FC Dallas went into the MLS Superdraft looking for depth to help in their quest for the treble. They came away with players long on potential, here is a look at their 1st and 2nd round selections.
The first two rounds of the 2017 MLS Superdraft took place in Los Angeles on Friday. FC Dallas held the 18th selection in the first round and the 37th and 40th picks in the second round. FCD used those picks to tab Wake Forest midfielder Jacori Hayes in the first round. They followed that selection by grabbing center back Walter Hume and winger Adonijah Reid in the second.
Jacori Hayes
Position: Midfield
Last Club/School: Wake Forest
The 21 year old Hayes is a diminutive playmaker who comes from a very good collegiate program. Named an NSCAA First Team All American in 2016, Hayes brings more flexibility to the attacking part of the FCD midfield. His 15 goals and 15 assists over his college career show that despite being more on the creative side, he has an eye for goal as well.
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For a team with no glaring holes to fill, FC Dallas was looking for depth at key positions. Jacori gives another option to offset the absence of Mauro Diaz. He can help FCD by taking some minutes off of Javier Morales who is being counted on heavily to begin the season. Hayes has excellent dribbling skills and his creativity is already at a high level. He possesses excellent vision and is decisive in what to do with the ball.
With the pick of Hayes, FCD added another bullet to their already impressive attack. It will be interesting to see how Oscar Pereja decides to best use his talents. Even if he does not force his way into the starting eleven this year, bringing a player of his abilities off the bench could be a big weapon. He could provide that attacking spark, or play keep away when killing off a game.
Walter Hume
Position: Centerback
Last club/School: North Carolina
Dallas was expected to go hunting for another CB this draft after the loss of Zach Loyd to expansion. They tabbed Hume with the 37th pick in another move to add depth to a key area. Hume still requires some polish, but he has a tremendous package to work with. Having been born in Dallas and raised in Austin, it will be a homecoming of sorts for Hume.
At 6’5″, Hume brings the physical traits to be dominate in the air. This is key as Dallas loves to target their tall defenders on corners and set pieces in the attacking zone. Outside of the height, Walter has good athleticism and solid ball skills.
Dallas has had good fortune in the past with drafting similar centerbacks like Matt Hedges and Walter Zimmerman. The good thing for Hume is that he will have the opportunity to develop behind those two. He offers FCD a solid depth option to help spell Hedges and Zimmerman. He should also be expected to be called on for a handful of starts as Hedges could work his way into being an National Team regular.
Adonijah Reid
Position: Winger
Last club/School: ANB Futbol
FC Dallas struck gold the last time they tabbed a Canadian in the draft when they selected Tesho Akindele. They hope to have found another gem in Reid. At only 17, Reid became the first Canadian Generation Adidas player taken in the MLS Draft.
What Reid brings is tremendous potential. He won the Golden Boot for the Canadian third division and has been involved in Canada’s U-20 team. At seventeen, FCD is getting a huge talent who has a great deal of game experience. With no expectation for him to be a key contributor right away, the FCD staff can bring him along at a pace best suited for his development.
Given time, Reid may well become an absolute steal. Scoring ability is always at a premium, and when you have a teenager putting up 20 goals in a third division season you have to take a chance on him. With their current squad construction, Dallas can be patient, and taking Reid is a low risk/high reward proposition.
Final Analysis
All three players were picks of excellent value for FC Dallas. Hayes adds more creativity and chance creation to an attack that has loads of it. Hume provides immediate depth in the center of defense with the potential to develop into another solid starter for FCD. Reid brings a knack for scoring that cannot be taught. His development time is expected to be greater, but at his age he has the time. Overall, Dallas got three players who project to be starters down the road. Each one possesses the potential to be a difference maker at his position. It is now the coaching staff’s turn to help make that potential a reality.
Next: Vancouver Whitecaps Draft Analysis
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