Atlanta United currently has the Nos. 2 and 8 picks in the MLS SuperDraft, which will be held in Los Angeles on Jan. 13.
The expansion squad has 19 players, composed of a mix of MLS veterans (Jeff Larentowicz, Michael Parkhurst and Jacob Peterson), young players with potential who have never appeared in MLS (Hector Villalba, Miguel Almiron and Andrew Carleton) and those in between.
I reached out to Will Parchman (@WillParchman), staff writer at the website www.topdrawersoccer.com, to get his take on the best players at forward, midfield and defense that Atlanta United may target with those two first-round picks.
Some of these players would need to sign Generation Adidas contracts to become draft eligible.
Forwards
Jeremy Ebobisse
Age: 19
Height 6-0
College: Duke
He’s already signed an MLS contract and was assigned to play for Charleston in the USL. The Battery are Atlanta United’s USL affiliate. … He played in 19 games as a freshman and 19 more as a sophomore with nine goals and seven assists.
Parchman: Minnesota has been tracking him. He’s an easy pick. He’s little bit more of a do-everything guy. He can play with back to goal or run into space.
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Abu Danladi
Age: 21
Height: 5-10
College: UCLA
Played in 11 matches in 2016 because of an injury but scored seven goals with two assists. … Appeared in 19 games in 2015 with six goals and 10 assists. … Played in 12 games as a freshman with five goals and six assists.
Parchman: In my opinion, he’s a better upside guy than Ebobissie. … He came over in Right to Dream program from Ghana. Huge upside. Can he stay healthy?
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Gordon Wild
Age: 21
Height: 5-10
College: Maryland
Originally from Cologne, Germany. … The Big Ten Offensive player of the year in 2016. … Scored 17 goals in 2016 after scoring 16 at South Carolina-Upstate in 2015.
Others to watch: Delaware’s Guillermo Delgado (49 goals in four years) and New Mexico’s Niko Hansen (28 goals in four years).
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MIDFIELDERS
Ian Harkes
Age: 21
Height: 6-0
College: Wake Forest
Son of former U.S. men’s national team standout John Harkes. … Started 23 games as a senior with five goals and four assists. … Started 22 games a junior with one goal and four assists. … Started 16 games as a junior with two goals and three assists and 21 games as a freshman with one goal and seven assists.
Parchman: He seems likely to sign a Homegrown Player contract with D.C. United.
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Jacori Hayes
Age: 21
Height: 5-7
College: Wake Forest
Played in 25 games with eight goals and three assists as a senior. … Played in 22 games with five goals and five assists as a junior. … started 17 games with one goal and six assists as a sophomore. … Played in 18 games with one goal and one assist as a freshman.
Parchman: He’s a smaller midfielder. … Real quality on the ball, a lot of technical ability.
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Jackson Yueill
Age: 19
Height: 5-10
College: UCLA
Played in 20 games with two goals and 11 assists, which led the Pac-12 in 2016. … Played in 20 games as a sophomore with seven goals and six assists. … He’s from Minnesota.
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Eddie Sanchez
Age: 22
Height: 5-9
College: Portland
Appeared in 18 games with six goals and seven assists in 2016. … Appeared in 17 games with give goals and an assist in 2015. … Appeared in 13 games with five goals and three assists in 2014. … Appeared in 17 games with 12 goals and three assists in 2013.
Parchman: Portland played really good soccer this year. He pulled the strings for them this year. He’s 22 on our big board. Wouldn’t be surprised if he went a lot higher.
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DEFENDERS
Miles Robinson
Age: 21
Height: 6-2
College: Syracuse
ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. … Scored four goals in 2016. … Helped Syracuse post 11 shutouts after nine in 2015. … Scored four goals in 2015, too.
Parchman: if Ebobissie comes out, Robinson from Syracuse is a pretty easy grab. … Really great range. … He’s lanky. Hasn’t filled into his frame yet. … Probably the best defensive prospect in the draft. … Can play outside or the centerback.
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Brandon Aubrey
Age: Not found on internet.
Height: 6-3
College: Notre Dame
Appeared in 21 games with nine goals in 2016. … Appeared in 20 games with three goals and two assists in 2015. … Appeared in 21 games with three goals in 2014. … Appeared in 14 games in 2013.
Parchman: He’s the second-best defender. … Very typical American centerback: Not a lot of mobility but fantastic in air and very physical. … Good depth guy. … Centerbacks have an easier time transitioning into MLS. … He could be a smart pick at 8.
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Reagan Dunk
Age: 22
Height: 5-11
College: Denver
Summit League Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. … Made 79 appearances in his career at Denver. … Two goals and 18 assists.
Parchman: Reagan Dunk may be the best fullback in the draft. I saw him play in College Cup and he shut down Wake Forest’s best winger. … Lot of speed. … Reminds me a lot of Keegan Rosenberry. … A good all-around fullback at right back. … Great marker, good in space, great on recovery.
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Colton Storm
Age: Not found on internet
Height: 5-10
College: UNC
Made 20 appearances in 2016 with three assists. … Started 20 games in 2015 with two goals and three assists. … Made nine starts in 2014 and 13 appearances in 2013.
Parchman: Good range. An MLS team will probably look to shift him outside.
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