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2017 MLS SuperDraft Draft Picks: Houston Dynamo

By Antonio Rubio

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On behalf of all Dynamo supporters, 2017 MLS SuperDraft was a crazy one. Slated with 3 picks in the 1st 2 rounds, the Dynamo were looking to fill out the roster for 2017. What ensued was trades, crazy picks, and good ole’ GAM/TAM.

Houston Dynamo led by General Manager Matt Jordan and Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera came into the 2017 SuperDraft with the highest draft pick order in Dynamo history. They had the chance to pick the 4th pick in the 1st round of the SuperDraft. Dynamo could have ended up with Ebobisse, Yueill, or Odoi Atsem but it wouldn’t be the Dynamo way without the unexpected happening.

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As the 4th pick approached it looked like they would end up with a pick everyone expected, Cabrera and Co accepted a trade offer from Portland Timbers for a switch to the 10th pick, 100k in allocation money and an international spot. After some deliberation and some Dynamo fan freakouts on Twitter it made sense of what was to come. Houston used the international spot on the 10th pick (surprisingly), and used the allocation money to obtain a trade with LA Galaxy for veteran Right Back, AJ De La Garza. Good wheelin’ and dealin’ from Dynamo on draft day. Let’s go in and check out who it was Houston took in the 1st and 2nd rounds of the SuperDraft.

1st round 10th pick- Joe Holland (Hofstra University)

Joe Holland is a central attacking midfielder from London, England and played all 4 years at Hofstra University in New York. Holland is what one would classify as a #10, essentially what Dynamo fans have been asking for. Yes, it is an unproven SuperDraft pick but according to his interview with Matt Pederson, Maryland Terps Coach Sasho Cirovski said “Holland is one of the most well-rounded midfielders in the country. Good box-to-box midfielder, he has bite, is good on set pieces.” Holland has the backing of one of the best coaches in college soccer, and furthermore Holland played a total of 79 games with Hofstra over the course of 4 years. That is quite a bit of playing time for Holland to have developed and went on to score 19 goals and record 28 assists for Hofstra. Pretty good numbers for a #10!

Holland has semi pro experience as well having played for Ventura County Fusion in the PDL scoring 7 goals in his summer stint. So yes, Holland was a surprising pick for many and he does take up an international spot but he seems to have the backing of credible people, his statistics back it up, and lastly obviously Cabrera and Jordan seem high on him and how he performed at the combine. Fans should give Holland the chance he deserves considering the high regards our FO holds him in. He could be the risk the Dynamo need to take to succeed at the #10 position, here is some highlights of him to show you the real deal.

2nd round 8th pick- Jake McGuire (University of Tulsa)

The Dynamo got themselves a goalkeeper to bolster the squad with their pick of 22 year old Jake McGuire from the University of Tulsa. McGuire will most likely be battling it out for 3rd string goalkeeper with Calle Brown and most likely will be assigned to play with Houston Dynamo USL affiliate, RGV Toros. McGuire could be one for the future for the Dynamo after having a pretty solid combine and going surprisingly high in the list of goalkeepers for the draft.

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McGuire, born in California, has a strong history with Head Coach, Wilmer Cabrera. Cabrera coached him two times before when McGuire was involved in the US U-17 National Team Residency Program. Back then, Cabrera was the coach for the U17’s and developed a strong relationship with McGuire. Cabrera also was the head coach of Chivas USA back when McGuire was in Chivas USA’s academy so they definitely go way back. Jake Mcguire played a total of 67 games for U of Tulsa over his 4 year career starting most games between the goalposts for Tulsa. McGuire brings experience on the International, Collegiate, and Academy level as well as a relationship with Cabrera so it is safe to say Cabrera is confident in his 2nd round pick.

2nd Round 14th pick- Danilo Radjen (Akron)

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For the Dynamo’s last pick they went with a more under the radar Center Back, Danilo Radjen from Akron. Akron has a long history of producing MLS ready pros such as DeAndre Yedlin, Perry Kitchen, and Darlington Nagbe. Yes, that could be a lot to live up to but if history proves right an Akron Zip usually makes it in MLS. 22 year old Danilo Radjen was born and raised in Ohio and started his collegiate career at Cleveland State where he started 34 games and later on transferred to Akron where he started 29 games in a 3 year span. Radjen provides depth to the Dynamo at Center Back and will most likely be assigned to RGV Toros barring a very impressive preseason.

Overall, not a bad draft class of 2017 for Houston and it seems like the front office had many things brewing behind the scenes leading to the trade for AJ De La Garza. Fans can not feel bad about the confidence Cabrera and Jordan have in the drafted players and should have high expectations. One cannot forget to give the draftees and the rest of the team patience in coming together but there is a positive vibe for 2017 here in Houston. Will the Dynamo slot Joe Holland into a #10 role from the beginning, could he be our breakout rookie? Let me know what you think of the Dynamo draft class in the comments!

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