Top 5 Late SuperDraft Steals

We continue to look forward to next Thursday's SuperDraft by counting down the greatest late round heists in the previous 10 editions.

Unlike yesterday's Top 5 List, I confined my pool of choices to 2000 and beyond. The reason for this was that the awkward split between College and Supplemental drafts run before the first four MLS seasons makes it difficult to compare directly to the current system. It's just impossible to shuffle those two decks together.

For this list, all potentials were grabbed after the 30th pick. With the shifting length of the SuperDraft and count of MLS teams through the years, this number assured that all players featured below were taken in the back half of that year's proceedings - which seems a nice general marking post to separate the merely good selections from the real steals.

You may also notice that most of these draft bargains have only played in MLS for the club that originally plucked them.

Honorable mentions: Darrius Barnes (2009 3rd round, 40th overall by New England), Omar Cummings (2007 3rd round, 31st overall by Colorado, Andy Dorman (2004 6th round, 58th overall by New England), Jack Jewsbury (2003 5th round, 43rd overall by Kansas City, Jeff Parke (2004 6th round, 60th overall by the MetroStars)

#5 - Jonathan Bornstein
(2006 4th round 37th over all by Chivas USA)

Drafted out of local collegiate giant UCLA as a forward, the U.S. international was switched to left back by none other than current USMNT boss Bob Bradley. Bornstein has also proven a sturdy stand-in up the flank in midfield and, this past season, in central defense.

#4 - Geoff Cameron
(2008 3rd round, 42nd overall by Houston)

I'm sorry... how on Earth did a guy who can jump in straight away as a two-way midfielder with impact and then follow up the next season by earning Best XI honors mainly playing at center back last for 42 picks? I would consider that a big fat leaguewide scouting swing-and-a-miss. He could eventually rank higher on this chart in a few years.

#3 - Gonzalo Segares
(2005 3rd round, 35th overall by Chicago)

Now off to a European adventure, Segares was a mainstay for the Fire, working 108 league tilts in four seasons. A reliable defender both in the middle and at left back, the Costa Rica international also proved dangerous going forward. Chicago will be very sorry to see him go.

#2 - Davy Arnaud
(2002 6th round, 50th overall by Kansas City)

The stalwart Wizards attacker will play his 200th game early in the 2010 season, which he will begin with career totals of 37 goals and 30 assists. Whether playing as a support forward or on the right, the Texas native has consistently spurred the K.C. attack for the better part of a decade now.

#1 - Michael Bradley
(2004 4th round, 36th overall by the MetroStars)

Remember how some claimed Mikey was only picked by the Big Apple bunch out of nepotism? Oops. Sure, the 2004 edition stands among the most fruit-bearing MLS drafts, which could account for some of Bradley's slide into the fourth round. But then when you take into account that midfielders Scott Buete, Josh Gardner, Adolfo Gregorio, Sumed Ibrahim, Memo Arzate, Kevin Ara, Mike Wilson, Ty Maurin, Lindon Pecorelli and David McGill were all taken ahead of him... oops x 10. Naturally, the U.S. regular only played one season with the MetroStars - but that doesn't exactly lessen the quality of the pick, does it?


- Greg Seltzer