Rapids Choose 3 In Draft

In today's Superdraft the Rapids stuck with their 3 picks at 6, 11, and 25 and picked up a trio of players who I expect to make the team and contribute.

Going into the draft the talk was that Colorado really wanted CB Walker Zimmerman and he fell to #6 but the Rapids surprised everyone and took UCF forward Deshorn Brown.  DeShorn is a junior at Central Florida and was signed under the Generation Adidas program, which means he doesn't count against the cap and is automatically protected in any expansion drafts.  He's Jamaican, so he will take up an international slot, leaving us 2 open slots.  He was named to the 2012 All-PDL Team and the Conference USA All Conference team.  At 6'3" he'll be a good target for Rivero's free kicks into the box.

At #11 Colorado took Notre Dame midfielder Dillon Powers.  He is one of a few seniors to already have signed a contract with MLS due to his high level of play in college.  He was also considered one of the best midfielders at the combine.  Powers has played for the U.S. U-18 and U-20 teams, being named MVP of the 2010 Milk Cup with the U-20 team.

With their final pick the Rapids took left back Kory Kindle from CSU Bakersfield.  Kindle is a senior but has not yet signed a contract.  He stood out as one of the better left backs at this draft, but he is a converted left mid.

Combined with the announcement of Kevin Harbottle this morning the Rapids are up to 25 players on the roster for training camp.  The other 21 players reported to Commerce City today for the first day of fitness tests, with training starting this weekend.  I'm sure today's additions will join them shortly.  The four rounds of the Supplemental Draft will be held on Thursday, the Rapids have a 2nd and 3rd round pick.

Here's our current roster as we enter camp.

Goalkeepers:
Steward Ceus
Matt Pickens

Defenders:
Diego Calderon
Kory Kindle - Unsigned draftee
Chris Klute (on loan from Atlanta through late-Sept)
Drew Moor
Anthony Wallace
Marvell Wynne

Midfielders:
Davy Armstrong
Eric Avila - Unsigned Re-Entry draftee
Tony Cascio
Jaime Castrillon
Kevin Harbottle
Pablo Mastroeni
Brian Mullan
Shane O'Neill
Dillon Powers
Martin Rivero (on loan from Rosario Central through 2013)
Nathan Sturgis
Hendry Thomas

Forwards:
Andre Akpan
Deshorn Brown
Edson Buddle
Atiba Harris
Kamani Hill