Rapids Select Six in 2009 MLS SuperDraft
January 15, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release
ST. LOUIS, MO. (Thursday, January 15, 2008) - The Colorado Rapids added six new names to the club's roster today during the 2009 MLS SuperDraft in St. Louis.
"What we have tried to do with all our picks is create a particular style to our game," said head coach Gary Smith. "We got a lot of kids with athleticism, pace and strength. It's been an enjoyable time and I'm very pleased with my first draft."
The Rapids' first selection came in the second round with the 28th overall pick used on forward Kwame Adjeman-Pamboe from George Mason University. This marked the latest that Colorado had ever selected in any previous draft (27th overall in 2003 SuperDraft).
The team began the day owning the 20th overall choice in the draft, but a trade with Chicago switched the team's second round picks and gave the Fire allocation money while the Rapids also received the rights to goalkeeper Matt Pickens.
Adjeman-Pamboe earned first team All-CAA honors in 2008 after leading George Mason and ranking among the top 10 in the CAA in goals (nine), assists (seven) and points (25). He was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the CAA Soccer Championship after contributing four goals and an assist in three Patriot wins at the event. Adjeman-Pamboe also earned NSCAA First-Team All-South Atlantic Region honors this past season and finished his collegiate career at GMU with 11 goals and seven assists.
The Rapids' next selection came in the third round, 37th overall, when the team chose goalkeeper Steward Ceus. Ceus, who was recently named to the NSCAA/adidas All-America third team, and was the America East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year. He recently became the first UAlbany men's soccer player to garner All-America honors at any level since Marty Hearney was voted to the Division III All-American squad in 1991. He eclipsed Division I program records for career shutouts (19) and saves (329) while posting an .856 save percentage, a 0.96 goals against average and seven shutouts this fall. Ceus finished the season ranked fourth in the nation in saves per game (5.93) and ninth in save percentage.
With four picks in the fourth round, the most by any MLS club in draft history, Colorado selected forward Ross Schunk, forward Jordan Seabrook, defender Henry Kalungi and defender Michael Holody respectively.
Seabrook appeared in 85 matches for the University of South Florida tallying 31 goals and 25 assists as a four-time All-Big East selection from 2005-2008. University of Redlands forward Ross Schunk was the only NCAA Division III athlete invited to the MLS combine last week. At UR, he set the career program record for goals (63) and points (139) while garnering three First-Team All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) honors, two SCIAC Player of the Year awards, two College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA)/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District recognitions, three NSCAA/adidas All-Far West Region honors and two NSCAA/adidas All-American nominations.
Defender Henry Kalungi earned All-Big South team selections, as well as being named to Big South All-Tournament Team and NSCAA/adidas All-South Atlantic Region Teams throughout his playing career at Winthrop. Defender Michael Holody registered nine goals and four assists in 73 collegiate matches at Michigan. He also received numerous postseason honors, including NSCAA/adidas All-America third team, NSCAA/adidas All-Great Lakes Region first team and NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division I Men's College Scholar All-America first team.
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