Seattle Makes Virginia Forward Will Bates Top Pick
RENTON, WASH. - Seattle Sounders FC selected five players in Tuesday's Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft.
Forward Will Bates of the University of Virginia was taken with Seattle's top pick (5th overall) and midfielder Kevin Durr of the Air Force Academy was chosen with its second pick in the first round (16th overall). Seattle selected University of South Florida midfielder Kevin Olali in the second round (35th overall), midfielder Lebogang Moloto from Lindsey Wilson College in the third round (54th overall) and University of North Carolina-Charlotte forward Jennings Rex in the fourth round (73rd overall).
"We feel very good about our selections in today's supplemental draft," said Sporting Director Chris Henderson. "We were able to add three midfielders and two forwards who we evaluated at the MLS combine and our own combine in Las Vegas. They are all players that we ranked pretty high at their respective position, and we hope can contribute to our club."
Bates, 21, appeared in 77 matches over four seasons at Virginia, tallying 46 goals with 10 assists. He finished his collegiate career as the seventh leading goal scorer in school history, tied for third with 15 game-winning goals and finished ninth in career points (102). Bates was a member of the U.S. U-20 National Team and he was named to the 2012 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.
Durr, 21, was a first-team All-MPSF (Mountain Pacific Sports Foundation) in his final three years at the Air Force Academy. He started all 77 matches in his four-year collegiate career, scoring 18 goals with 19 assists.
Olali, 22, played four seasons at South Florida where he recorded four goals and eight assists in 76 appearances. Olali was a member of the U.S. U-17 National Team.
Moloto, 20, played two seasons at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky. He scored 15 goals with seven assists in 39 career games, including six game-winning goals. Moloto was named the NAIA National Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player as a freshman, and earned NAIA All-American honors each season.
Prior to the supplemental draft, Sounders FC had selected two players in the MLS SuperDraft on January 17.
The season begins March 2 when Sounders FC will host the Montreal Impact on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.
Sounders FC 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft Selections
WILL BATES
1st Round, 5th Pick, 5th Overall
Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
Birthdate: 4/1/1991
Hometown (Citizenship): Chester, Virginia (USA)
College: University of Virginia
High School: Thomas Dale HS
KEVIN DURR
1st Round, 16th Pick, 16th Overall
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
Birthdate: 3/13/1991
Hometown (Citizenship): Garmisch, Germany (USA)
College: Air Force Academy
High School: Munich International School
KEVIN OLALI
2nd Round, 16th Pick, 35th Overall
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-8
Weight: 150
Birthdate: 10/5/1990
Hometown (Citizenship): Plano, Texas (USA)
College: University of South Florida
High School: Plano East HS
Pronunciation: Oh-lah-lee
LEBOGANG MOLOTO
3rd Round, 16th Pick, 54th Overall
Position: Forward
Height: 5-11
Weight: 158
Birthdate: 12/27/1992
Hometown (Citizenship): Polokwane, South Africa (South African)
College: Lindsey Wilson College
Pronunciation: Lay-bow-gang Meh-low-toe
JENNINGS REX
4th Round, 16th Pick, 73rd Overall
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
Weight: 154
Birthdate: 8/21/1991
Hometown (Citizenship): Boone, North Carolina (USA)
College: UNC-Charlotte
High School: Watuga HS
