Stephen King didn?t have to scroll too far through his cell phone to seek advice concerning today?s Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
The former Maryland midfielder called several former teammates who have gone through the process, including midfielder Maurice Adu and goalie Chris Seitz, who were selected first and fourth last year.
“They?ve been giving me a sneak peak of what the league is like, and I?ve been talking to a lot of people,” King said. “Family, coaches, they?ve all given me tidbits of information to calm my nerves.”
He?s had plenty to keep him busy in the week leading up to today?s event at the Baltimore Convention Center. He attended the MLS Combine on Monday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., before returning to train with former teammates Robbie Rogers and Seitz with the U-23 National team in Bradenton, Fla.
The recent influx of former Terrapins into the MLS hasestablished Maryland as a breeding ground for professional soccer, much like Florida and Southern Cal are for the NFL.
Maryland had 14 former players who were on an MLS roster last season, and that number is expected to increase, as King?s name could be called as early as the first round when the four-round draft begins at 2 p.m. The Terrapins? other hopeful is defender Spencer Allen, who is considered a low-level draft pick ? at best.
“We?re really happy with our program,” Terrapins coach Sasho Cirovski said. “We just had, for the past three weeks, three players training with the Olympic team and four players with the national team. We?re very proud and we think we have more in the pipeline coming through.”
King is one of the best players to come out of College Park, as he finished his illustrious career with 33 assists ? second-most in school history ? to go along with 27 goals. Cirovski envisions King thriving in the MLS, despite being considered undersized at 5-foot-8 and 153 pounds.
“He?s a consummate professional,” Cirovski said. “He does everything well. He?s a very low-maintenance player and he has a great nose for the goal. He has very good vision. You appreciate him more as you see him. He does not have a wow factor in his game, but he?s extremely skillful and extremely dependable. He?s constantlyin the right place at the right time and he makes the right decisions.”
