netting nine goals and adding nine assists for 27 points.
Cameron was the last pick by the Crew, a late selection (No. 44) in the fourth and final round. A big, physical forward from New York, Cameron is second all time for the Wolverines in both goals (28) and points (72).
"The proof is in the pudding, as they say, but we're very happy with the three guys that we were able to select today, especially given our position in the draft order," said head coach Greg Andrulis. "We came in here with some specific purpose and some ideas in mind and we feel really good about what transpired."
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
