It would likely take an odd combination of events, but Atlanta United could end up with a pair of UCLA teammates with the Nos. 2 and 8 picks in Friday’s SuperDraft in Los Angeles.
Forward Abu Danladi is a consensus top-three pick in mock drafts. Midfielder Jackson Yueill will likely be taken somewhere around the fifth pick, but he may drop as Duluth’s Daniel Johnson shoots into the top-10 following back-to-back strong performances in scrimmages in the combine. Johnson and Yueill are similar players.
But because Atlanta United President Darren Eales said the team is entertaining offers for both picks, the situation is fluid, both players could be in play and both said it would be a privilege to be selected by the MLS expansion squad.
“New coach, new team, everybody is trying to fight for their spot,” said Yueill, a native of Bloomington, Minn. “It gives us the same opportunity as everyone else.
If we come the first day of preseason ready to go, we should be pretty good. It’s a team that really wants to win right away so everyone will compete really hard.”
Both players have been scouted by Atlanta United Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra, a former Bruin.
Danladi showed why he may go No. 1 in Tuesday’s combine scrimmage. With seconds left in the game, he chased down a deep ball, looked up and found a teammate in the middle of the penalty box. Danladi hit the cross and the teammate scored the winning goal.
“He would be one of the faster players in the league, even at his young age,” Bruins coach Jorge Salcedo said.
As the ball kissed the net on Tuesday, Danladi let out a happy scream.
That happiness is something that he said he would bring to whatever team selects him.
“When you’re on a team it’s your new home,” he said. “Play like you really, really love being on the team. It will be privilege to be on the team and help as much as possible.”
Both are goal-scoring threats. Danladi, a native of Ghana, scored 18 goals with 18 assists in 42 games at UCLA. Yueill scored nine goals with 17 assists in 40 games.
“What Yueill does really well is, it sounds simple, but it’s more rare than people think,” Salcedo said. He plays the game with his head up very well. He has good vision. Able to survey options right away. He can receive ball properly, prepare it the right way.
“Game is about getting possession and getting to the opponent’s goal quickly. He can move the ball forward, connect passes forward, has vision to make impactful passes for next players to make final passes and through balls.”
Because UCLA plays a high press, their skills and familiarity with the tactics could translate easily to Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino’s aggressive system.
“It would be exciting to play under him,” Danladi said. “It would be a privilege to be drafted by this team.
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