SuperDraft

2017 SuperDraft Retrospective: How last year's class fared in rookie season

Abu Danladi - Don Garber - 2017 MLS SuperDraft - No. 1 pick - Minnesota United

Every prospect picked in Friday's MLS SuperDraft hopes to make a roster as an impact player in his first season. Unfortunately for most of these players, that will not be the case.


To know this, all you have to do is look at last year's draft class. Below is every draft pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft and how their rookie seasons played out.


Some were on MLS rosters the whole season, some signed with USL teams, and a couple are – for now – completely out of the professional ranks.


In total, 81 players were picked, and here are some stats on what teams (and leagues) they ended up with:


  • Made an MLS roster: 42
  • Appeared in 1+ MLS games: 27
  • Appeared in 10+ MLS games: 9
  • Appeared in 20+ MLS games: 3
  • Currently on an MLS roster: 27
  • Played in USL while on loan from a MLS club: 29
  • Signed by a USL club: 24


One season does not a career make; any number of these players could still develop into regular starters or even stars in this league. But just 11 percent of the players picked in last year's SuperDraft made 10 or more appearances in 2017.


The continued expansion of the American game will provide previously unavailable levels of opportunity, which could help them develop into MLS contributors.


But the bottom line remains:


You are unlikely to find instant impact in this year's SuperDraft.


2017 MLS SuperDraft - Round 1

PICK
CLUB
PLAYER
NOTES:
1
MIN
<a href="/players/abu-danladi">ABU DANLADI</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>27&nbsp;games, 8&nbsp;goals, 3 assists&nbsp;with Minnesota</li><li>Finished 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting</li></ul>
2
ATL
<a href="/players/miles-robinson">MILES ROBINSON</a><br><strong>​(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>6 games, 5 starts on loan with Charleston in USL</li><li>45 min. with ATLUTD in USOC</li></ul>
3
NYC
<a href="/players/jonathan-lewis">JONATHAN LEWIS</a><br><strong>​(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>11 games, 4 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist with NYCFC</li><li>21 min. in USOC</li></ul>
4
POR
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/jeremy-ebobisse">JEREMY EBOBISSE</a><br><strong>​(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>14 games, 2&nbsp;starts, 1 goal, 3 assists&nbsp;with Timbers</li><li>71 min. in USOC</li><li>5 games, 5 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist on loan with T2 in USL</li><li>#20 in USL's 20 Under 20 list</li></ul>
5
CLB
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/lalas-abubakar">LALAS ABUBAKAR</a><br><strong>​(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>7 games, 6&nbsp;starts, 1 goal&nbsp;with Crew SC</li><li>3 games, 1 start in playoffs</li><li>5 games in USL with Pittsburgh while on loan</li></ul>
6
SJ
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/jackson-yueill">JACKSON YUEILL</a><br><strong>​(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>13 games, 10&nbsp;starts, 1 assist with Quakes</li><li>1 game in playoffs, 4 games in USOC</li><li>6 starts in USL with Reno&nbsp;while on loan</li><li>#16 in USL's 20 Under 20 list</li></ul>
7
VAN
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/jake-nerwinski">JAKE NERWINSKI</a><br><strong>​(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>19 games, 19 starts, 5 assists with Whitecaps</li><li>3 games, 3 starts in playoffs; 2 starts in Canadian Championship</li><li>2 games, 2 starts in USL with VWFC2 while on loan</li></ul>
8
ATL
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/julian-gressel">JULIAN GRESSEL</a><br><strong>​(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>32 games, 24 starts, 5 goals, 9 assists with ATLUTD</li><li>128 min. in USOC</li><li>2017 Rookie of the Year</li></ul>
9
CLB
<a href="/players/niko-hansen">NIKO HANSEN</a><br> ​<strong>(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>14 games, 3&nbsp;starts, 1&nbsp;goal, 2 assists&nbsp;with Columbus</li><li>16 min. in playoffs, 23 min. in USOC</li></ul>
10
HOU
<a href="/players/joe-holland">JOE HOLLAND</a>
<ul><li>22 min. with Dynamo</li><li>13 games, 13 starts in USL with RGVFC on loan</li><li>Option declined by Houston following season</li></ul>
11
CHI
<a href="/players/daniel-johnson">DANIEL JOHNSON</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>125 min. with Fire</li><li>75 min. in USOC</li></ul>
12
DC
<a href="/players/chris-odoi-atsem">CHRIS ODOI-ATSEM</a>
<ul><li>9 games, 5&nbsp;starts with D.C.</li><li>2 starts in USOC</li><li>90 min. in USL with Richmond on loan</li><li>Option declined by D.C. following season</li></ul>
13
RSL
<a href="/players/reagan-dunk">REAGAN DUNK</a>
<ul><li>3 games, 2 starts with RSL</li><li>82 min. in USOC with RSL</li><li>384 min., 2 assists&nbsp;in USL with Real Monarchs while on loan</li><li>Option declined by RSL following season</li></ul>
14
SKC
<a href="/players/colton-storm">COLTON STORM</a><br><strong>​(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>30 games, 29 stars, 1 goal, 3 assists in USL with Swope Park Rangers while on loan</li></ul>
15
COL
<a href="/players/sam-hamilton">SAM HAMILTON</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>124 min. with Colorado</li><li>180 min. in USOC with Colorado</li><li>14 games, 9 starts, 1 goal in USL with Phoenix Rising while on loan</li></ul>
16
NYC
<a href="/players/kwame-awuah">KWAME AWUAH</a><br><strong>​(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>26 min. with NYCFC</li></ul>
17
NY
<a href="/players/zeiko-lewis">ZEIKO LEWIS</a>
<ul><li>1,246 min., 2 goals, 1 assist in USL with Red Bulls II while on loan</li><li>Option declined by Red Bulls following season</li></ul>
18
DAL
<a href="/players/jacori-hayes">JACORI HAYES</a><br><strong>​(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>90 min. with Dallas</li><li>10 games, 8 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist in USL with Tulsa while on loan</li></ul>
19
MTL
<a href="/players/nick-depuy">NICK DEPUY</a><br><strong>​(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>128 min. with Montreal, 14 min. in Canadian Championship</li><li>8 games, 7 starts, 2 goals in USL with Ottawa while on loan</li></ul>
20
NE
<a href="/players/brian-wright">BRIAN WRIGHT</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>45 min. with New England, 157 min., 1 goal&nbsp;in USOC</li><li>186 min. in USL with Tulsa while on loan</li></ul>
21
TOR
<a href="/players/brandon-aubrey">BRANDON AUBREY</a>
<ul><li>21 games, 20 starts, in USL with TFCII while on loan</li><li>Option declined by TFC following season</li></ul>
22
SEA
<a href="/players/brian-nana-sinkam">BRIAN NANA-SINKAM</a>
<ul><li>Signed with Sounders 2 on March 22</li><li>27 games, 26 starts, 3 goals, 2 assists in USL with S2</li></ul>

2017 MLS SuperDraft - Round 2

PICK
CLUB
PLAYER
NOTES:
1 (23)
MIN
<a href="/players/alec-ferrell">ALEC FERRELL</a>
<ul><li>Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch in Denver, CO</li></ul>
2 (24)
COL
<a href="/players/liam-callahan">LIAM CALLAHAN</a>
<ul><li>Playing with Syracuse Silver Knights in the Major Arena Soccer League</li></ul>
3 (25)
PHI
<a href="/players/marcus-epps">MARCUS EPPS</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>709 min., 2 goals, 1 assist with Philadelphia</li><li>131 min., 1 goal in USOC</li><li>13 games, 13 starts, 1 goal in USL with Bethlehem while on loan</li></ul>
4 (26)
CHI
<a href="/players/stefan-cleveland">STEFAN CLEVELAND</a><br><strong>​(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>0 games with Fire</li></ul>
5 (27)
CHI
<a href="/players/guillermo-delgado">GUILLERMO DELGADO</a>
<ul><li>Trained with Chicago after earning degree in May</li><li>Currently in Spain but will be trying out for Pittsburgh Riverhounds</li></ul>
6 (28)
SJ
<a href="/players/lindo-mfeka">LINDO MFEKA</a>
<ul><li>Signed with Earthquakes on April 6</li><li>1 min. with Quakes</li><li>22 games, 22 starts, 4 goals, 3 assists in USL with Reno while on loan</li><li>Option declined following season</li></ul>
7 (29)
VAN
<a href="/players/francis-de-vries">FRANCIS DE VRIES</a>
<ul><li>Signed with Vancouver Whitecaps 2 on March 16</li><li>20 games, 20 starts in USL with VWFC2</li><li>Signed with Canterbury United of New Zealand Premiership on Nov. 24</li></ul>
8 (30)
HOU
<a href="/players/jake-mcguire">JAKE MCGUIRE</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>Signed with Philadelphia on March 10</li><li>23 starts in USL with Bethlehem while on loan</li></ul>
9 (31)
NE
<a href="/players/napo-matsoso">NAPO MATSOSO</a>
<ul><li>Appeared with Lesotho national team on July 7</li><li>Finished degree at Kentucky in December</li></ul>
10 (32)
POR
<a href="/players/michael-amick">MICHAEL AMICK</a>
<ul><li>Signed with Timbers 2 on March 17</li><li>15 games, 11 starts in USL</li></ul>
11 (33)
PHI
<a href="/players/aaron-jones">AARON JONES</a>
<ul><li>Signed with Philadelphia on Feb. 23</li><li>29 games, 29 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist in USL with Bethlehem while on loan</li><li>Option declined by Union following season</li></ul>
12 (34)
DC
<a href="/players/eric-klenofsky">ERIC KLENOFSKY</a>
<ul><li>1 game in USL with Richmond while on loan</li><li>Option declined by D.C. following season</li></ul>
13 (35)
RSL
<a href="/players/justin-schmidt">JUSTIN SCHMIDT</a>
<ul><li>9 games, 7 starts with Real Salt Lake, 90 min. in USOC</li><li>9 games, 9 starts in USL with Real Monarchs&nbsp;while on loan</li><li>Option declined by RSL following season</li></ul>
14 (36)
HOU
<a href="/players/danilo-radjen">DANILO RADJEN</a>
<ul><li>Signed with Cosmos B on May 5</li></ul>
15 (37)
DAL
<a href="/players/walker-hume">WALKER HUME</a>
<ul><li>2 games, 2 starts with Dallas</li><li>2 games, 2 starts in USOC</li><li>9 games, 9 starts in USL with Orange County while on loan</li><li>Option declined following season</li></ul>
16 (38)
NYC
<a href="/players/jalen-brown">JALEN BROWN</a>
<ul><li>Signed with Rochester on March 7</li><li>972 min., 1 goal, 1 assist in USL</li></ul>
17 (39)
NY
<a href="/players/ethan-kutler">ETHAN KUTLER</a>
<ul><li>Signed with Red Bulls II on March 18</li><li>1,511 min., 1 goal, 1 assist in USL</li><li>Option exercised by NYRBII for 2018</li></ul>
18 (40)
DAL
<a href="/players/adonijah-reid">ADONIJAH REID</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>582 min., 1 goal in USL with Ottawa while on loan</li></ul>
19 (41)
MTL
<a href="/players/shamit-shome">SHAMIT SHOME</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong>
<ul><li>8 min. with Montreal</li></ul>
20 (42)
MIN
<a href="/players/thomas-de-villardi">THOMAS DE VILLARDI</a>
<ul><li>0 min. with Minnesota after rupturing Achilles</li><li>Option declined by Minnesota following season</li></ul>
21 (43)
DC
<a href="/players/jo-vetle-rimstad">JO VETLE RIMSTAD</a>
<ul><li>Signed with Gran IL in Norway</li></ul>
22 (44)
SEA
<a href="/players/dom-oduro">DOM ODURO</a>
<ul><li>Signed with FC Golden State Force</li><li>1002 min. in USL PDL</li></ul>

2017 MLS SuperDraft - Round 3


PICKCLUBPLAYERNOTES:
1 (45)COLJAIME SIAJ
  • Signed with Charlotte Independence on Apr. 12
  • 821 min., 4 goals, 3 assists in USL
2 (46)ATLANDREW WHEELER-OMIUNU
(active MLS player)
  • 30 min. in USOC with ATLUTD
  • Option exercised by Atlanta for 2018
3 (47)CHIBRANDT BRONICO
(active MLS player)
  • 53 min. with Chicago
  • 564 min. in USL with Tulsa while on loan
  • Option exercised by Chicago for 2018
4 (48)RSLANDREW PUTNA
  • Signed with Real Monarchs on March 9
  • 3 starts in USL
  • Option exercised by Real Monarchs for 2018
5 (49)CLBCONNOR MALONEY
(active MLS player)
  • 127 min., 1 assist with Columbus
  • 81 min. in USL with Pittsburgh while on loan
  • Option exercised by Columbus for 2018
6 (50)SJCHRISTIAN THIERJUNG
  • Signed with Cosmos B on April 21
  • 5 goals in NPSL with Cosmos B
  • Signed with Tulsa on July 21
  • 895 min., 4 goals, 1 assist in USL with Tulsa
  • Signed with Reno 1868 FC in USL for 2018
7 (51)VANJORGE GOMEZ SANCHEZ
  • Signed with Leganes B in Spain
8 (52)TORROBERT MOEWES
  • Briefly played for SC Westfalia Herne in German fifth division
9 (53)DALAUSTIN LEDBETTER
  • Signed with Saint Louis FC on Feb. 20
  • 14 games, 14 starts, 1 assist in USL
  • Option exercised by Saint Louis for 2018
10 (54)NYCCHRIS WINGATE
  • Signed with Bethlehem Steel on April 5
  • 361 min. in USL with Bethlehem
  • Option declined by Bethlehem following season
11 (55)PHICHRIS NANCO
  • Signed with Bethlehem Steel on March 9
  • 28 games, 18 starts, 4 goals, 2 assists in USL
  • Option exercised by Bethlehem for 2018
12 (56)SEADOUGLAS GOODMAN
  • Signed with Detroit City FC
  • 15 games, 15 starts, 2 goals, 5 assists in NPSL
13 (57)RSLPASSED
14 (58)SKCDAVID GRECZEK
  • Signed with Swope Park Rangers on Feb. 8
  • 3 starts in USL with SPR
  • Option declined by SPR following season
15 (59)DALDAKOTA BARNATHAN
  • Signed with Swope Park Rangers on Feb. 24
  • 15 games, 13 starts in USL with SPR
  • Option exercised by SPR for 2018 season
16 (60)NYCMICHAEL DEGRAFFENRIEDT
  • Suffered knee injury and spent 2017 rehabbing
  • Signed with Nashville SC in USL for 2018 season
17 (61)NYJORDAN SCARLETT
  • Signed with Red Bulls II on March 22
  • 19 games, 17 starts in USL with NYRBII
  • Option exercised by NYRBII for 2018 season
18 (62)DALWUILITO FERNANDES
  • Signed with Orange County SC on April 7
  • 25 games, 19 starts, 3 goals, 3 assists in USL
19 (63)MTLPASSED
20 (64)ORLDANNY DEAKIN
  • Signed with Orlando City on March 3
  • Moved down to Orlando City B in USL on April 19
  • 1,028 min., 1 goal in USL with OCB
21 (65)TOROYVIND ALSETH
  • Signed with Toronto on March 22
  • 4 games, 4 starts with TFC in MLS
  • 17 games, 13 starts, 1 assist in USL with TFCII while on loan
  • Option declined by TFC following season
22 (66)SEAJAKE STOVALL
  • Signed with Puerto Rico FC on March 2
  • 3 games, 3 starts in NASL with Puerto Rico


2017 MLS SuperDraft - Round 4


PICKCLUBPLAYERNOTES:
1 (67)MINTANNER THOMPSON
  • Signed with Indy Eleven
  • 995 min., 1 goal, 1 assist in NASL with Indy
2 (68)ATLALEX KAPP
(active MLS player)
  • Signed with Minnesota United on Aug. 8
  • Option exercised by Minnesota for 2018 season
3 (69)CHIMATEJ DEKOVIC
  • Signed with Chicago on Feb. 27
  • 228 min. in USL while on loan with Tulsa
  • Option declined by Fire following season
4 (70)HOUROBBY SAGEL
  • Signed with Rio Grande Valley FC
  • 12 games, 11 starts in USL with RGVFC
5 (71)CLBLOGAN KETTERER
(active MLS player)
  • Signed with Columbus on Feb. 20
  • Re-signed for 2018 season
6 (72)SJAUDEN SCHILDER
  • Field Technician for GeoTest Services Inc.
7 (73)VANNAZEEM BARTMAN
  • Signed with Vancouver Whitecaps 2 on April 27
  • 709 min., 1 goal in USL with VWFC2
8 (74)RSLEXCLUDED DUE TO ROUND 3 PASS
9 (75)NEJOSH SMITH
  • Signed with New England on March 1
  • 6 games, 6 starts with Revs
  • 2 games, 2 starts in USOC
  • Option declined by Revs following season
10 (76)PORRUSSELL CICERONE
  • Signed with Timbers 2 on March 17
  • 29 games, 17 starts, 1 goal in USL with T2
  • Signed with FC Cincinnati for 2018 season
11 (77)PHIJACK ELLIOTT
(active MLS player)
  • Signed with Philadelphia on Feb. 24
  • 30 games, 29 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist with Union
  • Finished 3rd in Rookie of the Year voting
12 (78)DCPASSED
    13 (79)RSLEXCLUDED DUE TO ROUND 3 PASS
      14 (80)PORROMILIO HERNANDEZ
      • Signed with Phoenix Rising on March 24
      • 113 min. in USL with Phoenix
      15 (81)SEAPASSED
      16 (82)PHISANTI MOAR
      • Signed with Bethlehem Steel on Jan. 30
      • 30 games, 20 starts, 6 goals, 6 assists in USL with Bethlehem
      • Finished 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting
      • Option exercised by Bethlehem for 2018 season
      17 (83)TORLARS ECKENRODE
      • Signed with Toronto FC II on March 16
      • 7 games, 6 starts with TFCII in USL
      • Contract expired following season
      • Invited to TFCII preseason
      18 (84)DALMARCO CARRIZALES
      • CEO/President of Greenville FC
      19 (85)MTLPASSED
      20 (86)COLPEGUY NGATCHA
      • Played with Cincinnati Dutch Lions
      • 1,093 min., 1 goal in USL PDL
      21 (87)TORJUAN PABLO SAAVEDRA
      • Trained with TFCII
      • Returned to Virginia Tech and finished degree in December
      22 (88)SEAKYLE BJORNETHUN
      • Signed by Timbers 2 on March 17
      • 26 games, 22 starts, 1 assist in USL with T2