Atlanta United will have the second and eighth picks in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft, which will be held Jan. 13 in Los Angeles.
It is most likely that President Darren Eales, technical director Carlos Bocanegra, director of soccer operations Paul McDonough and manager Gerardo Martino will select two from among this pool of players that have been invited to the combine, which will be held in the days before the draft in Carson, Calif.
Abu Danladi, a forward from UCLA, is considered one of the top prospects. The other is former Duke forward Jeremy Ebobisse, who isn’t on this list. He has already signed with MLS and spent some time with the Charleston Battery, which is Atlanta United’s USL affiliate.
Atlanta United is still building its roster. The team has 18 players. However, it has signed just four defenders. There is still plenty of time to build depth on its defense before the draft. If it doesn’t, it seems clear what the team may target. However, that doesn’t mean those players should be slotted into the game day 18. The MLS draft is unlike the NFL draft where players picked high typically are put into starting roles. It’s more like the MLB or NBA draft in which picks are loaned out to lower levels to gain experience. That’s not true in all cases.
Duluth’s Daniel Johnson has received an invitation. He plays at Louisville.
Lalas Abubakar Dayton D Accra, Ghana
Michael Amick UCLA D Sunnyvale, Calif
Brandon Aubrey Notre Dame D Plano, Texas
Kwame Awuah UConn M Toronto, Canada
Nazeem Bartman South Florida F Cape Town, South Africa
Kyle Bjornethun Seattle D Snohomish, Wash.
Brandt Bronico UNC-Charlotte M High Point, N.C.
Russell Cicerone SUNY-Buffalo M/F Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Suliman Danikeh Maryland D Reston, Va.
Michael DeGraffenriedt Louisville D Baltimore, Md.
Guillermo Delgado Delaware F Tres Cantos, Spain
Nick Depuy UC Santa Barbara F Irvine, Calif.
Frances de Vries Saint Francis (Penn.) D Christchurch, N.Z.
Reagan Dunk Denver D Dallas, Texas
Jack Elliott West Virginia D/M London, Eng.
Wuilito Fernandes UMass-Lowell F/M Praia, Cape Verde
Alec Ferrell Wake Forest GK Westlake, Ohio
David Goldsmith Butler F Bristol, Eng.
Jorge Gomez Sanchez Temple F Talavera De La Reina, Spain
Julian Gressel Providence M Neustadt an der Aisch, Germany
Sam Hamilton Denver M Evergreen, Colo.
Niko Hansen New Mexico F Sacramento, Calif.
Jacori Hayes Wake Forest M Bowie, Md.
Joe Holland Hofstra M London, Eng.
Walker Hume UNC-Chapel Hill D San Angelo, Texas
Daniel Johnson Louisville M Duluth, Ga.
Aaron Jones Clemson D Great Yarmouth, Eng.
Eric Klenofsky Monmouth GK Lincoln Park, N.J.
Austin Ledbetter SIU-Edwardsville D St. Charles, Mo.
Zeiko Lewis Boston College M Pembroke, Bermuda
Connor Maloney Penn State D Harrisburg, Pa.
Napo Matsoso Kentucky M Louisville, Ky.
Billy McConnell Indiana D Richboro, Pa.
Jake McGuire Tulsa GK Chino Hills, Calif.
Lindo Mfeka South Florida M/F Durban, South Africa
Robert Moewes Duke GK Dortmund, Ger.
Brian Nana-Sinkam Stanford D Lititz, Pa.
Chris Nanco Syracuse F Brampton, Canada
Jakob Nerwinski UConn D Lawrenceville, N.J.
Chris Odoi-Atsem Maryland D Mitchellville, Md..
Evan Panken Notre Dame M Edina, Minn.
Danilo Radjen Akron D Broadview Heights, Ohio
Robby Sagel Penn State D Las Vegas, Nev.
Eddie Sanchez Portland M/F Canby, Ore.
Aaron Schilder Washington GK Bellingham, Wash.
Justin Schmidt Washington D Albuquerque, N.M.
Colton Storm UNC D Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Christian Thierjung California F Dove Canyon, Calif.
Tanner Thompson Indiana M Loomis, Calif.
Felix Vobejda UCLA M/D Bielefeld, Germany
Chris Wehan New Mexico M Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Jordan Wilson Kentucky D Auchterarder, Scotland
Brian Wright Vermont F Ajax, ON CAN
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