Wizards Sign Four Players to Developmental Squad
March 11, 2004 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
KANSAS CITY, MO (Thursday, March 11, 2004) - The Kansas City Wizards General Manager Curt Johnson announced today the signing of four players to the Wizards developmental roster. In addition, the Wizards have finalized the 18-man Senior roster for the 2004 season. Defender Taylor Graham and midfielder Jack Jewsbury begin their second season on the Wizards developmental roster, while 2004 SuperDraft picks Will Hesmer and Justin Detter were also signed to developmental contracts.
"We are excited to add another great group of players to our developmental roster," said Johnson. "This is the third season for the developmental program in Major League Soccer and for us, it is already paying off. Davy Arnaud was a member of the Wizards first developmental squad in 2002 and earned a spot on the senior roster last season. His growth as a player is due in large part to the hours of work he has put in with our great coaches. The developmental roster gives players who are not quite ready for the senior roster a golden opportunity."
Jewsbury, who turns 23 in April, and Graham, 23, were both selected by the Wizards in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft. Graham appeared in two matches for the Wizards last season, making his MLS debut against the Chicago Fire on June 21, 2003. Jewsbury also appeared in two matches, including one start in 2003. His debut came against the Dallas Burn on August 16, 2003.
Goalkeeper Will Hesmer, 22, was selected in the second round of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft with the 17th overall pick. He was the second goalkeeper chosen in the draft and joins the Wizards after a successful career at Wake Forest. Forward Justin Detter, the youngest player on the Wizards roster at 21 years old, was a 5th round selection (47th overall) by the Wizards in 2004 and is enjoyed a successful preseason with the Wizards. Detter is currently tied for the team lead in scoring with three goals during the team's first seven exhibition games.
Joining Jewsbury, Graham, Hesmer, and Detter on the developmental roster is Project-40 defender Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. As a Project-40 player, Burciaga is classified as a developmental player and does not count against the Wizards salary cap.
Defender Chris Brunt, who spent the last two seasons with the Wizards on the developmental roster, did not have his contract renewed by the Wizards and has been released. Defender/midfielder Ryan Barber, who was drafted in the 5th round (48th overall) of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, was released.
Kansas City will kick off their 2004 campaign at home against the defending Eastern Conference Champion Chicago Fire on Saturday, April 3rd at Arrowhead Stadium. Individual tickets for the 2004 season opener, as well as all Wizards home games, can be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 816-931-3330 or logging on to www.ticketmaster.com. For more information on Wizards Full Season and Partial Season ticket packages, log on to www.kcwizards.com.
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