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By Michael Beaven
Special to the Beacon Journal
POSTED: 02:44 p.m. EST, Jan 06, 2009
University of Akron sophomore forward Steve Zakuani has signed a contract with Generation adidas and will forgo his final two years of eligibility to enter the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, a school source confirmed today.
Zakuani, an All-American and one of three finalists for the prestigious Hermann Trophy, led the nation in scoring this past season with 20 goals and 47 points in 23 games.
He is being projected as the No. 1 overall draft pick by several publications, including MLSDraft.net and soccerbyives.net.
He will be the first UA underclassman to leave school early to pursue a professional career in any sport.
Zakuani will be the third UA men's soccer player taken in the MLS SuperDraft following Sinisa Ubiparipovic in 2007 (New York Red Bulls, third round) and Cameron Knowles in 2005 (Real Salt Lake, fourth round).Zakuani finished his UA career with 26 goals and nine assists in 44 games.
Zakuani, a native of London, has already earned national player of the year awards from Soccer America and Top Drawer Soccer this season along with the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year award.
He has been invited to the Missouri Athletic Club for the Hermann Trophy announcement Friday. He won the MAC Newcomer of the Year and College Soccer News Freshman All-American in 2007.
The Zips won MAC regular season and MAC tournament titles during Zakuani's two seasons. In 2008, the Zips (17-2-4) earned their highest seed ever (No. 5) in the NCAA Tournament and reached the Sweet 16. UA went 15-4-2 in 2007.
Zakuani is the first UA player to be named a finalist for the Hermann Trophy. He was named MAC Player of the Week six times this season, setting a league record.
Generation adidas is a joint venture between the MLS and U.S. Soccer. These players do not count against the MLS senior roster, though they are considered professionals when they enter the program. Generation adidas players are also guaranteed scholarships to continue their college education if they choose to.
The Seattle Sounders own the rights to the No. 1 pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, which is Jan. 15 in St. Louis.
University of Akron sophomore forward Steve Zakuani has signed a contract with Generation adidas and will forgo his final two years of eligibility to enter the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, a school source confirmed today.
Zakuani, an All-American and one of three finalists for the prestigious Hermann Trophy, led the nation in scoring this past season with 20 goals and 47 points in 23 games.
He is being projected as the No. 1 overall draft pick by several publications, including MLSDraft.net and soccerbyives.net.
He will be the first UA underclassman to leave school early to pursue a professional career in any sport.
Zakuani will be the third UA men's soccer player taken in the MLS SuperDraft following Sinisa Ubiparipovic in 2007 (New York Red Bulls, third round) and Cameron Knowles in 2005 (Real Salt Lake, fourth round).
Zakuani finished his UA career with 26 goals and nine assists in 44 games.
Zakuani, a native of London, has already earned national player of the year awards from Soccer America and Top Drawer Soccer this season along with the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year award.
He has been invited to the Missouri Athletic Club for the Hermann Trophy announcement Friday. He won the MAC Newcomer of the Year and College Soccer News Freshman All-American in 2007.
The Zips won MAC regular season and MAC tournament titles during Zakuani's two seasons. In 2008, the Zips (17-2-4) earned their highest seed ever (No. 5) in the NCAA Tournament and reached the Sweet 16. UA went 15-4-2 in 2007.
Zakuani is the first UA player to be named a finalist for the Hermann Trophy. He was named MAC Player of the Week six times this season, setting a league record.
Generation adidas is a joint venture between the MLS and U.S. Soccer. These players do not count against the MLS senior roster, though they are considered professionals when they enter the program. Generation adidas players are also guaranteed scholarships to continue their college education if they choose to.
The Seattle Sounders own the rights to the No. 1 pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, which is Jan. 15 in St. Louis.
Comments
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This Place, 32
Posted 03:12 PM, 01/06/2009
GET PAID KID! GET PAID! Then finish your degree.
Best of Luck! And while you are at it, kick David Beckham in the soccerballs when you see him.
Akron, OH
Posted 03:56 PM, 01/06/2009
Way to go Steve-continue to make Akron proud! Keep shooting low and to the far post! Best of luck!
Kandi, SL
Posted 04:01 PM, 01/08/2009
Unfortunately the author made the mistake of repeating what the University of Akron Sports Information Office put out. In reality, Steve has signed a contract with MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER to be a draftee in next week's MLS Superdraft in St Louis. The contract comes with a bonus, which is afforded through the sponsoring agent, Adidas Corp. From evidence on mlsdraft.net and soccerbyives.net (or.com - I forget) that amount appears to be at or near $50k. I'm not sure whether he will also receive a second salary from the club which drafts him, provided he makes the roster (a sure thing), but I would presume so.
