I think the subject says it all. First question for this thread: ESPN just did a series of articles on likely MLS draftees. I noticed a kid from Michigan State made one of the lists: "Kenzo Webster".

Who is this kid and why wasn't he wearing a Bucks' uniform the last couple of summers? Would he be related to John Minagawa-Webster, he of the torn-up knee that ruined a promising MLS career in KC?

Kenzo and John I believer are brothers. Kenzo played for West Michigan last summer.

It is important to note how many Bucks could be going relatively early in the draft this Friday. Ives Galarcep who was at the combine has projected both Xavier Balc and Eric Brunner to go in the first round. He's also saying he thinks Dominic Cervi will go no later than mid-2nd round. George Josten also did well at the combine (scored a blinder on the first day) and could go later on. Thats 3 Bucks (2 from the last year) that could go inside the first 21 picks, and another who could go not long after that. Not bad at all.

I wonder if we tried to get Kenzo. His brother teased us with that half season back in 2005. Fully recovered from a shoulder injury - props to olujosh for informing me about that - John was one of the more intriguing players we've had.

You wonder how many of these kids are anywhere near their best(paging Knox Cameron!) when they play in the PDL. Balc had a hard time even getting on the field for us, and he might well go in the top 5. And unless I'm confusing him with someone else, Josten was slower than dirt last summer.

I don't think Balc is going to do as well at the MLS level as his most fervent fans do. I think Brunner will do quite well.

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2008/01/post-5.html

Ives has Josten and Brunner rated highly in his final combine report. He's said he thinks Xavier might have done poorly on purpose so that he ends up with the Crew instead of a Colorado/RSL type.

Can't wait to see what happens Friday.

Well, plenty of Crew fans do pine for both Balc and Brunner. I think Brunner will go earlier than late 1st round.

Balc may *think* he's tanking to avoid RSL, but I remain unconvinced he can make it big in MLS. If he can't make it on the field for us, I don't see how he's going to thrive in MLS. He's fat(relatively) and slow.

Don't know if you guys have been watching the draft but:

Dominic Cervi went 12th overall to Chicago as insurance in case Matt Pickens signs abroad.

Eric Brunner just went 16th overall (2nd round) to Red Bull.

Rest of the draft is live on MLSnet.com

George Josten goes 20th overall to the Crew.

And Balc doesn't even get drafted! The PDL season does mean something. I do worry though about the dilution of talent as the league gets bigger and bigger.

Xavier will likely be one of the top picks in the Supplemental Draft this week. More than anything, his poor combine did him in.

With the Wizards trading Garcia to San Jose and Burciaga to Colorado (great pick up by COLO), Mackenzie could be one of those late round impact guys for KC...

Or it could be that he's just not that good. Watching his fall gives me a lot more confidence in my evaluation skills.

We got to see the kid play for the better part of 3 seasons for the Bucks. Why do you think he can make it in MLS?

The work done this past spring by John Hollinger at ESPN has really affected my outlook on such matters. He constructed a numerical algorithm to grade NBA prospects. What Hollinger found was that while overall numbers like points per game did have some importance. But some of the most predictive stats were those that displayed sheer physical superiority. The implication was that no matter how skilled a player was at the college level, if he didn't possess the requisite raw physical prowess failure at the pro level was likely.

I think the same concept probably applies in soccer as well. This is a big reason why I'm skeptical of Xavier Balc. Given that, I can see that McKenzie probably has a shot in MLS. But not a great one. He gets beat too often, and trusts his recovery speed way too much.

They'll never know if they don't try. Michael Parkhurst surely doesn't have raw physical prowess.

There are a lot of guys every year that make an MLS roster but never play a game. They spend a year maybe two with a team and maybe see 90 minutes of first team action at best. I've talked to one who spent two seasons with a club and only played in the Reserve division. He said it was still the best experience of his life. I suppose it's until MLS raises the minimum salaries that drafted players won't continually get recycled in and out of the league.

That's what's great about having the USL-1 and USL-2 ...if a player isn't quite good enough to make the cut at the MLS level (or doesn't wanna live below the poverty rate with a dev. contract) -- then he can play for a USL-1 or 2 team and develop his skills.

I'm sure he'll land somewhere.

Parkhurst might be the exception that proves the rule. And to give Balc a bit of an out, I don't think he was a terribly good fit on the Bucks. The African Four had a near telepathic connection.

Yeah, those minimum "salaries" are atrocious. A damn shame.

If anyone knows of potential Bucks' signings for 2008, please share. Isn't this about the time the major scouting and recruiting work starts?

Another plea for help: anyone know where Nik Djokic played during the fall? After a season with Lindsey Wilson in 2004(AFAIK, Nik was the first to go from SE Michigan to LW, instead of the other way around), he dropped out of school. At the Bucks' game vs Brooklyn last summer I was told he'd be going back to school in the fall, perhaps at MSU. Later the same evening I was told ixnay on the Spartans, and that OU was more likely. But that apparently didn't pan out. Anyone know the story?

As far as I know he didn't play anywhere the past two college seasons.

The kid occasionally shows touches of real class, combined with often passive defending. With a lot of work he could become our next Nate Craft; getting a paying gig without going to college. What Nate has done is a great story and for me one of the real highlights of being a Bucks fan the last several years.

How quickly things can change.

I've been following the Rochester Rhinos since Nate Craft won a spot there two years ago. And I was elated to see him get re-upped with another two-year deal inked a few weeks ago. But it now appears that the Rhinos are in dire financial straits and may be declaring bankruptcy very soon.

Rhinos Discussion

Yeah, not looking good at all:

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080129/NEWS01/801290344/1002/NEWS

How do you screw up that situation? Winning team, good attend., your own stadium etc.

Well there are a whole heap of complaints about how the stadium was built.