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D.C. reloads Quakes take Carrieri with first pick at MLS draft
Updated: Monday February 05, 2001 8:18 PM
DAVIE, Florida (Ticker) -- The San Jose Earthquakes had the top pick in Monday's Major League Soccer SuperDraft, but D.C. United enjoyed the most productive day with five trades and three of the top eight picks. The three-time MLS champions traded goalkeeper Tom Presthus and the No. 10 pick to Columbus for the Crew's No. 3 selection. The transaction was decided just prior to the day's six-round draft, giving United the third, fourth and eighth overall picks. United had originally acquired the 10th pick from the Earthquakes in a trade involving veteran defender Jeff Agoos. Before trading away U.S. internationals Carlos Llamosa on Saturday and Richie Williams on Sunday, D.C. United did not have any top draft picks. With the first overall pick, San Jose took forward Chris Carrieri, who played at North Carolina and was signed in the Project-40 development program for the top young American players. Carrieri led the nation in scoring with 25 goals in 24 games in 2000, also contributing 14 assists and earning the ACC Player of the Year honor.
Tampa Bay Mutiny drafted 22-year-old Ali Curtis, a forward from Duke, with the second pick. Curtis, who had pondered playing in Europe instead of MLS, led Duke with 15 goals and nine assists for 39 points as a senior in 2000. The winner of the 1999 Hermann Trophy was runner-up for that prestigious award in 2000; he won the 2000 Missouri Athletic Club Player of the Year honor. "We actually came out of this draft better than we expected," said Mutiny president and general manager Bill Manning. "Depth is definitely something we improved upon." United then selected midfielder Mark Lisi, 23, out of Clemson University. With the fourth pick, D.C. took another midfielder in 23-year-old Ryan Nelsen of New Zealand. Nelsen played at Stanford. The Dallas Burn had two of the next three picks, taking midfielder Joselito Vaca with the fifth selection and San Jose State defender Ryan Suarez at No. 7. Vaca, 18, is a playmaking midfielder out of Bolivia's Tahuichi Academy. He played last season with Bolivian side Oriente Petrolero. Tampa Bay chose defender Craig Demmin of the A-League's Rochester Raging Rhinos with the sixth selection. Perhaps the most intriguing pick was made by United at No. 8, when it selected highly touted Santino Quaranta, a 16-year-old forward-midfielder from the Project-40 program. Quaranta, a Baltimore native, is a member of the Under-17 national team, which is trying to qualify for the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship. He is the youngest player ever signed by MLS, surpassing United midfielder Bobby Convey. The Los Angeles Galaxy at No. 9 and No. 11 took forwards Brian Mullan of Creighton and Isaias Bardales Jr, respectively. Columbus picked Cal St. Fullerton forward Duncan Oughton of Karori, New Zealand, with the 10th selection, and the Kansas City Wizards took defender Jose Burciaga Jr., another Project-40 prospect, with the 12th and final pick of the first round. Along with selecting Lisi, Nelsen and Quaranta, D.C. had two more picks at No. 15 and 28, where it selected midfielder Bryan Namoff and defender Craig Ziade. United had the 28th overall pick from Miami in exchange midfielder Antonio Otero and future considerations. D.C. received the 15th pick and Mike Ammann from the MetroStars on Sunday in exchange for Richie Willliams, the 26th overall pick and United's allocation owed to the club by the league for missing last season's playoffs. The Dallas Burn picked forward Edward Johnson of Palm Coast, Florida, with the 19th pick in the second round. Johnson is a teammate of Quaranta at the Under-17 team. He led the team in scoring last year with 33 goals and 19 assists and was scouted by Italian powerhouse Juventus and several clubs from Portugal. The MetroStars had their first selection in the second round with the 13th overall pick and took forward Rodrigio Faria, a native of Bronxville, New York. MetroStars GM Nick Sakiewicz also said the MetroStars are on the verge of a major announcement involving the signing of an international player. "It will be a significant player," said Sackiewicz. For more details on the draft, click here. ------ Draft quotesNo. 1: Chris Carrieri -- San Jose Earthquakes His reaction to being selected with the top pick in the draft: "I never thought I'd go number one. I know the Pro-40 status helped me out a little bit since I don't take up a roster spot. This weekend there were some ups and downs for me. I'm excited and shocked to be here right now. And I hope to help San Jose out big time and take them far." On his relationship with San Jose Head Coach Frank Yallop: "One thing I like is Frankie [Yallop - Head Coach]. I trained with D.C. [where Yallop was an assistant coach] over the summer and he's great. He's an awesome soccer player and he knows the game and I think we click well. We had a bond and I think that had a big role in what happened today. So I think he has faith in me and I'm going to try to show him my talents and in preseason, get a starting position and take San Jose as far as I can take them." On changing the fortunes of San Jose: "Everyone tries to say San Jose is the weak team in MLS but with the trades going on I have high confidence in myself to go in and get a starting position right away. I think my talent can fit into this organization." On deciding to leave school after his junior season in college: "I think after what I did last season and the interest shown by MLS it was time to go." "I'm shocked to go number one as a junior. I just can't speak. I wanted to go high but number one is pretty overwhelming." A message to the San Jose fans: "I'm coming to score some goals. We're going to turn this thing around and we're heading to the playoffs, I guarantee it." Frank Yallop - Head Coach, San Jose Earthquakes Yallop's comments on Carrieri: "He's 20 and he's going to contribute - we're sure about that. I had my eye on him for a little bit. We liked him and then I think he impressed us over the last three days and we made the decision that he was right for us." On not choosing a midfielder instead: "I didn't feel like the midfielders in this draft were like Chris in his development right now. We looked at that. There were good midfielder but they were very young." On the need to add a forward: "We couldn't score goals this season and that's what we wanted to strengthen at the first opportunity we could." No. 2 Pick: Ali Curtis -- Tampa Bay Mutiny On playing with MLS leading scorer Mamadou Diallo: "I haven't seen Mamadou play but I've heard great things. He's a great goal scorer and I look forward to being on the same pitch with him and I look forward to scoring a lot of goals with him ... I think I'm very versatile. He'll attract a lot of attention. Maybe I can play off that and give Mamadou great balls and I can get some assists. But first I want to work my way into the team and work my way in with the players and hopefully things will go well." On playing with one of the great midfielders in all of soccer, Carlos Valderrama: "I think it's going to be fantastic just to shake his [Carlos Valderrama] hand. He's an unbelievable person and a great player. I've heard so many good things about him. I look forward to meeting him." On his hopes of being a top pick: "As a college player coming out I think I had a good enough reputation and I showed well in the combine this week to show that I was going to be a top pick." On whether he had an idea if Tampa was going to select him: "I had an idea what some of the teams were looking for. San Jose was looking for forwards, Tampa Bay was looking for forwards but I didn't know which team I was going to be selected to. But I'm happy right now. It's a great day for me." On his school situation: "Right now I've fulfilled all my graduation requirements. I'm working on a double major and I'm taking independent study and I'm allowed to be away from school right now. I'm all set and I'm looking forward to playing." Alfonso Mondelo -- Head Coach Tampa Bay Mutiny: Mondelo's assessment of the Mutiny's day at the SuperDraft: "We are very pleased with what has happened so far. We've met our objectives of strengthening ourselves on the forward line as well as defensively and I think we really have to be pleased." On the competition at forward on the Mutiny: "With Mamadou Diallo, Ali Curtis and Devin Barclay, (No. 14 pick overall by Tampa) those three guys will be fighting for two spots and that's a great problem to have." No. 3 Pick Mark Lisi - D.C. United On whether he knew D.C. United showed interest in him before the SuperDraft: "A couple of days ago they came and we talked a little bit but I wasn't sure when or where. I couldn't be happier right now. I'm thrilled to be part of the organization and can't wait to get started. On what it means to him to stay on the east coast: "It didn't matter staying on the east coast. But hopefully a lot of friends can come up and watch from Clemson." On what he can bring to three-time champion D.C. United: "I'm a midfielder who likes to distribute the ball. I can work well with Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno and score goals. I'm an attacking midfielder and try to make things happen." On the prestige of playing with Bolivians Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno: "I went to Bolivia a long time ago and I wanted to see them. But now having a chance to play with them and be around them everyday they're going to make me a better player and I'll do all I can to help them out." On signing with MLS: "I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay here or go overseas but talking with some important people and my family, with my needs right now it's best for me to stay in the United States and play." On his hopes of getting picked by D.C. United: "The morning I signed with MLS. I had previously talked with D.C. and I was hoping things would work out. Great coaches, great team and great city, I was hoping things would work out but until it actually happens you never know. Anything goes." Thomas Rongen - Head Coach D.C. United On no. 1 pick Mark Lisi: "Lisi gives us the flexibility to play different positions. Not knowing what Ben Olsen's situation is and given the fact that he might leave, Lisi can play out wide. He runs well and it's a position where I think he can play. We knew positionally what we wanted and we got it." On the new strategy of the team in the 2001 SuperDraft: "We felt we needed to make some changes that we always are faced with cap issues and that made us believe that if there was a time to make changes and get under the cap, and not being faced with this year in and year out. We wanted to get younger and get a group we could keep together for three or four years and I think we have accomplished that. Unfortunately it meant we had to part with some great, great players to get in the position we wanted to be in and that's the hard part about this process but one that sometimes needs to be done. We've set a certain direction and we're going to live by it." On the philosophy of D.C. United: "Our club culture and philosophy from year one to five has never changed. We want to play attractive, attacking football. And that's something that's going to be part of D.C. United forever. We wanted to get exciting players that fans can be proud of and want to see and can put our club back at the level we think we deserve to be in this league and which we did not achieve last year." No. 5 Joselito Vaca - Dallas Burn Vaca's initial reaction to being selected: "I'm full of emotion and very excited about joining Dallas and I'm eager to show my value in MLS.' On joining Ariel Graziani and Oscar Pareja on the Burn: "I'm proud to be playing in this fantastic company (Graziani and Pareja) and you can be assured I will be giving my contribution as well." On whether he can withstand the physical demands of MLS: "I might look fragile but I'm strong and fast and I can get where I need to get." On matching the success of the other Bolivians in MLS: "I feel comfortable that I'm going to excel as much as my compatriots have excelled." No. 6 Craig Demmin - Tampa Bay Mutiny On coming to MLS from the A-League's Rochester: "It's a good opportunity for me to play in MLS. I've been comfortable in Rochester for three years now and I've had fun playing there but it's time for a new challenge and I'm looking forward to it." On his Trinidadian National Team experience: "The last couple of games I've played for my National Team [Trinidad and Tobago]. It's a journey to the World Cup and I'm happy to be on the team." On being a defender on the offensive-minded Mutiny: "They [Mutiny offensive players] could attack and score goals all they want. I'll take care of defending." On his strengths as a player: "Speed and strength are my best qualities and my ability to read the game and my experience with great coaches and players have given me the experience to read the game." No. 8 Santino Quaranta - D.C. United On joining D.C. and Bobby Convey: "I was with Convey in Florida for a couple of months and we talked quite a bit and we became good friends." On being 16 and playing pro soccer: "Being so young I knew it was going to be tough but I had a feeling that I was going to be eighth when I saw the trades." On his local ties: "I'm from Baltimore - only thirty minutes away. A lot of fans and friends can come down and see me play." On stepping up to the pro level: "I'm comfortable getting on the field and playing, distributing, playing wide and forward ... On Saturday we played Guatemala in a friendly and D.C people were there and I think that's when they made their decision. That's one of the best games I've played with the National Team." On playing at RFK Stadium: "I've been to three United games before and it's a great atmosphere." On the new look of D.C. United: "There are a lot of new faces on the team but I think it's a growing period and eventually it's going to be a great team." On being a rookie: "I'm looking to gaining some respect from the other players and working my way up." No. 9 Brian Mullan - Los Angeles Galaxy On joining the Galaxy: "It's a great team, a great team. And I'm really excited to go to Spain." On stepping up to the pro level: "I go out there and work as hard as I can every day. I like taking players on. That's my favorite thing. Pressuring the defense is a favorite thing. I don't think enough forwards pressure the defense and with this team. It's great because the Galaxy forwards are great at pressuring." "I prefer to play up front but anywhere I can play is fine with me." No. 10 Pick Duncan Oughton - Columbus Crew On Columbus selecting him: "I was pretty shocked to tell you the truth. I've never been there. I don't know where I'm going to tell you the truth. Obviously I'm stoked and 'thank you' to MLS." "Getting drafted has always been my dream and it's starting to be realized now. Hopefully it can all go well and I can help the team out." What position he would like to play: "I usually play anywhere in midfield or up front." On moving to Columbus: "I'll miss California and my friends but I've always wanted to play and I get to do that right now." What the selection means to his country: "It's great for the guys [New Zealanders] back home and the country. Ron Nelsen is a great player. I thought he'd be in Europe. I feel a little lucky right now and I'm glad for what happened and I'm looking forward to it." On Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder and New Zealand National Team teammate Simon Elliott: "I played against Simon (Elliott - Galaxy) back home. We went to school together when we were kids. That's one reason I was interested in L.A. But I'm glad for the opportunity I've got now." No. 11 Isaias Bardales Jr. - Los Angeles Galaxy On Los Angeles selecting him: "It's a real honor to be drafted by the Galaxy. I'm based in San Jose but I'm happy to be going to L.A. and using my talents as much as possible." "They're one of the best clubs in all of MLS. It's a privilege being coached by Sigi Schmid. He used to be my U-20 National coach and I look forward to working with him." Kansas City Wizards Head Coach Bob Gansler On whether he achieved what he planned from the draft: "I look at the draft as one way we can augment our roster. We've got an allocation pick and two discoveries and we've have things in mind for that. Our first two or three picks were exactly what we wanted. And then we had some options and we didn't always get our first option. But I think we've made our team better and more competitive. I think there was a good version of talent here and on paper I like what happened here and now the guys have to prove it on the grass." On adding depth to his roster: "We're looking to make our 18th, 17th and 16th spot better and that means that these guys coming in or the guys in those spots right now need to raise their game in order to reach the starters. Why he chose Jose Burciaga with his first pick: "It's like left-handed pitchers. You have a left-footed individual who most of his life has been an attacking player. And now with the U-20s he's a defender and that's what you like in a defender who not only can stop the opponent but who is comfortable with the ball. And Jose is that. We played well last year with a kid from Texas in Garcia and we hope that Jose will follow in his footsteps. They're also from the same youth club in Texas." Miami Fusion Head Coach Ray Hudson On selecting Teofilo Cubillas, son of the famous Peruvian namesake: "We did well locally with our picks. Cubillas, who's father [former Peruvian World Cup star Nene Cubillas] comes as part of the deal, is a solid pick. If it had been a sentimental thing we would have waited until the last minute. If we could get 'poquito' who's definitely contending for a spot. He's impressed us when he's been with us. He wouldn't be here other than on his own sheer ability and the kid's got real ability. Now he's in with the big boys and he has to shake it up and take it to the next level. We think he may have it in him. And the next month or two will tell." On getting advice from Cubillas' famous dad: "I hope Nene gives us a helping hand. It would be nice. But really the family ties and the name are wonderful. There's no denying that deal. I explained to Nene it doesn't come down to sentiment. I've got to be hard about it and he fully understood it." On how long he's known the young Cubillas: "He used to come in the locker room when I played with his father with the Strikers. He used to come in when he was a little toddler. He was one of the most beautiful kids with the biggest and brightest smile. And he's just a wonderful person that part of it. I hadn't seen him for a long time. I saw him a couple of times at his college. For me he is blossoming. He is starting to really become a man. There are a lot of these lads though and you never know which one of the ugly ducklings become swans. "It's very difficult to determine at this point. You're looking for that little thing, that bit of poise. And that's what we see in Cubillas. He's a tough guy. He's got that steel in his game that wasn't part of his dad's game, who was all world class skill. 'Poquito' has that wonderful little touch and that loveliness about his game but he can rattle it. We've just got to give him a chance and we really want to extend a really good opportunity to show his worth." On Cory Gibbs selection with the 40th pick overall (also a local product): "It's a little bit of a gamble. We felt as if he's showing a real good promise about his game. If he goes to Europe, that's all well and good. If he stays then we'll the benefactors. I think we had to take a chance on Cory." Assessment of the team's first pick - Ali Ngon (18th overall): "He can hold the ball up really well. We had to have some cover up front and that was a real priority. And we needed somebody to really challenge and be able to throw in. This kid has performed in the A-League. I've had some great reports about him. I've seen videotape of him. There are people who are highly respected in this game who are giving him very high recommendations. So we were happy to get him." On the Greg Simmonds selection furthering depth at forward: "He really looks as if he's ready to go right now. I think that was probably the steal for us of all the picks. I'm delighted to have Greg on board. He adds weight, personality and presence up front and we're looking to see what he's really made of underneath." On area of the team still in need of fixing: "Of course midfield. This is the way we want to be able to use our allocation. We're looking for a real, true, world-class type of player of premium quality ... someone who's available and wants to come here. We've got them identified and we're close to coming to some sort of arrangement but there's nothing set in stone. It's set in saw. New England Revolution Head Coach Fernando Clavijo: On being able to draft Nick Downing with the 21st pick in the draft: "Coming into the Draft and picking at No. 21 you expect to pretty much be left with nothing. But I think we did well. Not only did we get a protected player but we got a player who can help right away. And he has great international experience playing with the U-20s. And he's someone I had my eyes on from the beginning. We're very happy and excited that we were able to." On selecting Yari Allnutt: "I played with Yari. There's a mix of youth and experience here at the draft. When you look at the players we have, picking Yari at No. 42 it's very hard to find at that stage of the draft someone who can step in and help the team."
© 2003 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP
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