The 2016 MLS Combine in Fort Lauderdale will wrap up on Tuesday as the league turns its focus to Thursday’s SuperDraft in Baltimore.
Toronto FC will pick ninth in a draft considered relatively deep, with 10 to 15 players identified as sure fire first round picks. In terms of what the Reds will do with their pick, best player available seems like the best bet. Adding a veteran goalkeeper is also something TFC brass could do during their time in Baltimore. Alex Bono and Quillan Roberts are the only keepers on the roster and both players spent the majority of 2015 with Toronto FC II, the club’s USL outfit.
SBI’s Ives Galarcep released the second edition of his mock draft early on Tuesday. He has the Reds looking at defence with number nine.
9) Toronto FC: Jonathan Campbell, CB (North Carolina) TFC may have already added defensive reinforcements, and also took a pair of central defenders in last year’s draft, but a prospect like Campbell could be too tough to pass up here. Campbell could still be a top 5 pick if the teams higher on the board ignore is combine struggles and judge him on his impressive body of work in college (or if Campbell looks very good on the final day of the combine). If not, TFC could grab him.
Over at TopDrawerSoccer.com, the Toronto Sun's Kurt Larson selected Syracuse forward Ben Polk for the Reds with the ninth pick.
Gotta Call Mom
Toronto’s Richie Laryea signed a Generation adidas contract last week and could be taken anywhere in the top 10.
The Sigma product answered 10 questions with MLSSoccer.com’s Arielle Castillo earlier this week. Laryea shared his pre-match ritual that will warm even the coldest of hearts.
“Before games I have to speak to my mom for a certain amount of time before I go out on the field--it’s almost an hour that I speak to her,” Laryea told Castillo. “She just reminds me what my end goal is and all that and tells me to be confident in myself, and that whatever I do, to do it to my fullest. So as long as I do what I need to do, I’ll make her and my father and sister and brother happy.”
Highlights From The Combine
How To Follow The SuperDraft
Not in Baltimore for the draft? We’ve got you covered. The SuperDraft will belivestreamed on MLSSoccer.com.The proceedings get underway at 1 PM ET on Thursday with the Chicago Fire holding the first overall pick. Not able to watch? Follow along using the draft tracker provided by the league right here.
