Caps pick Mattocks
Vancouver take fleet-footed Jamaican forward Mattocks as No. 2 pick
Fast Jamaican forward, No. 2 in the MLS Superdraft, offers team a dangerous attacking option to combine with Hassli and Camilo
Former college teammate Michael Nanchoff calls it “That special Jamaican swagger.”
The Vancouver Whitecaps used the second overall pick in Thursday’s MLS Superdraft on Darren Mattocks, a confident, catch-me-ifyou-can forward out of Akron University in Ohio.
In 47 games over two college seasons, the native of Portmore, Jamaica, scored 39 goals.
And while Mattocks knows there will be an adjustment to the professional game, he isn’t afraid to predict that he’ll make an impact as a rookie.
“Right away, I’m ready to play, ready to contribute with my pace, my goal-scoring attributes, whatever it takes,” said Mattocks.
The top two picks at the Kansas City Convention Center seemed clear cut.
It was Mattocks and versatile Duke University star Andrew Wenger, one way or the other. Vancouver simply had to wait for the expansion Montreal Impact to make the first move.
Montreal took Wenger, who holds the unique distinction of winning Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year in 2010, and offensive player of the year in 2011.
An argument can be made that Vancouver’s needs are greater on the defensive side, and that Wenger, as a defensive midfielder or centre back, would have been the better fit.
But coach Martin Rennie said before the draft that a team can never have enough goal scorers, and in Mattocks, he thinks the Whitecaps have a forward who can complement the power of Eric Hassli and trickery of Camilo. Those two combined for 22 goals.
“I think he’s different to any of the strikers we’ve got,” said Rennie, who can also call on Atiba Harris, Mustapha Jarju, Long Tan and Omar Salgado.
“He can get in behind defences, stretch teams. I’m really pleased that we got him.
“It’s up to him how he does in preseason, but he does have that ability [to contribute right away]. Guys who have been in college with him have done really well.”
That would be Seattle Sounders’ Steve Zakuani, Sporting Kansas City’s Teal Bunbury and Portland Timbers’ Darlington Nagbe.
All top-four picks out of Akron the last three seasons. All played more than 25 games as MLS rookies (see box). Mattocks outscored all three at the college level.
“They’ve set a legacy that hopefully I can follow,” Mattocks said.
This is the second straight year the Whitecaps have used their top pick on a forward.
Last season, they picked first overall and took Salgado, a teenage forward from El Paso, Texas, and a member of the U.S. under-20 team.
Salgado’s first MLS season was a frustrating one: Just one goal and 504 minutes played.
But while Salgado, now 18, is a longer-term prospect, Mattocks stayed at college for a second season to ease the transition to the professional ranks.
He had interest from teams in Scandinavia, but signed an MLS Generation Adidas contract, which pays top college underclassmen more than regular rookie deals, and doesn’t count against a team’s salary cap.
Nanchoff, Vancouver’s eighthoverall pick last season, played the 2010 College Cup championship season with Mattocks at Akron and believes the forward can make his mark as a rookie.
Nanchoff called him “one of those electric kind of players.”
He also said not to mistake Mattocks’ swagger for a character flaw.
“He’s a very confident guy, but that’s a good thing,” Nanchoff said. “He’s got a very mature attitude. He’s got his head on right, comes every to training with the right mentality, which is important at the next level.”
Added Rennie: “The fact he adjusted so well to Akron from Jamaica says a lot about his desire to succeed.”
It also says he won’t be shocked by the change in climate. Mattocks played in snow in Ohio, and the Whitecaps have moved their games indoors.
A member of Jamaica’s under-23 pool, Mattocks will make his first trip to Canada when the Whitecaps open training camp in 10 days.
He’s the 11th international player on their roster and they only have nine international roster spots, so something has to give.
Recently-signed Englishman Matt Watson, who played for Rennie with the second division Carolina RailHawks, is awaiting his green card, which would bring the Caps down to 10 internationals.
Rennie would then either trade for another international roster spot, or trade or release one of his international players.
“We’ve got time to make a decision on that,” he said.
Thursday’s big decision, in a sense, was made for them.
Fans of Vancouver and Montreal won’t have to wait long to compare top picks. The Whitecaps host the Impact to open the season at B.C. Place on March 10.