USL sets date for 2003 A-League College Draft
Annual draft moves to December 18, drops Territorial Round
December 4, 2003
TAMPA, FL - United Soccer Leagues announced today that it will conduct its annual College Draft prior to the holiday season on December 18 and the expected addition of an expansion franchise in Syracuse.
"Although there are a few more small steps that need to be completed, the addition of Syracuse is imminent," said USL Executive Director and COO Dave Askinas. "We expect the process to be completed very soon and at that point, the club will make the official announcement, introducing itself to the community."
USL also announced that the 2003 A-League College Draft is comprised of two rounds, eliminating the Territorial Round, which previously gave teams the first opportunity to draft outstanding collegiate players in their region. The draft will be held via conference call.
"We felt the Territorial Round was no longer necessary as most teams select players on a regional basis throughout the draft in addition to it being inconsistent with the draft process of other sports in the US," said A-League Director of Operations Tim Holt.
The A-League College Draft was previously held the week of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft in early February in conjunction with the Umbro Select tournament.
"Our teams conveyed a preference to hold the draft closer to the college cups, feeling it previously was too close to the A-League season and too far removed from the college season; therefore, we felt that holding the draft closer to the college cups was a better fit for everyone involved and it gave our teams more time to sign remaining players."
As an expansion team, Syracuse will draft first in both rounds. Both rounds will go in reverse order of the 2002 A-League regular season standings.
2003 A-League College Draft Order
| # |
FIRST ROUND |
|
# |
SECOND ROUND |
| 1 |
Syracuse |
|
20 |
Syracuse |
| 2 |
Calgary |
|
21 |
Calgary |
| 3 |
Indiana |
|
22 |
Indiana |
| 4 |
Virginia Beach |
|
23 |
Virginia Beach |
| 5 |
Cincinnati |
|
24 |
Cincinnati |
| 6 |
Pittsburgh |
|
25 |
Pittsburgh |
| 7 |
Toronto |
|
26 |
Toronto |
| 8 |
Charlotte |
|
27 |
Charlotte |
| 9 |
El Paso |
|
28 |
El Paso |
| 10 |
Vancouver |
|
29 |
Vancouver |
| 11 |
Charleston * |
|
30 |
Atlanta |
| 12 |
Portland |
|
31 |
Portland |
| 13 |
Charleston ^ |
|
32 |
Richmond |
| 14 |
Minnesota |
|
33 |
Minnesota |
| 15 |
Montreal |
|
34 |
Montreal |
| 16 |
Rochester |
|
35 |
Rochester |
| 17 |
Milwaukee |
|
36 |
Milwaukee |
| 18 |
Charleston |
|
37 |
Charleston |
| 19 |
Seattle |
|
38 |
Seattle |
Draft Order Notes
* Atlanta traded Ihor Dotsenko to Richmond for Richmond's 2003 1st Round Draft Pick
^ Charleston traded Jon Akin to Atlanta for Atlanta's 2003 1st Round Draft Pick & Richmond's 2003 1st Round Draft Pick
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