Gbandi dandy

Dallas takes UConn defender first in MLS draft

Chris Gbandi (right) celebrates with coach Ray Reid after leading UConn to the 2000 national title. AP

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) -- The Dallas Burn chose defender Chris Gbandi on Sunday with the first selection in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft. (Click here for a complete draft breakdown.)

Meanwhile, D.C. United traded Brian Kamler and future considerations to the MetroStars for Richie Williams. Later in the day, D.C. traded midfielder/defender Carey Talley to the Kansas City Wizards for future considerations, citing the need to clear room under the roster limit and salary cap.

Gbandi, a three-time All-American from the University of Connecticut, is expected to start right away for the Burn, who lack depth in the backfield.

"Dallas is a great franchise and I'm looking forward to playing there," Gbandi said. "My ultimate goal is to play for the United States in the World Cup someday, and this gives me the chance to play right away and show what I can do."

Gbandi, who was born in Liberia and grew up in Houston, is a three-time All-Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He had surgery in December on a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee but expects to be 100 percent for the upcoming season.

The New England Revolution chose forward Taylor Twellman, who is playing for Germany's 1860 Munich team, with the second pick.

The MetroStars followed by picking midfielder Brad Davis from the University of Saint Louis.

"This is a great opportunity for me," Davis said. "The Stars are expecting big things from me and I hope to go there and deliver. I'm really looking forward to playing there and playing alongside some great players."

D.C. United then picked Justin Mapp a midfielder from the Nike Project-40. Chicago chose midfielder Kelly Gray out of University of Portland with the fifth pick. San Jose traded up with Dallas and selected Luchi Gonzalez, a forward from Southern Methodist University with the sixth pick.

In return for the sixth pick, San Jose gave the Burn the ninth and 12th picks in the first round. Dallas took midfielder Carl Bussey and defender Lee Morrison with those picks.

The MetroStars selected midfielder Mansour Ndiaye from the University of Connecticut seventh. Columbus followed with midfielder Kyle Martino from the University of Virginia with the eighth selection.

With the 11th pick, D.C. United took midfielder Daouda Kante.

 

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