CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy will have their highest pick since 2009 when they select 12th overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday.
Just whom Bruce Arena selects remains unknown, but the LA Galaxy boss has become a guru at unearthing valuable pieces in recent years. Ahead of Thursday’s SuperDraft, we take a look at some at the “top” 12 players selected with the No. 12 pick.
12) Saad Abdul-Salaam
Selected by Sporting Kansas City in 2015, the defender out of Akron is currently a regular in Peter Vermes’ defensive rotation, but it’s not his defensive play that many will remember.
The 24-year-old made an immediate impact with Sporting Kansas City last season, appearing in 22 games and starting 10 times. Abdul-Salaam’s most pivotal moment of his rookie year came in the MLS Knockout Round, when the rookie had a chance to score a game-winning penalty.
What happened next will be part of MLS lore for years to come…
11) Dominic Cervi
For a period, Dominic Cervi was considered one of the most promising goalkeeping products in the United States. Unfortunately for Cervi, that never worked out.
Cervi was selected by the Chicago Fire with the 12th pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. The young goalkeeper opted not to sign with MLS, instead choosing to head to Europe and pursue his dreams on the old continent. Cervi eventually caught on with Scottish giants Celtic, but failed to make an appearance in five years with the Hoops.
The former U.S. youth international made only seven appearances in Europe with Scottish club Greenock Morton. The now 29-year-old goalkeeper has since retired from soccer after failing to find a club.
10) Tim Ward
Tim Ward enjoyed a well-traveled career in Major League Soccer after being selected by the MetroStars in 2005.
A player who could play anywhere along the backline and at defensive midfield, the former U.S. youth international made 71 appearances throughout his seven-year MLS career. Ward’s stint in MLS included stops with the MetroStars, Columbus Crew, Colorado Rapids, Chicago Fire and San Jose Earthquakes.
Ward has not played in MLS since the end of the 2012 season.
9) Marlon Hairston
Marlon Hairston remains one of MLS’ most intriguing prospects just two years after being selected 12th overall by the Colorado Rapids in 2014.
A versatile player who can suit up both at outside back and across the midfield, Hairston has made 25 appearances during his brief time in Colorado. The U.S. youth international scored his first professional goal in August 2014 in a 4-3 defeat to the LA Galaxy.
Heading into the 2016 season, the Jackson, Mississippi-native figures to play a significant role for head coach Pablo Mastroeni, as the Rapids look to return to bounce back from a disappointing 2015 season.
8) Bright Dike
Bright Dike will be remembered for experiencing one of the most mercurial rises in MLS history during his four-year stint in the league.
Drafted 12th overall by the Columbus Crew after a successful career at Notre Dame, Dike was released by Columbus after an unsuccessful preseason. Despite not making the Crew’s roster, Dike latched on with the Portland Timbers’ USL side and spent three years with the club after their move to Major League Soccer. Dike had his finest season in 2012, with five goals in 12 appearances, which ultimately helped the forward join the Nigerian national team fold. Injuries ultimately derailed Dike’s stint with the Timbers leading Portland to trade the Nigerian to Toronto FC in Sept. 2013.
Dike was unable to repeat his 2012 success with Toronto FC despite spending nearly three seasons with the club. In 2014, a torn ACL ended Dike’s season and his chance to qualify for Nigeria’s 23-man squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Dike is currently without a club after being waived by Toronto FC last August.
7) Aaron Maund
A serviceable central defender, Aaron Maund is heading into his fifth-year in Major League Soccer.
Drafted by Toronto FC following a stellar career at Notre Dame, Maund spent one season with TFC, making just 15 appearances for the Canadian side. After failing to make an impact in Toronto, Maund was dealt to Real Salt Lake following the 2012 season. Maund had the best year of his pro career for RSL in 2015, when he made a career-high 22 appearances.
Galaxy fans might remember Maund for his late game heroics in 2015 when he scored his first professional goal in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal to eliminate the Galaxy from the competition.
6) Nathan Sturgis
The LA Galaxy drafted Nathan Sturgis in 2006 with an eye to the future, but the selection ultimately paid off in ways that the club could never have imagined.
A defensive midfielder and outside back, Sturgis made just 24 appearances for the Galaxy before being traded to Real Salt Lake in 2007. Sturgis’ trade to RSL may be one of the most significant deals in Galaxy history, as the move obtained the Galaxy’s future club president Chris Klein.
Currently in his ninth season in Major League Soccer, Sturgis has enjoyed stints with RSL, Seattle Sounders FC, Toronto FC, Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, and the Houston Dynamo. Sturgis made 18 appearances while scoring one goal and tallying two assists for the Dynamo last season.
5) Jose Burciaga Jr.
Jose Burciaga Jr.’s MLS career ended with a whimper in 2008, but the explosive full back made his mark as one of the most talented left-sided defenders in league history.
Burciaga Jr.’s blistering speed helped him become a fan favorite in Kansas City, where he spent seven of his eight years in MLS. The talented left back racked up 115 appearances for the Wizards from 2001 to 2007, helping the club reach the Eastern Conference championship in his final season with the team.
The defender departed Kansas City in 2008 and spent his last season in MLS with the Colorado Rapids, making 12 appearances and scoring once. Burciaga Jr. now runs Dallas-based youth side Wizards Futbol Club.
4) Eddie Gaven
Eddie Gaven’s time in MLS was certainly eventful, but many are left to wonder what might have been when examining the midfielder’s 11-year career.
Drafted in 2003 by the then-New York MetroStars, Gaven spent the first three years of his career at Giants Stadium. Considered one of the brightest young talents in MLS, Gaven was dealt to the Columbus Crew in 2006 and quickly became a regular for the Crew. The midfielder—and occasional goalkeeper—made 209 appearances and scored 35 goals during his five seasons in Columbus.
Gaven won his lone championship in 2008 with Columbus as part of a talented team that won both the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield, and featured future Galaxy players Robbie Rogers and Pat Noonan. The veteran midfielder called time on his 11-year career in Major League Soccer following the 2013 regular season.
3) Chris Wingert
When Chris Wingert was drafted in 2004, scouts questioned whether the St. John’s product could make it in MLS. But throughout his 11-year career, Wingert has shown time and time again that he is one of the league’s most steady defenders.
Drafted by the Columbus Crew, Wingert made 49 appearances for Columbus from 2004 to 2005 before being traded to the Colorado Rapids. Wingert endured a short stint with the Rapids before moving to Real Salt Lake where he blossomed into one of the best defenders in the league, making 204 appearances with RSL during a seven-year stay. An MLS Cup champion in 2009, Wingert was a key member of the Salt Lake’s 2013 side that was a penalty kick away from winning the title.
After seven years in Salt Lake City, Wingert moved to New York City FC via the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. The 33-year-old defender remains a regular contributor for City with 25 appearances during their inaugural season.
2) Bobby Convey
Bobby Convey became the youngest player ever signed by Major League Soccer when he was drafted 12th overall by D.C. United ahead of the 2000 MLS regular season.
Convey left United in 2004 to join Reading where he made nearly 100 appearances for the Royals and played an integral part in the team’s promotion to the Premier League in 2007. The winger’s success led to a place on the U.S. National Team and a spot on the USMNT’s 2006 FIFA World Cup squad.
After a lengthy spell in England, Convey returned to MLS in 2009 and made stops at the San Jose Earthquakes, Sporting Kansas City, Toronto FC, and the New York Red Bulls. Convey is currently without a club.
1) Wade Barrett
My pick for the top No. 12 draft selection came way back in 1998 when the then-San Jose Clash selected Wade Barrett from the College of William and Mary.
Quickly converted from a midfielder to a left back, Barrett blossomed into a regular contributor for the Earthquakes during his four years in San Jose, helping the Quakes win two MLS Cups. After a stop in Denmark and another season with San Jose, Barrett became a lynchpin for the Houston Dynamo during three seasons from 2006 to 2009, where he led Houston to a pair of MLS Cup titles.
Barrett retired in 2010 to become an assistant coach with the Houston Dynamo.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
