The 2015 MLS SuperDraft will wrap up on Tuesday afternoon at 2 pm ET with Rounds 3 and 4 (follow LIVE DRAFT TRACKER here).
Our SuperDraft expert, Nate Sulat, gives you the list of Top 20 players still available for selection:
1. Seth Casiple – M, Cal
Casiple finished his senior season at Cal with a goal and seven assists out of central midfield. It’s tough to let a college kid try to become your midfield general, but Casiple could do it if given time to develop.
2. Andrew Wolverton – G, Penn State
Wolverton broke just about every goalkeeping record that there was to break during his four years at Penn State, and at 6-foot-6 and over 220 pounds he definitely has the build to handle the physicality of MLS.
3. Ramon Martin Del Campo – D, UC-Davis
Martin Del Campo had an awful Combine, which is why he’s on this list and not among the selections from the first and second rounds of the SuperDraft. Still, the MLS signee is big and tough as nails, and questions about his positioning become less important for teams that like to sit deep.
4. Cameron Iwasa – F, UC-Irvine
Iwasa was described by one scout we talked to as “sneaky good.” He’s not eye-popping by any means, and at 5-foot-10 doesn’t fit the mold of a consummate No. 9, but he has good feet and can do the dirty work in the box.
5. Andy Craven – F, North Carolina
Craven’s 15 goals and five assists this season helped power his Tar Heels to a quarterfinal finish at the NCAA tournament. Even with that resume and a contract already inked with MLS, Craven somehow still fell out of the first two rounds. He might be a steal at this point.
6. Aaron Simmons – D/M, UCLA
We knew it was a deep draft at center back, but when guys like NC State’s unheralded Clement Simonin get picked in the top-10, it’s officially deeper than anyone had thought. Simmons suffered as a result, but he’s still a very solid defensive player who can step in and make an impact quickly.
7. Anthony Manning – D, Saint Louis
Manning is huge (6-foot-4, 200 pounds), but he’s got surprisingly soft feet for his size and position. One coach we spoke to compared the center back to Eddie Pope, and if there’s even a small chance of that comparison panning out, then he’s definitely worth a pick.
8. James Rogers – M/F, New Mexico
A former Colorado Rapids academy player, Rogers is a fast, dynamic attacking prospect, though his finishing still leaves something to be desired. His speed makes him a threat on the wings.
9. Spencer Richey – G, Washington
Richey looked shaky at times this season for Washington, but had a pretty good Combine. The former US youth international broke his leg during the 2013 season, which might still scare people off, but he can still dominate when he’s on his game.
10. Jose Ribas – D, Creighton
Ribas is a skilled left back, but he’s still going to take up an international slot, and Creighton’s ability to hold possession this year probably hurt his stock as a defender. Still, if you’re looking for an attacking left back, there’s no better option available.
11. Andy Bevin – F, West Virginia
Bevin put on an offensive masterclass in his senior season, scoring 13 goals and adding eight assists. He’s clearly not a one-dimensional striker, and he’s gotten better at taking guys on one-on-one. Bevin is, however, from New Zealand, so he’d take up an international slot.
12. Jordan Murrell – D, Syracuse
Murrell, who finished his season with two goals and seven assists and helped the Orange hold opponents to just 12 goals, wasn’t invited to the Combine, and wasn’t selected in the first two rounds. Weird? Not really, because he's on trial overseas. The Canadian left back was a borderline first round talent, and that's definitely a position of need in MLS for teams on both sides of the border. He's worth a flier here in case he doesn't stick in Europe.
13. Adria Beso Marco – M, UConn
Let’s start with the bad: Beso Marco is small, mostly one-footed, and doesn’t have the pace to become a wide midfielder at the next level. Now the good: His one foot is his left foot, he’s extremely skilled on the ball, and he is the best-equipped to exert a calming influence in the center of the park of maybe anyone in this SuperDraft.
14. Tyler Arnone – M, Michigan
Arnone is a central midfielder whose strength is spraying the ball around to his teammates, but he’s versatile enough that he can play several positions in midfield. A former coach even suggested that he could move to outside back and become the next Chris Wingert.
15. Luke Mishu – D, Notre Dame
Mishu is a tough dude, and he’s got quite an engine on him. He’s quick enough to get into the attack, athletic enough to get back and defend, and probably strong enough to hang on the MLS level. His service could get better, but he’s probably the best right back available at this point.
16. Fabio Machado – M/F, Providence
A former member of the New England Revolution academy, Machado scored six goals and added eight assists in 2014, helping lead Providence to College Cup for the first time in program history. He’s a valuable enough addition for any team looking for attacking midfield depth, particularly one that has their own USL-PRO team.
17. Manolo Sanchez – M, Clemson
Sanchez is your typical winger: Good at link-up play, good with his service, and good at going at outside backs. Maybe not great, but definitely good. Sanchez scored three goals and added six assists as the Tigers pulled off a shock ACC Tournament championship season.
18. Salvador Bernal – M/F, UNLV
Bernal is a crafty attacking player who can beat you with his passing abilities, off the dribble, and can serve as a release valve under heavy pressure. He’s also only 5-foot-7, so he’s very much a system player. If you like playing with the ball on the ground, he’s your guy.
19. Daniel Keller – D, Louisville
Keller started 74 games in four seasons for Louisville. The Cardinals didn’t have a superlative 2014 on defense – 22 goals conceded in 22 games – but they also didn’t have a ton of collective experience in the back. Keller was the anchor, and can help a team that needs depth at center back.
20. Earl Edwards, Jr. – G, UCLA
Edwards can pull off the remarkable, but sometimes fumbles the mundane. That's sort of the opposite of what you want from a ‘keeper, but there's enough raw talent there to make it worth to take on the project.
