INDIANAPOLIS, IN – UNC Greensboro midfielder Scott Jones was selected by his hometown team, FC Dallas, with the 28th selection of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft held Friday.
A total of 52 players were selected in four rounds of the draft by the 13 teams that make up MLS. Jones, a native of Dallas, was the 28th overall selection. The draft was held in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention.
Jones, a fifth-year senior who graduated from UNCG last December, is a four-time first-team All-Southern Conference selection, the first in UNCG’s storied history. A two-time All-American and considered a candidate for the Hermann Trophy the last two seasons, Jones finished his career fifth all-time at UNCG in assists with 41. He also had 25 goals in his collegiate career to give him 91 points. This past year, he had 23 points with seven goals and nine assists. Two of his seven goals came in dramatic fashion as game-winners in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, eliminating Virginia Tech in the final minute of regulation and upsetting sixth-seeded West Virginia in double-overtime.
“It feels great,” said Jones from his parents’ home in Dallas. “It has been my ultimate goal since I was a little kid. I am really excited about the opportunity.
“I saw the first round on television and they cut it off after the first hour,” said Jones, who expects to return to Greensboro in the next few days. “So, after the first round, I had to go on the computer to see the internet feed and just kept hitting my refresh button.
“I think it is a great opportunity to play in front of my friends. The people cheering for me will be the same ones who followed me throughout my career. I am really happy to be playing in my hometown.”
FC Dallas won the Western Conference of MLS this past season with 52 points (16-12-4), but was bounced from the postseason prematurely. FC Dallas lost in the conference semifinals when they were upset by fourth-place Colorado in penalty kicks, 5-4, after an even two-match aggregate.
FC Dallas, which will open the 2007 regular season on April 7 on the road against Real Salt Lake, had a total of six selections in the four rounds, tied with New England for the most draft selections in this year’s Superdraft. FC Dallas selected defender Anthony Wallace of South Florida and the U-20 National Team in the first round. Three forwards were picked with the team’s three second round picks. Fiftteen year-old Abdus Ibrahim of the U-17 National Team, Andrew Daniels of Brown and Ryan Guy of San Diego were named with its three second round selections. A former opponent of Jones’ this season, Jacksonville’s Tommy Krizanovic, was selected with FC Dallas’ fourth round selection.
“We’re pleased to see Scott go in the draft and very proud and excited for him,” said UNCG coach Michael Parker, who was in Indianapolis on Friday for convention festivities. “We had hoped Scott might go a little higher, but the real test for him will come when he reports to workout with the FC Dallas club.”
Randi Patterson was not among the 52 players selected in the Superdraft. Instead, he will wait a few more weeks until the MLS’ supplemental draft is held. An exact date for that has not yet been released, but it is traditionally held in late January.
A native of Hackensack, NJ, Patterson is a two-time All-American and twice earned Southern Conference Player of the Year honors while at UNCG. He finished fifth on the UNCG all-time scoring list with 141 points and fifth on the school’s career goal scoring list with 61. Also a candidate for the Hermann Trophy each of the last two seasons, Patterson was a three-time first-team All-SoCon honoree, having earned second-team honors as a freshman. He was the team’s top goal scorer all four seasons. This past year, he had 27 points on 13 goals and one assist.
- UNCG -