Cox, selected in the 4th Round with the 54th Overall Pick to Real Salt Lake

After the draft had run it's course, Raf had this to say:
"I couldn't be happier getting drafted to Salt Lake City. They have a great program, and I can't wait to contribute to a strong franchise."

Cox watched the 2nd through 4th round of the MLS SuperDraft online. In response to the long wait to read his name, he said:
"I was a little worried as the draft went on but it all worked out in the long run."

As to what's next for the sometimes singularly named, RAFAEL:
"I leave in 2 weeks. Then camp starts and from there I work to get on the field. There's a brand new stadium, and they made it to the Western Conference Finals, so I'm excited."

For info on Cox and his career with the Tacoma Tide & the UW Huskies, see TacomaFC.com

There were a few early signings, then the expansion draft and today the SuperDraft. Next will come a few international signings. But as of today -- after adding four college players -- the Sounders feel like they're set up well to go into training camp in a couple of weeks with no gaping holes.

That sense general sense of comfort with where the expansion team is today was my main take from a post-draft press conference this afternoon with Sigi Schmid, Adrian Hanauer and Chris Henderson.

Here's my SuperDraft overview story.

Regarding those top two picks, Hanauer said Zakuani "has the potential to be a big star in soccer, he's got all the tools," while No. 2 pick Evan Brown is "just a good quality soccer player."

Hanauer said there were a couple of times when they gave serious thought to trading the pick, but obviously they decided Zakuani was better than what they were being offered. "We didn't chase it that hard because of Zakuani," Hanauer said.

As a Generation adidas player, Zakuani is signed and assured of a spot on the roster. The other three players are unsigned, but the team did it's homework and expected to be able to get them all, including Fucito who made it clear that he wants to try soccer before going on to whatever that Harvard education might bring.

The Sounders have made their final selection of the SuperDraft. They used it for Michael Fucito, a midfielder/forward from Harvard, where he was his team's captain. He is 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, from Medford, N.J.

Information on all other picks is available in posts below. And here's the full SuperDraft list from MLSnet.com.

We're expecting to hear from coach Sigi Schmid, general manager Adrian Hanauer and technical director Chris Henderson at mid-afternoon as they discuss what they accomplished today.

I'll pop back in later with some highlights from that.

The Sounders just used their third pick to select Jared Karkas, a senior left back from Azusa Pacific. He's 22, 6-feet and from Upland, Calif.

Here's his school's scouting report on his senior season and some highlights from his junior year:

THIS YEAR: Senior Jared Karkas is Azusa Pacific's most experienced returnee and is one of the top left backs in the nation ... Has started all 3 seasons entering his senior campaign and has the most collegiate game experience on the Cougar roster ... Has a dangerous left foot to go with his size and terrific speed ... Provides a reliable target in the box and is great going forward.

2007 (Junior): Was the only Azusa Pacific player to start all 22 contests during the Cougars' 2007 NAIA title run, anchoring a defense that posted program single-season records of 14 shutouts and a 0.49 goals-against average ... Was 1 of 6 Cougars to be accorded All-GSAC recognition ... Registered 15 points, scoring 2 goals and notching a team-high 11 assists ... Posted a 7-point weekend, scoring 1 goal and assisting 5 more in season-opening wins over Northwestern (Iowa) and Dominican at Westmont's Heritage Club Classic ... Scored on a spectacular 20-yard strike from a sharp angle with less than 7 minutes left to force overtime in an eventual 3-2 win over Westmont ... Assisted 2 of Steven Lenhart's 4 goals in the Cougars' 4-0 win over Concordia, which was ranked No. 1 in the NAIA at the time ... Provided the assist on Mike Wilson's insurance goal in Azusa Pacific's 3-1 NAIA quarterfinal victory over Fresno Pacific.

The Sounders used their second pick to select Wake Forest defender Evan Brown.

Brown is a senior at Wake, 21, 5-foot-11, 165 pounds, from Raleigh, N.C. He played in 89 games over four seasons with four goals and 15 assists.

Some of his honors:

College
Coached at Wake Forest by Jay Vidovich
• 2007 Deacon Award
• 2007 Nike/Carolina Classic All-
• 2006 Most Improved Player award
High School
• Three-time academy all-conference
• Two-time All-Pac VI Conference
• All-region and MVP as a senior
Club/National Team
• Plays for Capital Area Soccer League

FC Dallas has selected University of Washington midfielder George John with the No. 14 pick of the MLS SuperDraft.

He is from Shoreline and attended Shorewood High School.

One pick later, the first round concluded.

The Sounders are back on the clock to kick off the second round.

Sounders FC held onto the top pick and selected Akron goal-scoring forward Steve Zakuani, the Mid-America Conference player of the year.

We just got a few minutes to talk with him, and he seems at least as excited as Sounders fans may be:

:It’s an honor to me and a dream come true as well," he said. "I just really can’t wait to get started, you know? I’m so happy to be going there and to be playing for Coach Schmid, who I know all about – he’s got a great track record and I respect him as a coach."

He was asked how he felt went his name was called as the No. 1 overall pick:

"I was in shock," he said. "I was in shock because up until the last minute I had no idea where I was going to go. Last night I was trying to figure out, and you can’t know, you just can’t know. When I heard my name called first, it was a relief. And to go to the Sounders, I’ve been telling people all week this is probably the team I’d want to go to the most because they’re a new team and it will be good to be part of something brand new, so I’m excited."

As for what he can contribute, he said: "I don't know yet. I'm just going to go there and play. I'm confident in my abilities and what I can do. And obviously Coach sees something in me that he likes. We'll see how it works out.

He's 20 years old, 6-feet tall, 160 pounds from the U.K., presently living in Akron. In two seasons at Akron, he played 44 games with 43 starts, and scored 26 goals with nine assists.

He was born in the Congo and moved to England when he was four years old. He trained with the Arsenal youth team from 1997-2003. However, when an ACL limited his club opportunities there, he looked to the United States and accepted a scholarship offer from Akron. He says the Arsenal background has shaped his playing, although his heart remains with the Congo when it comes to playing for a national side.

"Anybody who’s seen Arsenal play knows they play probably the most attractive style in the world," Zakuani said. "I grew up under that tutelage for five years, they drummed in me the principles that I still use today and I traveled around the world with them to some major tournaments and played against some of the best players in England week in and week out, and some of the best players in Europe, and that’s really where I got my soccer education in the early years."

Other honors:

Coached at Akron by Caleb Porter
• 2008: Led nation in goals and points, MAC Hermann
Trophy finalist, Soccer America Player of the Year,
TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year, NSCAA/adidas
First Team All-American and First Team All-Great
Lakes Region, Soccer America First Team All-
American, College Soccer News First Team All-
American, MAC Player of the Year, All-MAC First
Team, Soccer America Preseason All-American,
College Soccer News Player to Watch, two-time
TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Week,
College Soccer News National Player of the Week
• 2007: College Soccer News All-Freshman Team, MAC
Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-MAC,
NSCAA/adidas First Team All-Great Lakes Region

Well, what do you know. Some Sounders news broke this morning, and it has nothing to do with the SuperDraft.

The Sounders have named News Talk 97.3 KIRO FM as their radio home for all home and away matches.

“A key ingredient to the success of the Sounders FC will be identifying the right partners who share our values and passion about the game and this community,” CEO Tod Leiweke said in a news release. “We have found a proven and truly enthusiastic partner in the Bonneville Seattle Radio Group.”

Here's the rest of that announcement release:

Bonneville will air Sounders FC match broadcasts as well as pre and post game shows on 97.3 KIRO FM. Bonneville and Sounders FC will also join forces to produce a weekly 30-minute Sounders FC show on the new 710 ESPN Seattle.

“Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, and we’re convinced that the Sounders FC will quickly find a passionate following here in the Northwest,” said Bonneville Seattle Radio Group Vice President and Market Manager Carl Gardner. “We’re delighted to have the chance to bring these games to our listeners.”

KIRO has received the highest national honor for radio – The Edward R. Murrow Award of Excellence for outstanding broadcasting achievement – five times, in 1982, 1989, 1991, 1996 and 2001. In 2005, 710 KIRO won more Edward R. Murrow awards than any other station in the United States.

710 ESPN Seattle, which debuts in April, will feature radio play-by-play and comprehensive coverage of the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners. 710 ESPN Seattle will broadcast a line-up of local Seattle-based sports news and sports talk programs, along with selected nationally-syndicated programs from ESPN Radio Network.

As I start this post, the first pick in the MLS SuperDraft is about 45 minutes away, and as of now that pick still belongs to Seattle Sounders FC.

As I write this, the first pick in the MLS SuperDraft is about 45 minutes away. As as of now, that pick still belongs to Seattle Sounders.

Once that first pick is made, things should move along pretty quickly. The 15 MLS teams have four minutes to make a selection in the first and second rounds, and hree minutes in the third and fourth rounds. Each team get one five minute timeout.

The Sounders have the rights to the first pick in each round, meaning the first, 16th, 31st and 46th picks overall.

Here's how Steve Davis of MLSnet.com sees Seattle's goals for the day:

Seattle: The Sounders pick first, and Steve Zakuani is the name everyone is hearing as (potentially) the next MLS No. 1 pick. Of course, we've all been wrong before. Remember, at this time last year Eric Avila and Julius James were the most-often floated names to be called No. 1. Avila fell all the way to No. 17. James was taken in the ninth spot. So, bet on Zakuani at your own peril.

Then again, don't be surprised if Sigi Schmid sends the No. 1 pick elsewhere, adding an extra early selection to the Sounders' list of assets. With only 15 players currently on roster, it could serve Schmid well to utilize two good picks instead of one great one.

I'll be back with each FC pick as it is made and Sounders reaction as it is made available.

The first hour of the draft will be shown on ESPN2.