The Akron Zips, and something special for this year’s MLS draft

Major League Soccer’s annual draft unfolds tomorrow. There will be game changers taken early who will meet expectations, there will be a few busts to giggle about and there will surely be solid role players aplenty plucked from the college and amateur ranks. Nothing new there.

But something is likely to happen tomorrow that is unprecedented in MLS draft history.

The University of Akron completed its inspiring rise to the top of the college soccer world last month by winning its first NCAA championship. This came a year after the Zips came oh-so-close to claiming the prize in 2010; Akron went undefeated in 2009 before falling in the final.

Now a bunch of the skill and athleticism that directed Akron’s 2010 title run is up for selection in Thursdays’ draft from snowy Baltimore. And plucked it will be, without a doubt, as Akron punctuates its amazing climb to the top by dominating the first round. 

Don’t be surprised at all if five Akron Zips are taken in the first round (18 picks), which would be an MLS record. Four players from Wake Forest taken in the 2009 draft is the current standard.

Barring something goofy, one of coach Caleb Porter’s young men will earn the honor of being top player taken: either speedy, athletic forward Darlington Nagbe or defender-midfielder Perry Kitchen, a talent who looks wise beyond his 18 years. (For a complete first-round mock up, see the piece I wrote posted yesterday at SI.com.)

Between those two, I’d wager a tummy-warming Starbucks concoction that the one not chosen first will go second.

Also count Akron defender Zarek Valentin, defender Kofi Sarkodie and midfielder Michael Nanchoff as heavy favs to go in the first round.  It doesn’t hurt at all that all five are Generation Adidas signings, meaning that they are already under contract with MLS and that, importantly, their salaries do not count toward team caps. That fact alone raises these guys’ value substantially.

So, expect Akron and Porter to be all the talk tomorrow. In case you don’t remember, D.C. United attempted to hire Porter last year, but he chose to stay at Akron. Keep this man’s name in mind; you;ll hear about him in the pro game sooner or later. He’s only 35, by the way, so his future looks as bright as those glowing Oregon football socklets we saw in Monday’s national championship game.

(For a little more on Porter and his program at Akron, here's a Q-and-A executed well by former colleague of mine at the Dallas Morning News, Roxanna Scott.)

By the way, the foursome taken from Wake Forest last year … none could be called busts just yet, but more may have been expected collectively. Ike Opara, the 3^rd overall selection, was terrific at San Jose before injury misfortune took away the second half of his rookie season. Zack Schilawski (No. 9 overall to New England) had great moments for the Revolution, with five goals in 15 starts and 10 appearances off the bench. They were solid picks, for sure.

But Corben Bone (No. 13 to Chicago) and Austin da Luz (No. 14 to New York) were non-factors over their initial MLS season.