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20. <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/deshorn-brown" target="_blank">Deshorn Brown</a></h1><strong>Pos: F | Colorado Rapids | Age: 22</strong><p>One of the leaders of the Colorado Rapids’ youth revolution, the rookie forward from the University of Central Florida has burst onto the scene with a team-leading seven goals and also four assists in 27 games. Thrust into the limelight because of a number of Colorado injuries after being taken with the sixth overall pick of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, Brown hasn’t disappointed. The lanky 22-year-old has been lauded for his incredible pace and athletic ability around the goal, and it doesn't hurt to stand 6-foot-2, either. Colorado saw the Jamaican as the perfect understudy to veteran forward Edson Buddle, but it’s been increasingly hard to keep Brown off the field even now that Buddle is healthy.</p><p><strong>What TDs and coaches like: </strong>“I like him a lot. He’s got great athleticism, great pace. He goes past people well. He can score goals. He’s a handful. ... He strikes a good ball. He’s capable. He’s got the frame and the athleticism to survive in this league. ... He can fly. ... He’s been dangerous as a guy who has the pace to get behind defenders. He has scored a little bit in the air, too, so that part of his game is pretty good. ... He reminds me of [Gyasi Zardes] in terms of his length and his athleticism and his speed. ... He's good in the air, he's strong, and his link-up play is actually better than I thought it would be in college. He's able to play as a No. 9 through the middle or play wide in their front three, so he's shown some versatility."</p><p><strong>Where TDs and coaches want improvement: </strong>"I think his consistency and his finishing and his final pass. He’s up there with the most shots in the league, but a lot of those miss the target. ... He’s one of those guys who just keeps going, so there’s lots of positives about that, but I do think just his end product, his final pass, his final shot has to improve. ... I think Deshorn has maybe four, five, six goals where probably a clinical finisher would have 15. That's how may chances he's gotten. ... He is still raw in terms of his link-up play, in terms of his hold-up play, in terms of his defending. ... The hardest skill is for a collegiate kid or a young kid playing at the next level to be a dangerous goalscorer. Those moments don’t come often, and when they do, players with experience know how to slow things down. With Deshorn, sometimes he still plays quickly."</p><p><strong>Opta Says:</strong> Deshorn Brown leads all players eligible for 24 Under 24 with 70 shots attempted (excluding blocks), and is tied for the 2013 overall lead as well.<br></p> |
<span style="font-size: 12px;">Tale of the Tape</span> |
Last Year in 24U24: N/A |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/castrol" target="_blank">Castrol Index</a> (as of 9/17/13): #60 |
<span style="font-size: 12px;">2013 Stats</span> |
Matches played: 27 |
Matches started: 21 |
Goals: 7 |
Assists: 4 |
<span style="font-size: 12px;">Related Content</span> |
<ul><li><strong>READ: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/07/03/rookie-rankings-colorado-rapids-duo-dillon-powers-and-deshorn-brown-lock-spo" target="_blank">Brown one of Rookie of the Year favorites</a></li><li><strong>WATCH:</strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2013/06/19/goal-deshorn-brown-picks-berrys-pocket" target="_blank"> Brown picks pocket, scores goal</a></li><li><strong>WATCH: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2013/08/17/goal-deshorn-brown-heads-his-7th-season" target="_blank">Brown scores seventh of the year</a></li><li><strong>READ:</strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/08/15/new-strikers-arrive-colorado-rapids-deshorn-brown-hopes-better-finishing-can" target="_blank"> Brown hopes better finishing keeps him in XI</a></li></ul> |
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