With its first-ever pick in the MLS SuperDraft, Atlanta United selected Syracuse defender Miles Robinson with the second slot in the MLS SuperDraft on Friday in Los Angeles.
The expansion team also holds the eighth pick in the first round.
Robinson became one of the hottest names during the combine following stellar showings in the physical testing and during the scrimmages. One of those highlights came on Thursday when Robinson hit a diving header back across the box to assist a teammate on a goal.
Robinson, 6-2, can play either centerback position or right fullback. He has been characterized a defender a team can build around for a dozen years.
“I just want to at least have an opportunity to show myself on the next level,” Robinson said on Thursday. “That’s pretty much it. I’m not looking where, or which team, I’m just looking to have the opporutity to play and at least show myself and what I can do.”
He describes himself as fairly athletic. He said he needs work on playing faster in tight spaces.
Robinson was projected to go No. 1 in some mock drafts. He said he wasn’t disappointed that he didn’t go with the top pick, saying he could have gone 40th and still been happy.
Minnesota United, the other expansion squad, selected UCLA forward Abu Danladi with the first pick.
The draft is being held in the mammoth Los Angeles Convention Center, and wraps up, in Atlanta United’s case, a few years of scouting college players that it hopes will become contributors to the senior team. Atlanta United will open training camp on Jan. 23 in Bradenton, Fla.
It will play its first preseason game, which will be the first opportunity to see No. 2 pick, against Chattanooga on Feb. 11 at Finley Stadium. It will host its first game on March 5 against New York Red Bulls at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Among the contingent at the draft for Atlanta United were President Darren Eales, Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra, Manager Gerardo Martino and Director of Soccer Operations Paul McDonough.
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