As the college season wrapped up in December, the top MLS SuperDraft prospects have emerged from the pack and are making a case to hear their names called in Los Angeles later this month.
Minnesota United was awarded the first overall SuperDraft pick during the Expansion Priority Draft in October. With a pool of college players to choose from, here are five top prospects for the 2017 draft:
Brandon Aubrey, Defender, Notre Dame
Aubrey has been a versatile member of the Fighting Irish all four years with the team. He shows skill on both ends of the field, proving a solid central defender as well as an attack-minded midfielder with a nose for goal. After spending his freshman year coming off the bench in midfield, Aubrey transitioned to a center back and has flourished at the new position. He helped the Irish make the NCAA tournament in three-straight seasons as an every day starter, and was named to the 2015 ACC All-Tournament Team. The Plano, Texas, native had a spectacular senior season, with nine goals and an assist, including a hat trick against Virginia Tech. He has become the set piece specialist for Notre Dame, drilling home several penalties and free kicks. At 6-foot-3, he is an aerial threat on both ends of the pitch.
Miles Robinson, Defender, Syracuse
Only a sophomore, Robinson has proved among the elite young players in the U.S. During his freshman season, his defensive play shut down opposing attackers and helped the Orange to the NCAA College Cup, and was named to the ACC All-Freshman and All-Tournament teams. His performance earned a call up to the U.S. U-20 national team, where he played a key role in winning the 2016 NTC Invitational in July, with the U.S. conceding just one goal throughout the entire tournament. He carried that dominant defensive play into his sophomore year, as Syracuse conceded just seven goals en route to a regular season record of 11-1-3 (W-L-D) while Robinson is in the lineup. He was called up to the U.S. U-20 national team once again for the Four Nations Tournament in October, playing 65 minutes against England – holding a clean sheet while on the pitch. He helped Syracuse to the quarterfinals in the ACC Tournament, and with Robinson’s solid presence, the Orange reached the third round of the NCAA tournament.
Abu Danladi, Forward, UCLA
Danladi has racked up awards in his tenure with the Bruins. He was an honorable mention All-Pac 12 selection, preseason All-Pac 12 team selection, Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Best XI first team honoree in 2016, and has been named a first team All-Pac 12 selection, NSCAA All Far-West team selection, Soccer America All-Freshman selection, Top Drawer Soccer Freshman of the Year and Overall No. 1 Freshman in the Country in the past. Only a junior, Danladi has 18 goals and 18 assists in 42 matches played with UCLA, including two in eleven seconds against then #1 Akron. Danladi is known for taking on defenders with his dribbling skills and has the ability to shoot and score from all over the pitch. When covered closely, he is able to create space with his pace and was a key contributor in UCLA’s 2014 run to the NCAA National Championship. Danladi has also gained experience at the next level, playing summer soccer with the Ventura County Fusion of the PDL, where he scored against LA Galaxy II in the second round of the 2015 U.S. Open Cup.
Jackson Yueill, Midfielder, UCLA
A name that is very familiar for Minnesota soccer fans, Yueill is a product of the Minnesota Thunder Academy and was a top prospect in high school. The sophomore has been on the national radar for much of his young career, receiving regular call-ups to the U.S. U-18 and U-20 national teams. He had a banner year his freshman season, putting up seven goals and six assists and helping the Bruins to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bloomington native was honored with numerous first and second team awards including the All-Pac-12 First Team and the Top Drawer Soccer Best XI. Yueill has transitioned from a finisher to a set-up man in his sophomore year, using his skillful first touch and distributing ability to provide nine assists, including four against Akron early in the season.
Jeremy Ebobisse, Forward, MLS (loan to Charleston Battery)
The only non-college player on the list, Ebobisse signed a contract with MLS in August after playing two years with Duke. Over the course of his Blue Devils career, the Maryland native scored nine goals and tallied seven assists, which include some highlight reel strikes. He is a natural goal scorer, a talent that earned him several appearances with the U.S. U-20 national team. He has thrived at the international level, scoring a hat trick against the Netherlands in the Four Nations Tournament in October and three goals during the NTC Invitational over the summer. He turned pro by signing with MLS prior to the NCAA season, making him the first confirmed player in the 2017 SuperDraft pool. MLS loaned him to the Charleston Battery in USL for the remainder of the 2016 season where he saw time as a late game substitute. He appeared five times for the Battery with one goal and one assist, both of which were impressive individual efforts. Ebobisse has shown he can play at the professional level, and if he can bring his college game to MLS, he could be one of the top young players in the league.
