ESPNsoccernet - MLS - Nyarko tops the list of 2008 draft prospects Page 1 of 2
ESPNsoccernet: MLS
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 Nyarko tops the list of 2008 draft prospects
Buzz Carrick
With the combine over and the draft almost upon us (Friday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN2), it's time to set aside the positional lists and think about the best 20 overall players in the pool.
Top 20 prospects
1. Patrick Nyarko, F, Virginia Tech -- The best individual talent in the pool and odds on to go No. 1 overall, particularly now that Kansas City has traded up to the top spot and expects to lose Eddie Johnson. He's quick, fast and dangerous, with great feet and touch.
2. Julius James, D, UConn -- The best defender in the draft pool, he has a terrific set of athletic tools and a complete game. He didn't dominate the combine like I hoped, but he's still the best back.
3. Eric Avila, M, UCSB -- Pure attacking flair and a willingness to do defensive work make him highly coveted. I'll be shocked if he lasts past pick No. 6 despite missing most of the combine because he was with the U-23s.
4. Michael Videira, M, Duke -- Despite the calf injury that caused him to miss the combine, he remains the best senior midfielder. Classy two- way player who can fill most spots in the midfield if need be. UCSB's Eric Avila brings offensive creativity to the table. (UCSB Athletic 5. Brek Shea, M, U.S. U-17s -- Staked a claim as the best midfielder at Department/Other) the combine, and he's only 17. Draft status has gone way up as he shows he can handle the best the seniors have to offer.
6. Pat Phelan, D, Wake Forest -- A strong and capable defender who reads the game well and has good enough feet to play in midfield. His best spot is as a center back, and he'll be a defensive leader and organizer.
7. Chance Myers, D, UCLA -- A modern kind of outside defender who might well play a great deal of midfield. He's fast with great feet and has the game to defend and still make an impact at the other end.
8. Joseph Lapira, F, Notre Dame -- Skipped the combine either to peruse a contract in Europe or at least create the perception he is so he can get a full offer from MLS. He's a small but quick and dogged striker who scores a ton of goals. If he was set on MLS, he'd be higher up the list.
9. Josh Lambo, GK, U.S. U.S. U-17s -- The second-best keeper at the combine, and he's 17. Strong, athletic, quick and a strong shot stopper; his only weakness is reading the game, and that's due to youth and inexperience. His progress at the same age is ahead of both Brad Guzan and Chris Seitz.
10. Xavier Balc, F, Ohio State -- Balc has the sweetest left foot in the pool. He's blessed with terrific
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vision and is a great passer. A touch slow, but so was Preki. He's a real game-changer for the right system.
11. Ciaran O'Brien, M, UCSB -- Composed and confident on the ball with terrific awareness and passing ability; O'Brien will be best-served as a linking, deep-lying midfielder on a team that uses two midfielders sitting in front of the defense.
12. Eric Brunner, D, Ohio State -- Brunner has better feet than Iro, is taller and better in the air than Phelan, and is quicker and smarter than David Horst. He can also play wide in a pinch. Oh yeah, he's also a lefty.
13. Sean Franklin, D, Cal-State Northridge -- Big, strong, fast and willing to get forward, Franklin cemented himself as one of the top two outside backs in