Loons express confidence in college scouting going into MLS Superdraft
Minnesota United’s sporting staff is in transition, but the Loons feel comfortable with the resources they’ve invested in scouting college soccer.
Interim technical director Hank Stebbins is a current leader for MNUFC and he has praised the club’s preparations as they await the arrival of Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad in January.
“I feel pretty confident in saying we probably have more college scouting reports or damn near as many as any team in the league,” Stebbins said on the “Sound of the Loons” podcast last week. “… I should probably undersell. I’m creating expectation here that I shouldn’t do. But I’m really confident in our process.”
The Loons will use those resources on the ninth overall pick in the MLS Superdraft, which starts at 2 p.m. Tuesday. MNUFC traded away its second-round pick to acquire midfielder Jan Gregus at the end of the summer transfer window last season. United also has a third-round pick, No. 67.
“We will certainly be active in looking at other opportunities in that space … to see if we can acquire more talent,” Stebbins said on the podcast. “Really excited about the draft. There is talent there for sure.”
Stebbins credited the work done by scouting director Andrew Gregor, vice president of soccer operations Alex DeRosa and newcomer Lucas Wiley, the club’s scouting and analytics coordinator, among others. Stebbins and Gregor were hired last season and worked under manager Adrian Heath and technical director Mark Watson until those two were fired in October.
The Loons have invested in college scouting because they see the possible returns on investment from these players.
The last time the Loons had a top-10 pick was 2019, when they picked goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair with the seventh overall pick. St. Clair had signed a Generation Adidas contract, meaning he was already under terms with MLS and his lower salary budget number increased his value, especially when he became the Loon’ starting ‘keeper in 2020.
The Loons, however, have had mixed results in recent drafts. The next-best example also came in 2019 when MNUFC picked Hassani Dotson in the second round. He has become a starting midfielder.
“You look at guys like Dayne and Hassani,” Stebbins said. “The investment was a draft pick and the outcome was two incredible players who have really served us well. If we can go find more players like that through the draft, we want to do so.”
But the Loons’ two picks last year are no longer on the team — left back Ryen Jiba and left winger Emmanuel Iwe. They were let go during the end-of-season roster decisions.
Two years ago, striker Tani Oluwaseyi was taken 17th overall, and after dealing with injuries in his rookie year, he went on loan to San Antonio FC last season. scoring 18 goals, fourth-best in second-tier USL Championship. He should get a stronger look to help in MLS this preseason.
This year’s MLS draft will include college underclassmen, meaning clubs can draft sophomores, juniors or seniors.
“It’s exciting because we can now go out and look at a much larger market of players,” Stebbins said. “And try to find value with some guys who are sophomores or juniors that are just developing that could have a lot of value in the future.”
Stebbins also said with more homegrown players joining MLS academies and forgoing college, there has been influx of international players in the collegiate game. If a foreigner is picked, an MLS team would likely need to use an international roster spot on him, which can alter the value proposition seen in a player.
