After finishing his sophomore season in forgettable fashion,
with an injury causing him to miss the Bruins’ postseason,
UCLA defender Marvell Wynne signed a “Generation
adidas” contract, a move which requires him to forgo his last
two years as a Bruin. Generation adidas contracts are given to top
underclassmen who look to move on to the professional level in the
U.S. as players in Major League Soccer. Alongside fellow Bruin
teammate Jordan Harvey, who was one of 54 collegiate seniors
selected to participate in this weekend’s MLS Combine at the
Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., Wynne will have a chance to
impress the coaching staff and general manager from each of the
twelve teams. The combine will begin this Thursday and continue
through Sunday, with the draft taking place on Jan. 20. However,
Wynne may not have much impressing to do as he is already projected
to be the top pick in this year’s MLS SuperDraft thanks to
his great athleticism, speed, and strength ““ all of which
will help tremendously in a very physically demanding league. In
his second year with the Bruins, Wynne recorded his first career
goal and led the defense to a Pac-10 record season by containing
opponents at home throughout the entirety of the regular season,
not allowing a single goal. Wynne would become the third UCLA
player to be the top choice in the draft, the first dating back to
1997 when Tahj Jakins was selected by the Colorado Rapids. The most
recent occurrence was in 2000 when the New York/New Jersey
Metrostars selected Steve Shak, who began his career in Westwood as
a walk-on. If Wynne is the first player chosen next Friday, he will
find himself a member of Chivas USA, located in Carson, the site of
the third consecutive MLS Combine. Wynne was not sought after
solely by MLS teams, as he had several European teams showing
interest as well, but opted to continue playing in the U.S.
IANNI RUMORS: Junior midfielder Patrick Ianni,
the Bruins’ captain during the previous season, is also
projected to be drafted early in the SuperDraft. Ianni and Wynne
played for the U-20 National team in the summer of 2005, and both
contributed greatly to the team’s success. Although he is
expected to go early in the draft, the former captain has not
formally stated his intent to enter the draft. Ianni could not be
reached for comment.