The Major League Soccer Combine pits elite college players
against each other to show off their skills for MLS general
managers and scouts.
During this week’s MLS Combine, five UCLA players were
given one last chance to impress the league’s general
managers before the MLS Superdraft that takes place today in
Charlotte, N.C., starting at 7 a.m.
Bruin forward Matt Taylor, midfielders Adolfo Gregorio and Ty
Maurin, defender Leonard Griffin and goalkeeper Zach Wells all
participated in the combine, but it was Taylor who stole the
show.
Taking full advantage of the opportunity to impress the MLS
elite, Taylor scored a hat trick in the final game of the
combine.
“Matt Taylor surprised me,” San Jose Earthquakes
head coach Dominic Kinnear told Soccer America. “I saw him
play three times last season at UCLA, and this is the best
I’ve ever seen him play.”
Despite the performance, Taylor is unsure whether his stellar
performance will mean a higher draft status.
“It’s hard to tell what coaches are going to look
for,” Taylor said. “I know they will look for certain
positions and qualities. It’s obviously going to help me, but
I have no idea where I’m going to go.
“I have low expectations. I expect to go in the low first
round, but more likely the second.”
Taylor also had opinions to offer on his Bruin teammates.
“Leonard Griffin is awesome; he’s a baller,”
Taylor said. “He’s one of the top-quality defenders in
the nation, and I think he will be one of the top two or three
defenders chosen.”
His critique of Gregorio wasn’t quite as favorable.
“Adolfo didn’t play as well as he could have, but he
finished strong by scoring a really nice goal in the last
game,” Taylor said. “He should be drafted high as
well.”
The entire draft will be Webcast on MLSnet.com and the first
hour of the draft will be broadcast live on Fox Sports World.
Three Bruins were selected in last year’s draft.