1997 MLS College Draft
{{Short description|College draft for soccer teams}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
The 1997 Major League Soccer College Draft was held on February 1 and 2, 1997 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.{{cite web|url=http://www.socceramerica.com/article/16901/mls-1997-collegiate-draft-results-feb-2.html|title=MLS: 1997 Collegiate Draft Results (Feb. 2)|website=www.socceramerica.com}} The draft took place in conjunction with the Umbro Select College All-Star Classic. The first round of the draft took place at halftime of the game and was broadcast live by Prime Sports. The second and third rounds of the draft took place February 2, 1997, beginning at 9:00 a.m. EST in the Fort Lauderdale Airport Hilton.{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-11-07/news/9611070060_1_umbro-game-and-draft-independent-soccer-leagues|title=Pro Draft Will Be Part Of Umbro College Soccer Classic|access-date=2011-11-30|archive-date=2012-07-01|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701130929/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-11-07/news/9611070060_1_umbro-game-and-draft-independent-soccer-leagues|url-status=dead}} The 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft took place on the afternoon of February 2.{{Cite web |last=mlssoccer |title=1997 MLS College Draft {{!}} MLSSoccer.com |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1997-mls-college-draft-369934 |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=mlssoccer |language=en}}
| class="wikitable"
| bgcolor="#FBCEB1" width="5%"|* | Denotes player who has been selected for an MLS Best XI team |
Round 1
| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:80%" | ||||
| width=7%| Pick # | width=28%| MLS team | width=24%| Player | width=15%| Position | width=25%| College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado Rapids | Tahj Jakins | D | UCLA |
| 2 | Tampa Bay Mutiny{{#tag:ref|#2: New England Revolution → Tampa Bay Mutiny. 5 November 1996: Tampa Bay Mutiny acquired this first-round pick from New England Revolution in exchange for New England signing head coach Thomas Rongen.|group="R1 trade"}} | Mike Fisher | M | University of Virginia |
| 3 | Columbus Crew | Rob Jachym | M | University of Hartford |
| 4 | San Jose Clash | Alberto Montoya | M | Santa Clara University |
| 5 | New York/New Jersey MetroStars | Brian Kelly | M | Duke University |
| 6 | Dallas Burn | Temoc Suarez | F | University of North Carolina |
| 7 | Kansas City Wizards | Brian Johnson | M | Fresno State |
| 8 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | Mike Mekelburg | M | University of South Florida |
| 9 | Los Angeles Galaxy | Steve Jolley | M | William & Mary College |
| 10 | D.C. United | Danny Care | D | Clemson University |
=Round 1 trades=
{{reflist|group=R1 trade}}
Round 2
| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:80%" | ||||
| width=7%| Pick # | width=28%| MLS team | width=24%| Player | width=15%| Position | width=25%| Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Colorado Rapids | Ross Paule | M | Creighton University |
| 12 | New England Revolution | Scott Coufal | GK | Indiana University |
| 13 | Columbus Crew | John Smith | F | Rollins College |
| 14 | San Jose Clash | Jason Annicchero | D | Santa Clara University |
| 15 | New York/New Jersey MetroStars | Will Kohler | M | Harvard University |
| 16 | Dallas Burn | Alan Branigan | D | Rutgers University |
| 17 | Kansas City Wizards | Ike Udeh | F | Alabama A&M |
| 18 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | PASS | ||
| 19 | Los Angeles Galaxy | Shawn Boney | M | Southern Connecticut State |
| 20 | D.C. United | Tom Presthus | GK | Southern Methodist University |
=Round 2 trades=
No trades reported.
Round 3
=Round 3 trades=
{{reflist|group=R3 trade}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{reflist|1|group="ref"|refs=
|title=MLS: Mutiny trade Hattrup to Dallas
|url=http://www.socceramerica.com/article/16803/mls-mutiny-trade-hattrup-to-dallas.html
|publisher=Soccer America
|date=31 January 1997
|access-date=14 August 2015}}
|title=MLS: 1997 Collegiate Draft Results (Feb. 2)
|url=http://www.socceramerica.com/article/16901/mls-1997-collegiate-draft-results-feb-2.html
|publisher=Soccer America
|date=2 February 1997
|access-date=14 August 2015}}
}}
{{1997 MLS College Draft}}
{{Major League Soccer}}
{{MLS drafts}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1997 Mls College Draft}}
Category:Major League Soccer drafts
Category:Sports in Fort Lauderdale, Florida