The following is a press release from Major League Soccer --
NEW YORK, NY (Jan 7, 2009) MLS -- Major League Soccer and adidas today announced the 2009 class of Generation adidas players that will enter the professional ranks for the 2009 Major League Soccer season. MLS teams and adidas identified nine of the most promising soccer players in the United States. These players signed MLS contracts before completing their NCAA eligibility and can be selected in the upcoming 2009 MLS SuperDraft.
Highlighting this year’s class are three members of the University of Maryland’s national championship team and the leading scorer in NCAA Division I this year, who is also a finalist for this year’s MAC Hermann Trophy, college soccer’s version of the Heisman Trophy. The nine players are: Kevin Alston (Indiana University), Danny Cruz (University of Nevada Las Vegas), Stefan Frei (University of California), Omar Gonzalez (University of Maryland), Jeremy Hall (University of Maryland), Baggio Husidic (University of Illinois – Chicago), Peri Marosevic (University of Michigan), Rodney Wallace (University of Maryland) and Steve Zakuani (University of Akron).
Last year’s class of nine Generation adidas players produced six of the first eight overall selections in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, including the top three selections – Chance Myers (Kansas City Wizards, No. 1 overall), Brek Shea (FC Dallas, No. 2), and Anthony Beltran (Real Salt Lake, No. 3).
The 2009 MLS SuperDraft takes place at the St. Louis Convention Center – America’s Center (America’s Ballroom) on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. ET. The first hour will be broadcast live on ESPN2; the remainder of the draft can be followed on MLSnet.com.
The players who join MLS as part of the Generation adidas program receive unprecedented opportunities to develop their game and hone their skills at the professional level in Major League Soccer. In addition to training and playing with one of Major League Soccer’s 15 professional clubs, Generation adidas players receive educational grants to further their college education. Generation adidas players do not count against an MLS team’s salary budget.
All nine players will participate in the adidas MLS Player Combine Jan. 9-13 at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The Combine gives MLS coaches and general managers a final chance to evaluate talent in preparation for their draft day selections. The complete rosters and game schedules for the adidas MLS Player Combine are below.
Gonzalez, Hall, and Wallace were key components in Maryland’s 2008 National Championship campaign. Hall, a First Team All-ACC selection, had 14 goals and seven assists, while Wallace started 25 games for the Terps. The Terps’ defense was led by Gonzalez, an adidas/NCSAA First Team All-American, MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, and the NCAA Men’s College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
Alston, Husidic, Marosevic and Frei are among the top rated collegiate players. Alston was named First Team All-Big Ten. He started 24 games and led the Hoosiers to an NCAA tournament quarterfinal appearance. Husidic scored nine goals and added six assists and was named adidas/NCSAA First Team All-American and Soccer America First Team MVP. Marosevic ranked second in the Big Ten with 13 goals and was named First Team All-Big Ten. Frei is the only goalkeeper selected to this year’s Generation adidas class. He started 21 games for the University of California and had a 0.77 goals against average. He was named adidas/NCSAA First Team All-American in 2007.
Cruz, 19, is the youngest member of the Generation adidas class. A former youth football and hockey player, Cruz began playing soccer in his freshman year of high school. He adapted quickly to the sport and is now a member of the U-20 Men’s national team and in 2007 was the first UNLV Rebel named Conference Newcomer of the Year.
Zakuani, a sophomore forward from University of Akron, led the nation in goals (20) and points per game (2.14). He had seven game-winning goals on his way to being named the Mid-American Conference Player of the year, NSCAA/adidas NCAA Men’s Division I All-America Team, and the Soccer America Player of the Year. He is a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, honoring the country’s top Division I collegiate soccer player. The award will be announced Friday, Jan. 9 in St. Louis.
The class of nine Generation adidas players range in age from 19 to 22 years old, and they represent a broad area of the country. Three players are from the Midwest of the United States (Illinois, Ohio), two from the East Coast (Maryland), two from the south (Texas and Florida), one from the southwest (Arizona) and one player from California by way of Switzerland.
