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UA sophomore signs Generation adidas deal, projected as No. 1 pick
By Michael Beaven
Special to the Beacon Journal
Published on Wednesday, Jan 07, 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.
Zakuani is an All-American and one of three finalists for the prestigious Hermann Trophy, college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy. He led the nation in scoring in 2008 with 20 goals and 47 points in 23 games.
''I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Akron and I'm glad to be leaving with so many special memories,'' Zakuani said in a prepared statement. ''I was made to feel welcome from day one by my coaches, teammates, the athletics staff and especially the fans. They all made my time here a very special one and contributed to making me the player and person I am today.
''Those are the reasons that made the decision to leave a truly difficult one. However, my dream has always been to play professional soccer and so when this great opportunity came knocking on my door, it was almost impossible for me to turn it down. I feel that the time is right for me to make the natural progression to the next level and I am excited about my future.''
Zakuani 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.
''This is an exciting day for Steve and the entire Akron soccer family,'' Zips coach Caleb Porter said in the prepared statement. ''Although his presence will be greatly missed, this was an opportunity for him to fulfill a lifelong dream and he has our blessing to make the jump to Major League Soccer.''
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 of the nation's top player 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 ti
tles in each of 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.
''I also specifically want to thank the AK Rowdies for the support they have given me during my time at Akron,'' Zakuani said. ''I always looked forward to playing at Lee Jackson Field because having them with us felt like having an extra player on the field.''
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.
''Steve will be remembered as one of the greatest to wear an Akron uniform and we appreciate his contributions and commitment to the program,'' Porter said. ''Steve has a bright future ahead of him and I look forward to watching his game continue to blossom as he takes the next step in his soccer career.''
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 FC own the rights to the No. 1 pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, which is Jan. 15 in St. Louis. Toronto FC and the Los Angeles Galaxy own the second and third picks in the first round, respectively. The draft has four rounds and 60 total selections.
The Columbus Crew, the 2008 MLS champions, do not have a first-round pick. The Crew own the 30th, 45th and 60th selections.
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.
Get the full article here.
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