The Kansas City Wizards acquired the 1st overall selection in the upcoming MLS SuperDraft today in exchange for veteran defender Nick Garcia. The Wizards now have six picks in the SuperDraft, and have the first pick for the first time since the 1996 College Draft when Kansas City selected midfielder Matt McKeon of St. Louis University. The Wizards have never had more than one 1st round pick in team history. The 2008 MLS SuperDraft takes place at the Baltimore Convention Center (400 Level Ballroom) in Baltimore this Friday. The event begins at 2 p.m. ET and will be carried live by ESPN2 and MLSnet.com.
"I would like to personally thank Nick Garcia for his great service to Kansas City and the Wizards organization," Wizards Technical Director Peter Vermes said. "Nick is a first-class person and has been a consummate professional since he joined the league as my teammate in 2000."
"In order to acquire the 1st overall pick, you have to give up someone as highly regarded as Nick. We continue to search for opportunities to improve the Kansas City Wizards each year. Our goal is to have an attractive style of soccer on the field that continues to be a threat to our opponents. This move also allows us to be flexible to make additional moves to make our team more dangerous. It is definitely with a heavy heart to trade someone of the caliber of Nick, but ultimately the organization feels this is the best opportunity for the Kansas City Wizards long term and we are excited to have the number one overall pick."
Garcia leaves the Wizards as the organization's all-time leader in games played (224), games started (224) and minutes played (20,158). Garcia was selected 2nd overall in 2000 and went on to start every game and play every minute in defense as the Wizards captured MLS Cup 2000. Kansas City set the all-time MLS record for shutouts in a season with 16 and shutouts during the playoffs with five en route to the organization's first-ever championship.
"Kansas City holds a very special place in my heart and always will," Garcia said. "I have grown so much personally and professionally here, met my wife (MeLinda) and experienced unbelievable memories on and off the field, including all the great friends I have made and experiencing all the wonderful restaurants in KC. I especially want to thank the Wizards fans for their support and all the teammates I played with over the past eight seasons."
Kansas City now controls two 1st round picks, two 2nd round picks and one selection in rounds 3 and 4.
Kansas City Wizards 2008 SuperDraft picks
Rd. |
Pick (Overall) |
|---|---|
1 |
1(1)* |
1 |
11(11) |
2 |
9(23)** |
2 |
11(25)*** |
3 |
11(39) |
4 |
11(53) |
Acquired from San Jose Earthquakes for defender Nick Garcia
Acquired from Chivas USA for defender Alex Zotinca
Originally traded to Los Angeles Galaxy for goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. Re-acquired from Galaxy for defender Shavar Thomas
MLS All-Time 1st Overall Selections
1996 M Matt McKeon (Kansas City Wizards)
1997 D Tahj Jakins (Colorado Rapids)
1998 D Leo Cullen (Miami Fusion)
1999 M Jason Moore (D.C. United)
2000 D Steve Shak (MetroStars)
2001 F Chris Carrieri (San Jose Earthquakes)
2002 D Chris Gbandi (Dallas Burn)
2003 F Alecko Eskandarian (D.C. United)
2004 M/F Freddy Adu (D.C. United)
2005 M Nikolas Besagno (Real Salt Lake)
2006 D Marvell Wynn (MetroStars)
2007 M Maurice Edu (Toronto FC)
2008 Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards All-Time 1st Round Picks
1996 M Matt McKeon (1st overall)
1997 M Brian Johnson (7th overall)
1998 M Chris Klein (4th overall)
1999 F Chris Brown (5th overall)
2000 D Nick Garcia (2nd overall)
2001 D Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. (12th overall)
2002 None
2003 None
2004 F Matt Taylor (4th overall)
2005 F Scott Sealy (11th overall)
2006 F Yura Movsisyan (4th overall)
2007 D Michael Harrington (3rd overall)
2008 1st overall
