Midfielder Patrick Ianni will forgo his senior season and enter
his name in this year’s Major League SuperDraft, which will
take place on Jan. 20. Ianni signed a “Generation
adidas” contract but would not discuss the terms of his
contract.
Joining Ianni is sophomore defender Marvell Wynne, who will also
leave early in hopes of playing in Major League Soccer. Both
players will be competing in the MLS Combine, which will begin
today at the Home Depot Center in Carson.
The departures of Wynne and Ianni, last year’s Pac-10
Co-Player of the Year, did not come as a surprise, as both
discussed even before the season began that they were likely to
leave after the 2005 season. Their decisions came on the heels of
their experience this past summer with the U.S. Under-20 National
Team at the World Youth Championships, where both players received
positive feedback on their games.
“Just from an exposure standpoint we got a great
opportunity,” Ianni said. “Marvell and I grew so much
during the summer just from playing with the U-20 team.”
Wynne’s decision to turn pro was also in large part
because of a stress fracture in his left foot that he suffered late
in the season. He missed the final four games of the season, which
included the Bruins’ early exit in the second round of the
NCAA Tournament.
“It’s disappointing to have my final season end the
way it did, but I was still settled on leaving because it made me
think about how easily I could get injured and not make the
professional ranks,” Wynne said.
ESPN projects Wynne to be a possible top pick in this
year’s draft, which would send him to local MLS team Chivas
USA. “It’s exciting and I hope it (goes
through),” said Wynne, who was named to the National Soccer
Coaches Association of America’s (NSCAA) First Team.
Wynne, a speedy defender, was sought by many international teams
in the summer. He admitted that playing international soccer was
enticing. Throughout the year, Wynne had been considering playing
for Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht in Brussels, Belgium, but opted
to stay in the U.S.
“I wasn’t ready for it ““ technically,”
he said. “So I decided to stay here and play for the MLS
where everyone speaks the same language and I know the players
around me. Hopefully I can play (international soccer) in the near
future.”
UCLA coach Jorge Salcedo was not available for comment but both
players reiterated that he tried to convince them to stay another
season.
“He talked about the pros and cons and how we could
improve certain aspects of our game. He was really pulling for us
to stay in school,” Wynne said. “He told me I could
work on my positioning and thinking quickly ““ technical
work.”
Despite opting to end their careers as Bruins, both Ianni and
Wynne praised Salcedo and his coaching staff for preparing them for
their futures.
“I think one of his main goals is to develop players for
the next level and he and his coaching staff should feel good that
they’re making these great players,” Ianni said.
“I’m so thankful that I came to UCLA.”