Indiana University Athletics
Alexander, Sarkodie Selected in MLS SuperDraft
1/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Jan. 14, 2010
PHILADELPHIA - Indiana University's Eric Alexander was a third-round pick of FC Dallas, and Ofori Sarkodie a fourth-round pick of the Kansas City Wizards at today's Major League Soccer SuperDraft held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pa.
Alexander and Sarkodie become the 31st and 32nd Indiana players selected in the MLS Draft since the league's inception in 1996. The Hoosiers' last draft selections came in 2009 when Kevin Alston was a first-round pick (10th overall) of the New England Revolution and Brad Ring was a second-round selection (17th overall) of the San Jose Earthquakes.
All-American Nick Garcia remains the highest-ever IU player selected as the second overall pick in 2000.
"What an exciting day for Eric and Ofori as they begin their professional careers," said Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley. "Dallas and Kansas City are getting two wonderful young talents along with being great young men. Eric and Ofori will represent the IU Soccer program with distinction and pride as they begin this new and exciting chapter in their lives."
Alexander was the 44th overall selection and the 12th pick of the third round. Selected as a team captain in 2009, Alexander started all 23 matches and was a second-team All-Big Ten selection for the second consecutive season. Alexander scored his lone goal of the season against Wake Forest, while also contributing assists in matches against Kentucky, Penn State, Wisconsin and Louisville. Alexander appeared in 91 matches and made 80 starts, finishing with 12 goals and 13 assists for his career. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2007 and a unanimous pick for the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2006. Alexander was also a standout in the classroom as a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
"I am really excited to be heading to Dallas," Alexander said. "I am happy I was selected and will now focus on preparing myself to go down there with a positive attitude and compete for a spot. I know they are a pretty good team and I am looking forward to the opportunity."
FC Dallas has a long history of selecting Hoosiers in the MLS SuperDraft, beginning with Steve Keller in 1996. Also taken by the club were Lazo Alavanja (1999), Andrew Parrish (1999), Aleksey Korol (2000), Drew Moor (2005) and Mike Ambersley (2006). He will join fellow 2010 FC Dallas draft picks Zach Lloyd (North Carolina), Andrew Wiedeman (California), Jason Yeisley (Penn State), and Dane Saintus (SMU).
Sarkodie was the 52nd overall pick and fourth selection of the fourth round by the Wizards. A defender, Sarkodie started all 22 matches played this season, helping the Hoosiers to eight shutouts, including shutout victories over No. 6 Louisville and No. 22 Butler in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. In his four-year career at Indiana, Sarkodie appeared in 83 matches, making 70 starts, and was a part of 30 shutouts. He was a second-team All-Big Ten pick in 2009, earning first-team honors in 2007 and Big Ten All-Freshman team accolades in 2006. Sarkodie, who will earn his degree this December after three-and-a-half years at IU, was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American, and was named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2009.
"It is a blessing for me and my family, and for Kansas City to believe in me means the world to me," Sarkodie said. "I am the happiest man on earth right now."
Sarkodie is the fourth Hoosier to be drafted by Kansas City, joining Ken Snow (1996), Chris Klein (1998) and Nick Garcia (2000). He will join 2010 Wizards draft picks Teal Bunbury (Akron), Olukorede Aiyegbusi (NC State), Nick Cardenas (San Diego State), and Mauro Fuzetti (Michigan)
Indiana ended the 2009 season with a 12-10-1 record and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
INDIANA'S MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER DRAFT HISTORY
Chicago Fire
Yuri Lavrinenko, 2000 (3rd round, 32nd pick)
Ryan Mack, 2003 (3rd round, 25th pick)
Brian Plotkin, 2006 (2nd round, 20th pick)
Colorado Rapids
Joel Shanker, 1996 (16th round, 152nd pick)
Jacob Peterson, 2005 (2nd round, 21st pick)
Columbus Crew
Mike Clark, 1996 (4th round, 31st pick)
Brandon Ward, 1996 (6th round, 51st pick)
Todd Yeagley, 1996 (8th round, 71st pick)
Brandon Ward, 1998 (1st round, 12th pick)*
Jed Zayner, 2005 (2nd round, 13th pick)
FC Dallas
Steve Keller, 1996 (14th round, 133rd pick)
Lazo Alavanja, 1999 (1st round, 4th pick)
Andrew Parrish, 1999 (third round, 30th pick)
Aleksey Korol, 2000 (1st round, 5th pick)
Drew Moor, 2005 (1st round, 6th pick)
Mike Ambersley, 2006 (4th round, 46th pick)
Eric Alexander, 2010 (3rd round, 44th pick)
DC United
T.J. Hannig, 2001 (6th round, 62nd pick)
John Swann, 2003 (5th round, 41st pick)
Houston Dynamo
Caleb Porter, 1998 (3rd round, 27th pick; then known as the San Jose Clash)
Danny O'Rourke, 2005 (1st round, 4th pick; then known as the San Jose Earthquakes)
John Michael Hayden, 2007 (1st round, 13th pick)
Kansas City Wizards
Ken Snow, 1996 (16th round,156th pick)
Chris Klein, 1998 (1st round, 4th pick)
Nick Garcia, 2000 (1st round, 2nd pick)
Ofori Sarkodie, 2010 (4th round, 52nd pick)
Los Angeles Galaxy
Ned Grabavoy, 2004 (2nd round, 14th pick)
Josh Tudela, 2007 (2nd round, 20th pick)
New England Revolution
Scott Coufal, 1997 (2nd round, 12th pick)
Pat Noonan, 2003 (1st round, 9th pick)
Kevin Alston, 2009 (1st round, 10th pick)
Real Salt Lake
Jay Nolly, 2005 (2nd round, 22nd pick)
San Jose Earthquakes
Brad Ring, 2009 (2nd round, 17th pick)
* Supplemental Draft
