Sixteen teams might have participated in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, but the crowd at the Pennsylvania Convention Center made its allegiances clear at the moment MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced Oregon State forward Danny Mwanga as the top overall pick.
The crowd roared its approval as the hometown Philadelphia Union tabbed Mwanga as the first draft pick in their history and made the Congolese striker the first of their MLS-record three selections among the first seven picks.
"To be here and hearing my name chanting by the Sons of Ben as the top pick, it's kind of overwhelming," Mwanga said. "I couldn't be more pleased. It is a dream. As a kid, you dream of playing in the pros. Now to have it happen is just amazing."
New York started chants among the Red Bulls supporters that made the short drive by selecting Virginia midfielder Tony Tchani with the second overall pick. Tchani, the imposing central midfielder who impressed observers with his displays at the adidas MLS Player Combine, was expected to go in the first three picks, but said even he couldn't shake the nerves he felt before hearing his name called.
"I was so nervous, I was just like 'Wow, this is a big day.' I told myself to just go and do it," Tchani said.
San Jose selected Wake Forest defender Ike Opara with the third overall pick. Opara marked the first of a MLS-record four first-round draft picks out of the same school. Demon Deacons teammates Zack Schilawski (ninth overall to New England), Corben Bone (13th overall to Chicago) and Austin Da Luz (14th overall to New York) rounded out the complement.
"We call it the franchise because (Wake has) produced so many players," Opara said.
Akron forward Teal Bunbury followed in his father's footsteps by heading to Kansas City with the fourth overall selection. Bunbury's father, former Canadian international forward Alex Bunbury, played two seasons for the Wizards. In addition to the club ties, Teal Bunbury will be the first son of a former MLS player to join the league.
"It's incredible," Bunbury said. "I never would have dreamed something like this would have happened. I'm just ready for the challenge. I'm really excited."
FC Dallas grabbed versatile North Carolina midfielder Zach Loyd with the fifth overall selection. Loyd, a native of Verdigris, Okla., said he was thrilled to have the opportunity to play in the closest MLS market to his hometown.
"I'm really excited," Loyd said. "I'm close to home -- I grew up in Oklahoma -- so my family can come and see games. I've been thinking about this and dreaming about this since I was a little kid playing soccer. I'm just really thankful that Dallas has given me the opportunity to come there. I'm going put in a good work rate and help the team in any way that I can."
Philadelphia added two more Generation adidas players with the sixth and seventh picks, both of which were acquired through trade over the past two days. Union tapped UCLA midfielder Amobi Okugo with the sixth pick, a selection they picked up on Thursday morning from FC Dallas in exchange for allocation money. U.S. U-17 forward Jack McInerney joined with the following pick after Union gained it in the swap that sent Troy Perkins to D.C. United on Wednesday.
Columbus selected Rutgers midfielder Dilly Duka, a member of the U.S. U-20 national team, with the eighth pick before New England grabbed Schilawski at No. 9. Chivas USA closed out the top 10 with an eighth Generation adidas player by picking Akron midfielder Blair Gavin.
"It's a heavy weight off my shoulders," Gavin said. "During the last couple of nights, I was a little bit sleep-deprived, wondering where I was going and where I'm going to be. I couldn't be happier. It finally came and my name got called. It was a dream come true. Since I was a little kid, I've been working for this. It's awesome."
Seattle coach Sigi Schmid leaned on his southern California connections to pick UCLA forward David Estrada with the 11th pick before Columbus opted for burly Notre Dame forward Bright Dike with the next pick. Chicago took advantage of Bone's surprisingly slip down the draft board by grabbing the Wake Forest playmaker one spot before the Red Bulls took Da Luz.
Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles spiced up the end of the first round by swapping picks in a deal that sent former Galaxy midfielder Clint Mathis back to southern California. RSL moved up one slot and selected Collen Warner with the 15th pick, while the Galaxy ended the opening by making UCLA midfielder Michael Stephens the third Bruins player picked in the first 16 picks.
Philadelphia made a SuperDraft-high six selections, while D.C. United and Los Angeles left the draft with one player. The 64 draft picks represented 41 different schools and included 12 Generation adidas players.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
