the top three picks and seven of 12 first-round selections last year were part of the program -- a handful of college seniors tend to surprise at each year's combine, emerging with sharply raised stock ahead of the MLS SuperDraft.
Just last year, Bradley University product Luke Kreamalmeyer turned heads at the combine, earning the event's MVP award and a trip to the SuperDraft in Baltimore. Real Salt Lake then snapped up Kreamalmeyer with the first pick of the third round of the draft. Also, M.A.C. Hermann Trophy winner Danny O'Rourke came out of the 2005 combine with many coaches thinking he stood the best chance of smoothly transitioning to the professional game. The San Jose Earthquakes traded up to select him with the fourth pick of the draft, and he won a starting spot in the midfield for the Quakes at the beginning of the season.
The coaching staffs and general managers of all 12 MLS teams will attend the combine to scout talent before making their SuperDraft selections at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia on Friday, Jan. 20. Of the 48 players chosen in last year's draft, 39 had participated in the combine the week before.
This year's initial list of combine participants was selected by a panel of Division I coaches representing all conferences. The college coaches nominated and voted for players in conjunction with MLS coaches. At the combine, the players will be separated into four teams and will play in doubleheaders Jan. 13-15 at The Home Depot Center.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
ADIDAS MLS PLAYER COMBINE LIST BY SCHOOL
* Finalists for 2005 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy
University of Akron
M Yohann Mauger
F Ross McKenzie
Birmingham-Southern College
F Karim Dietz
Bradley University
GK Chris Dunsheath
California State University, Northridge
M Dan Paladini
University of California (Cal-Berkeley)
F Calen Carr
GK Eric Kronberg
D Tyson Wahl
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
D Jordan Harvey
Clemson University
D Justin Moore
University of Connecticut
D Willis Forko
M Mpho Moloi
Creighton University
M Matt Wieland
University of Dayton
F Omar Jarun
Drake University
D Cory Farabi
Duke University
M Blake Camp
M Danny Kramer
Eastern Illinois University
F Jimmy Klatter
George Mason University
D Anthony Noriega
Georgetown University
D Jeff Curtin
Indiana University
F Mike Ambersley
M Brian Plotkin
University of Kentucky
GK Andy Gruenbaum
University of Maryland
D Kenny Bertz
F Jason Garey
D Chris Lancos
University of New Mexico
F Jeff Rowland
M Lance Watson
North Carolina State University
F Aaron King
D John Queeley
The Ohio State University
GK Ray Burse
D Kyle Veris
Old Dominion University
F Brian Civilikas
D Trevor McEachron
Oral Roberts University
M Jorge Flor
F David Leung
Oregon State University
F Ryan Johnson
Penn State University
M Brian Devlin
M David Walters
Princeton University
M Darren Spicer
Santa Clara University
F Kelechi Igwe
Southern Methodist University
M David Chun
F Duke Hashimoto
St. John's University
M Jeff Carroll
F Matt Groenwald
St. Louis University
D Danny Wynn
University of South Carolina
M Josh Alcala
Temple University
F Tony Donatelli
University of Tulsa
F Kyle Brown
D Daniel Wasson
Virginia Commonwealth University
D Stephen Shirley
F Dominic Oduro
Wake Forest University
M Justin Moose
University of Washington
M Mike Chabala
