UCLA defender goes No. 1 in MLS draft
BALTIMORE - Chance Myers' decision to leave school early paid off Friday when the Kansas City Wizards selected him with the first pick in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
"It's an honor to be here and be chosen No. 1," said Myers, a sophomore defender from UCLA. "I look forward to coming in and contributing right away."
Brek Shea, a 17-year-old midfielder, was taken by FC Dallas with the second pick, and Real Salt Lake used the third selection on Myers' UCLA teammate, midfielder Tony Beltran.
Myers, 20, started all 21 games for the Bruins last season, scored three goals and earned an All-Pac 10 first team selection. He said he wasn't sure if he was ready for the draft, but UCLA coach Jorge Salcedo gave him the green light.
The Wizards traded eight-year veteran defender Nick Garcia to the San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday in exchange for the rights to the top selection.
"When I heard they traded for the No. 1 pick, (MLS commissioner) Mike Garland said the interest was high and I could be No. 1," Myers said. "After the season was over, it was kind of unexpected if I was going to leave or going to stay, but my choice paid off."
The Wizards (11-12-7) finished fifth in the East last season and lost to the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference finals.
Here's a look at the selections Friday:
Round 1
1. Kansas City, Chance Myers, D, UCLA.
2. Dallas, Brek Shea, M-D, U-17 National Team.
3. Salt Lake, Anthony Beltran, M-D, UCLA.
4. Los Angeles, Sean Franklin, M-D, CS-Northridge.
5. Colorado, Ciaran O'Brien, M, UC Santa Barbara.
6. Columbus, Andy Iro, D, UC Santa Barbara.
7. CHICAGO FIRE, Patrick Nyarko, F, Virginia Tech.
8. Dallas, Josh Lambo, G, U-17 National Team.
9. Toronto, Julius James, D, Connecticut.
10. Toronto, Pat Phelan, M, Wake Forest.
11. Kansas City, Roger Ezpinosa, M, Ohio State.
12. CHICAGO, Dominic Cervi, G, Tulsa.
13. New England, Rob Valentino, D, San Francisco.
14. Salt Lake, David Horst, D, Old Dominion.
Round 2
15. San Jose, Shea Salinas, M, Furman.
16. New York, Eric Brunner, D, Ohio State.
17. Salt Lake, Alex Nimo, M, U-17 National Team.
18. New England, Michael Videira, M, Duke.
19. Dallas, Eric Avila, M, UC Santa Barbara.
20. Columbus, George Josten, F-M, Gonzaga.
21. Los Angeles, Ely Allen, F, Washington.
22. Dallas, Ricardo Pierre-Louis, F, Lee.
23. Kansas City, Yomby William, D, Old Dominion.
24. D.C., Andrew Jacobson, M, California.
25. Kansas City, Jonathan Leathers, D, Furman.
26. CHICAGO FIRE, Peter Lowry, M, Santa Clara.
27. New England, Joe Germanese, M, Duke.
28. Los Angeles, Brian Edwards, G, Wake Forest.
Round 3
29. Los Angeles, Julian Valentin, D, Wake Forest.
30. Toronto, Mike Zaher, D, UCLA.
31. Dallas, Ryan Miller, D, Notre Dame.
32. New York, Luke Sassano, M-D, California - Berkeley.
33. D.C., Ryan Cordeiro, F, Connecticut.
34. Los Angeles, Matt Allen, G, Creighton.
35. Toronto, Joseph Lapira, F, Notre Dame.
36. Colorado, Adrian Chevannes, D, Southern Methodist.
37. Salt Lake, Brennon Tennelle, M, UC Santa Barbara.
38. CHICAGO FIRE, Dwight Barnett, F, Lynn.
39. Kansas City, Matt Marquess, D-F, Santa Clara.
40. CHICAGO FIRE, Javier Ayala Hill, F, California State.
41. New England, Matthew Britner, D, Brown.
42. Houston, Geoff Cameron, M, Rhode Island.
Round 4
43. Chivas, Keith Savage, M, West Florida.
44. New York, David Roth, M, Northwestern.
45. Dallas, Jamil Roberts, D, UC Santa Clara.
46. Los Angeles, Brendon McDonald, D, San Francisco.
47. Colorado, Brian Grazier, M, Saint Louis.
48. Columbus, Steven Lenhart, F, Azusa Pacific.
49. Colorado, Scott Campbell, M, North Carolina.
50. Dallas, Ben Nason, M, Virginia Tech.
51. Los Angeles, Matt Hatzke, M-D, Santa Clara.
52. D.C., Tony Schmitz, D-M, Creighton.
53. Kansas City, Rauwshan McKenzie, D, Michigan State.
54. CHICAGO FIRE, Austin Washington, D, Gonzaga.
55. New England, Spencer Wadsworth, M, Duke.
56. Houston, Jeremy Barlow, M, Virginia.