Foreign NCAA D-1 Prospects Worth The Risk In 2016 MLS SuperDraft

FOREIGN NCAA-D1 PROSPECTS WORTH THE RISK IN 2016 MLS SUPERDRAFT

By: Kamal Hylton 

With Prospect XI ramping up its coverage ahead of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft when it comes to NCAA D-1 soccer there are three distinct groups of collegiate players that stand out, North American players that will declare for the draft, North American players already under Homegrown contract with an MLS club and for me arguably the most interesting group being foreign players that will declare for the draft. As we wrote in our Top NCAA Division 1 Programs to Watch article, there are a number of programs ranging from top pedigree to mid majors that possess promising talent with MLS potential.

While MLS clubs have been reluctant in the past to commit an international roster spot to a foreign-born collegiate prospect, choosing instead to use those roster spots on players with more experience or notoriety, this looks set to change in the years to come with clubs committing more time and energy into finding and developing young players through academies and creating minor league affiliates within the United Soccer League (USL) akin to those that are in baseball.

There are players from Africa, the Caribbean and Europe that particularly stand out amongst this class, including Ghanians like Georgetown Hoyas fullback Joshua Yaro that has shown the talent, versatility, speed and athleticism impressing MLS scouts to call him “the full package” to the point that he’s projected to go within the Top 5 picks of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft . Coming from academies like Right To Play, Right To Dream, Junior Aces and others, African prospects have flocked to collegiate soccer for the combination of competitive soccer and education. Other prospects within this class include another Ghanian in UCLA Bruins Sophomore winger Abu Danladi and South Florida Bulls midfielder Lindo Mfeka from South Africa.

When looking at prospects from the Caribbean region, another area where players have continued to blossom within the MLS ranks whether it be coming straight from the island or drafted from the college ranks, one player that has been highly regarded from PXI is North Carolina Tar Heels Jamaican midfielder Omar Holness. He’s player that has displayed the speed, dribbling, ball control, intelligence and experience at international level with the Reggae Boyz  that have MLS scouts regarding him as a possible Top 10 pick should he choose to declare for the draft. Another player garnering interest is Robert Morris Colonials Jamaican midfielder Neco Brett, whose college teammate and fellow countrymen Devon “Speedy” Williams recently signed with New York Red Bulls II in USL.

Then there are players from Europe, including German players such as UCLA Bruins forward Larry Ndjock, Creighton Bluejays midfielder Fabian Herbers and Louisville Cardinals defender Tim Kubel. Other players of potential interest within the draft are North Carolina Tar Heel’s Swedish midfielder Raby George, Delaware Blue Hens Spanish forward Guillermo Delgado and James Madison Icelandic defender Bjarki Adalsteinsson. In the case of many of these players, they came into NCAA college soccer with previous academy or amateur league experience that gives them a good foundation heading into what is a competitive style of soccer. This is an avenue that these players aren’t afforded overseas, giving young players a way of advancing their education while also allowing for them to pursue soccer within North America and potentially make solid career for themselves outside the fishbowl that prospects oversees have to live in.

It will be interesting to see where many of these players land in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, including the underclassmen that have the tough decision of wether to declare or stay in school to take advantage of their full NCAA eligibility. Some of the players mentioned like a Holness or a Yaro could help a team right out of the gate and will be high profile playing for North Carolina and Georgetown respectively, these are players that are looked at as worth taking the risk of using an international roster spot. However, with the goal of any draft being finding value, this is where some of these other players could come into play. As the top picks and known quantities go off the board, it’s players that attend mid majors or other small schools with lower profiles that could very well become steals in the draft or quality USL signings. Players like Brett, Herbers, Delgado, Adalsteinsson or Mfeka bring strong qualities to the pitch but will be looked at as afterthoughts due to the level of competition they play at schools that compete in conferences like the Atlantic 10, Missouri Valley, Colonial Athletic Association etc… That said, a smart MLS team would look at these players as low risk/high reward talents that with time in the USL and slow acclamation in first team MLS games could become constant and valuable players to a squad that would cost the club less than a high profile draft pick.

****Check out our 2016 MLS Prospects List to keep updated on these player and more throughout the 2015 NCAA college season.***