Nick DeLeon calls Dwayne De Rosario his favorite MLS player. Now he gets to play with him.
D.C. United used its sole pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft on DeLeon, who hopes to complement the 2011 MLS MVP. DeLeon helped Louisville get on college soccer’s national map with trips to the NCAA championship and quarterfinals in back-to-back seasons.
“It’s the way [De Rosario] plays the game,” DeLeon said. “He’s a very attacking-minded player, and the man scores goals. That’s just how I want to play. I want to be a goal scorer, and I want to create for other players. That’s what he does. That’s why I really look up to him.”
The 21-year-old from Phoenix finished his two-year career with the Cardinals with 14 goals, nine assists and a pair of All-Big East first-team selections after spending his first two college seasons at UNLV.
“We watched Nick play several times this year, and each time we walked away thinking that he was the best player on the field,” United general manager Dave Kasper said. “We did our due diligence, and we know that he’s a winner and a player that fits our style.”
Projected to provide cover as a wide midfielder immediately, DeLeon also could play outside back. He was limited by a quadriceps strain at last week’s MLS combine but said he hopes to be ready when United opens camp next week.
“I’m a right-footer,” DeLeon said. “But I prefer out left just so you can cut in and bang it, go for the goal.”
With four selections in the two-round draft Thursday in Kansas City, Mo., Louisville tied Creighton for the most from any school. DeLeon went two places before Austin Berry (Chicago) and 11 in front of Colin Rolfe (Houston), who were also first-round selections.
“We’re most proud of their growth and their development and really grateful to them for what they’ve done in getting our program to where it’s at,” Cardinals coach Ken Lolla said.
The expansion Montreal Impact started off the draft by selecting Duke’s Andrew Wenger, who became the first reigning Hermann Trophy winner, college soccer’s version of the Heisman, picked first overall since D.C. United selected Alecko Eskandarian from Virginia in 2003. Akron forward Darren Mattocks, who was expected to go first, was picked second by Vancouver.
Maryland forward Casey Townsend was picked fifth by Chivas USA, the fifth first-round pick produced by the Terrapins in the last four years. Virginia defender Hunter Jumper was picked by Chicago in the second round (28th overall).
DeLeon’s family actually has some history in the District. His father, Trinidad and Tobago native LeRoy DeLeon, played for the Washington Darts of the American Soccer League and the Diplomats of the North American Soccer League in the 1970s, something the younger DeLeon, whose parents are divorced, didn’t find out until recently.
“It’s a little bit ironic that they find themselves in the same place in their pro careers,” Lolla said. “He wants to make it on his own and in his own right. I think he deserves that.”
