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. , 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. , 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. , 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. , 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. , 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. , 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 .

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 . He can also play wide in a pinch. Oh yeah, he's also a lefty.

13. , D, Cal-State Northridge -- Big, strong, fast and willing to get forward, Franklin cemented himself as one of the top two outside backs in