The MLS Superdraft was a great day for the Austin Aztex with all three of their players going in the opening 11 picks while Houston picked up perhaps the steal of the draft and FC Dallas got players in much needed positions.
Texans were pleased early when Vancouver traded up to fourth with Toronto precisely to get Austin’s Kekuta Manneh.
Manneh scored 12 goals for the Aztex this year and fills a much needed gap in the Whitecaps line-up, despite his age Manneh is ready for the big step-up and possesses this incredible natural talent that Austin Aztex coach, Paul Dalglish, did well to recognize and nurture.
FC Dallas had the seventh pick and with it they picked up Walker Zimmerman, who Dallas probably were not expecting to have left on the board at position seven with his generation Adidas status.
Zimmerman came in to the draft as the highest rated defender and was expected to go earlier, with most expecting Toronto to take him at three or four (they traded four to Vancouver) so Dallas must have been very happy to see the defender on the board when their turn came at seven.
Zimmerman will be a big help to Dallas and should provide useful cover for Jair Benitez and is ready for the step up to MLS after a solid season at Furman University.
One pick later another Aztex player was taken as Blake Smith headed to Montreal who were not daunted by his poor performance at the combine, Montreal needed a versatile player at the business end of the park and in Smith they have a midfielder and striker.
Pick number 11 saw all the Aztex off the board as Dillon Powers headed to Colorado in what may be seen as a surprising move as Colorado were expected to take a more outright attacking player but Powers ability to play as a holding midfielder and a number ten should hold Colorado in good stead.
Houston stepped up at 13 and no doubt could not believe their luck as they secured what was probably the steal of the draft, grabbing Jamaican Jason Johnson, a Generation Adidas player.
Houston have secured a quality striker in Johnson and one that should link up well with the ever growing Jamaican contingent at the club.
For the first pick of the second round FC Dallas opted for more midfield depth in Ryan Hollingshead, Pac-12 player of the year.
Hollingshead may not offer what FC Dallas really need, an MLS ready central midfielder but in him they have a very solid back up.
Houston Dynamo had the penultimate pick of the draft and at 37 the Dynamo took Jimmy Nealis, a significant boost to their defensive stock.
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