Mattocks Taken No. 2 Overall in 2012 MLS SuperDraft

January 12 | Men's Soccer

2012 MLS SuperDraft Pick-by-Pick

KANSAS CITY – University of Akron striker Darren Mattocks, the 2011 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, was the second overall pick of the 2012 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, held Thursday at the Kansas City Convention Center.

Mattocks was drafted by Vancouver where he will be reunited with former UA teammate Michael Nanchoff, who was the eighth overall selection of the Whitecaps a year ago. Mattocks and Nanchoff were both starters on the Zips' 2010 National Championship squad.

"On behalf of the entire Akron soccer family, we want to congratulate Darren for his selection to the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer," said UA head coach Caleb Porter. "We are so happy for him that he finally has the opportunity to realize a lifelong dream of playing professional soccer. He was instrumental in helping our program win the national championship and now joins a prestigious cast of Zips players now playing in MLS. We wish him all the best and know he will have a wonderful career."

The drafting of Mattocks further establishes UA's recent dominance of the SuperDraft.

In the past six years alone, Porter, who is currently serving in a dual role as head coach of the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team, and his staff have produced 13 MLS draft selections, including a record-setting total of seven draftees a year ago. Furthermore, of those 13 picks, nine were taken in the first round and seven had their name called with one of the first eight selections overall.

Entering the day, just two schools – Wake Forest (16) and Maryland (13) – had produced more SuperDraft selections since 2007. In all, 14 former Zips – including undrafted Montreal Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush – will suit up for an MLS team next season.

Mattocks, who was a 2011 Hermann Trophy semifinalist, is the fourth UA sophomore to be drafted in as many seasons, following Steve Zakuani in 2009, Teal Bunbury in 2010 and Valentin in 2011. The native of Portmore, Jamaica, finished second in the nation with 21 goals – which was the third-highest, single-season total in school history.

It is the second consecutive year, the Zips have had a player drafted with the No. 2 overall pick. Darlington Nagbe, the 2010 Hermann Trophy winner, started a run of three straight Akron players a year ago when his named was called with the second overall pick by the Portland Timbers. Zakuani was the highest player to be drafted from Akron, going No. 1 overall in 2009.

Mattocks burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2010 with 18 goals – the second-highest total among all first-year players – to help fuel the Zips' historic season. Then, following the departure of seven Akron starters to MLS, the speedy finisher actually saw his production increase last fall with 21 goals, including six multiple-goal performances and a pair of hat tricks. Moreover, of his 21 goals, six were game winners, including the decisive strike against SMU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Zips (15-4-4) captured their seventh-consecutive MAC regular-season championship, set the NCAA's record for longest home unbeaten streak and advanced to the NCAA's Round of 16 for the fourth straight year in 2011.

UA All-Time Major League Soccer Draft History
Darren Mattocks, First Round (No. 2 overall), Vancouver Whitecaps, 2012
Darlington Nagbe, First Round (No. 2), Portland Timbers, 2011
Perry Kitchen, First Round (No. 3), D.C. United, 2011
Zarek Valentin, First Round (No. 4), Chivas USA, 2011
Kofi Sarkodie, First Round (No. 7), Houston Dynamo, 2011
Michael Nanchoff, First Round (No. 8), Vancouver Whitecaps, 2011
Chris Korb, Second Round (No. 31), D.C. United, 2011
Anthony Ampaipitakwong, Second Round (No. 33), San Jose Earthquakes, 2011
Teal Bunbury, First Round (No. 4 overall), Sporting Kansas City, 2010
Blair Gavin, First Round (No. 10), Chivas USA, 2010
Ben Zemanski, Third Round (No. 47), Chivas USA, 2010
Steve Zakuani, First Round (No. 1), Seattle Sounders, 2009
Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Third Round (No. 33), New York Red Bulls, 2007
Cameron Knowles, Fourth Round (No. 37, supplemental draft), Real Salt Lake, 2005

Zips Currently in MLS (14)
Chivas USA (2): Blair Gavin (2007-09), Ben Zemanski (2006-09); D.C. United (2): Perry Kitchen (2010), Chris Korb (2008-10); Houston Dynamo (1): Kofi Sarkodie (2008-10); Montreal Impact (3): Evan Bush (2005-08), Sinisa Ubiparipovic (2004-06), Zarek Valentin (2009-10); Portland Timbers (1): Darlington Nagbe (2008-10); San Jose Earthquakes (1): Anthony Ampaipitakwong (2007-10); Seattle Sounders (1): Steve Zakuani (2007-08); Sporting Kansas City (1): Teal Bunbury (2008-09); Vancouver Whitecaps (2): Darren Mattocks (2010-11), Michael Nanchoff (2007-10).