Chance Myers to be the No. 1 pick

The Kansas City Wizards are set to make UCLA defender Chance Myers the first pick in the 2008 MLS Draft, sources have told Soccer By Ives.

Myers is expected to slide in and start in the left back spot vacated by Jose Burciaga Jr, who was traded to the Colorado Rapids.

Myers' selection marks the second time in three years that a UCLA defender is taken with the first pick in the MLS Draft.

Myers wowed coaches at the Combine with his ability to get forward and deliver sharp passes. He has the versatility to play left wing or left back, much like the Wizards' first-round pick last year, Michael Harrington.

The Wizards were expected to take either defender Julius James or forward Patrick Nyarko with the No. 1 overall pick but settled on one of the most coveted players in this draft. The clear-cut best left-sided player in the draft, Myers is also a Generation adidas player, meaning he won't count against the Wizards' salary cap.

The Wizards acquired the No. 1 overall pick from San Jose for veteran defender Nick Garcia.

Comments

[NJ7]

So they're going to draft essentially the same player they took last year? And play on the wing and one in the back, with both getting forward...brilliant (shakes head)

[ben]

so does this also prove that EJ isnt going to fulham after all?

[Tim F.]

I've heard this guy was expected to go top ten but wasn't expecting him to go #1.

[Carl from New England]

Pffffffffffffffff... bwahahaha... I can feel Ives stretching to say something nice about this pick. So basically there was a consensus that there were 2, 3, maybe 4 players that were better than Myers, with the ability to play more integral positions and KC took a redundant (albeit good) player.