As the MLS SuperDraft approaches, among the most important and intriguing developments leading up to draft day is the announcement of this year's Generation adidas team, annually a who's who of the best and brightest prospects coming into Major League Soccer.
The program seeks to identify elite high school seniors and NCAA underclassmen in order to maximize their talents with specific training and intensified instruction. Subsequently, many of those players have gone on to become prominent members of Major League Soccer and Generation adidas alums dot the various U.S. national teams. One important note is that once a player enters the Generation adidas program, he is classified as a professional and forfeits any remaining NCAA eligibility.
Originally known as the Nike Project-40 program, until 2005, many players who sign contracts within the Generation adidas parameters have later been drafted in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft, including seven of the first 13 players chosen in the 2007 SuperDraft, and six first-rounders in 2006.
While Generation adidas players are being drafted early for their abilities on the field, there is a financial benefit to MLS teams as well. Generation adidas players do not count against an MLS senior roster and their salaries do not count toward the league's salary limit. In addition to training and playing on a weekly basis with their MLS club, Generation adidas players will also receive educational grants to further their college education.
Which young stars will show up on this year's Generation adidas roster is as yet unknown, but it's safe to say that all the MLS teams are paying close attention, and it's likely that come January 18, more than a few such players will hear their names called early in the draft.
The Generation adidas Class of 2007
2007 Performance
Player |
Age |
Position |
College/Other |
Draft details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Maurice Edu |
20 |
M |
Maryland |
No. 1 overall, Toronto FC (25 games, 4 goals, 1 assist) |
Bakary Soumare |
21 |
D |
Virginia |
No. 2, Chicago Fire (19 games, 11 starts) |
Chris Seitz |
19 |
GK |
Maryland |
No. 4, Real Salt Lake (3 games, 2.67 GAA) |
Nico Colaluca |
20 |
M/F |
Virginia |
No. 6, Colorado (4 games) |
Anthony Wallace |
17 |
D/M |
South Florida |
No. 9, FC Dallas (1 game, 1 start) |
Bryan Arguez |
17 |
D/M |
U.S. Under-20 |
No. 11, D.C. United (0 games) |
Amaechi Igwe |
17 |
D |
Santa Clara |
No. 12, N.E. Revolution (0 games) |
Abdus Ibrahim |
15 |
F |
U.S. Under-17 |
No. 14 (Second Round), FC Dallas (0 games) |
Class of 2006
Player |
Age |
Position |
College/Other |
Draft details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Marvell Wynne |
19 |
Def |
UCLA |
No. 1 overall, N.Y. Red Bulls |
Sacha Kljestan |
20 |
M |
Seton Hall |
No. 5, Chivas USA |
Dax McCarty |
18 |
M |
N. Carolina |
No. 6, FC Dallas |
Patrick Ianni |
20 |
D/M |
UCLA |
No. 8, Houston Dynamo |
Kei Kamara |
21 |
F |
Cal St.-Dominguez Hills |
No. 9, Columbus Crew |
Nathan Sturgis |
18 |
D/M |
Clemson |
No. 12, LA Galaxy |
Jed Zayner |
21 |
D |
Indiana |
No. 13 (2nd Rd.), Columbus Crew |
Josmer Altidore |
16 |
F |
U.S. Under-20 |
No. 17 2nd Rd.), N.Y. Red Bulls |
Blake Wagner |
17 |
D |
U.S. Under-20 |
No. 18, FC Dallas |
Jacob Peterson |
19 |
F |
Indiana |
No. 21 (2nd Rd.), Colorado Rapids |
Willie Sims |
21 |
F |
Cal State Northridge |
No. 23 (2nd Rd.), N.E. Revolution |
