We continue our preview of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft with a look at the midfielders that make up the top of the draft class. Real Salt Lake picks fifth overall and with Kyle Beckerman, Javier Morales and Luke Mulholland penciled into the starting lineup, it would take a pretty phenomenal talent to make it into the opening day 11 for Head Coach Jeff Cassar. However, there are some good young players available.
We talked with J.R. Eskilson from TopDrawerSoccer.com about the crop of midfielders and he emphasized that while the draft isn’t particularly deep in attacking players that can make an instant impact, there are a few good attacking midfielders and box-to-box types that could compete for playing time by the end of the season.
At the top of that class in 19-year-old Jack Harrison from Wake Forest. The Generation Adidas signee had a stellar freshman season and is largely considered the top prospect among the midfielders after notching eight goals and 11 assists in 22 matches.
“Harrison has been tremendous. As a freshman at Wake Forest he did pretty much everything you can possibly do,” Eskilson said. “He does a lot of things well. He strikes the ball cleanly. He has that soccer intelligence and makes good decisions with the ball. He may be a contributor off the bench to start, but eventually he’s going to work his way into a starting position and he’ll do well.”
Another player who put up strong numbers in 2015 was Richie Laryea from Akron. In his sophomore season, he helped the Zips reach the Final Four behind 11 goals and seven assists in 22 matches. Exactly how that translates to the professional level will largely be determined by the patience and malleability of both Laryea and the coach who picks him.
“I think his best attributes are when he has the ball at his feet and he can turn and take on a defender,” Eskilson said. “That could be a project though because it could take him a while to adjust to that.”
To read more about the midfielders in the draft and more, read Top Drawer Soccer’s coverage here.
Jack Harrison, Wake Forest, 19, 5-9, 155
Career: 22 GP, 22 GS, 8 G, 11 A
2015: 22 GP, 22 GS, 8 G, 11 A
Richie Laryea (Pictured), Akron, 21, 5-9, 150
Career: 42 GP, 42 GS, 12 G, 9 A
2015: 22 GP, 22 GS, 11 G, 7 A
Julian Buescher, Syracuse, 22, 5-10, 170
Career: 45 GP, 45 GS, 8 G, 16 A
2015: 25 GP, 25 GS, 8 G, 11 A
Omar Holness, North Carolina, 21, 6-1, 174
Career: 59 GP, 55 GS, 5 G, 11 A
2015: 17 GP, 16 GS, 1 G, 1 A
James Moberg, Washington, 21, 6-2, 185
Career: 70 GP, 60 GS, 12 G, 21 A
2015: 6 GP, 6 GS, 3 G, 0 A
Jorginho James, Jamaica (International), 21, 6-2, 182
