Jan. 14, 2005 – Revolution select Michael Parkhurst with No. 9 pick
Post by frankdellapa@gmail.com
Jan. 14, 2005 – Revolution select Michael Parkhurst with No. 9 pick, James Riley in the second round (21st overall) and Tony Lochhead in third round (33rd overall) in MLS SuperDraft
Michael Parkhurst proved to be another exception to the rule about the U.S. development system. Parkhurst emerged as a central defender, emphasizing skill over size, on the way to a collegiate career at Wake Forest and U.S. national team residency in Bradenton, Fla.
Stacey DeCastro was probably the first coach to recognize Parkhurst’s talent. In a 2005 interview, DeCastro said: “With his instincts, I said that he would be a professional someday, and I didn’t say that about others who have come from this area and played in national team programs. He was different. All he needed to do was stick with it and keep progressing. His size worked against him – ODP never picked him out and the colleges are usually looking for speed and size and strength. In the U.S., they say someone his size will never make it.”
Steve Nicol and assistant coach Paul Mariner were quickly impressed by Parkhurst. During a pre-draft workout on a rain-soaked field, Parkhurst seemed to be the only player inventive enough to lift his passes out of puddles, among other qualities. Four defenders were selected before Parkhurst, who turned out to be the most accomplished player in the ’05 draft.
During the Revolution’s 2005 preseason, Parkhurst proved himself against opposition in Ecuador. That was when Nicol decided to base the Revolution tactics on a three-man back line, which had functioned well at times in 2004. This was not an easy choice for Nicol, who had basically been born and bred soccer-wise in a 4-4-2 system at Liverpool. The move paid off as the Revolution rode a 3-5-2 alignment to three successive MLS Cup finals and a U.S. Open Cup title.
I was not convinced about Nicol’s decision until after the final preseason match in Ecuador, a feature exhibition against Barcelona SC in Machala. Parkhurst was going up against a young prospect named Danny “Cholo” Vera, and he won key duels, including one in the penalty area that was a potential game-changer. Then, in the season-opener at San Jose, Parkhurst was cautioned as the Revolution fell behind, 2-0, in the first half, before rallying for a 2-2 draw. But that would be Parkhurst’s only card during a season in which he committed only five fouls, an auspicious beginning to his career.
Here is my story from 1/15/05 editions of The Boston Globe:
BACKYARD SOCCER: PARKHURST IS TOP REVOLUTION PICK
Michael Parkhurst was among the 32,864 spectators who arrived for the Revolution’s debut at Foxboro Stadium April 27, 1996. Yesterday, Parkhurst became the Revolution’s first choice in the MLS draft.
Parkhurst, 20, a Providence native, has been playing for Wake Forest and the Bradenton (Fla.) Academics in the Premier Development League. Parkhurst, who performed for Bayside United in Rhode Island before moving to Bradenton six years ago to concentrate on soccer, is listed at 5 feet 11 inches, 155 pounds. He played central defender in a three-back system for Wake Forest.
“I was really hoping the Revolution would pick me,” Parkhurst said. “I don’t remember much about the first [Revolution] game, just being really young and dreaming that one day I would be out there playing.
“I played in the center of a three-man defense at Wake Forest and I feel I can read the game well back there, that my teammates can feed off my knowledge and understanding.”
The Revolution also selected James Riley, 22, a Colorado Springs native who played alongside Parkhurst in the Wake Forest defense, and New Zealand national team defender Tony Lochhead, 23. Lochhead is also considering opportunities in Europe.
Midfielder Nikolas Besagno, 16, of Maple Valley, Wash., was selected No. 1 overall by Real Salt Lake. Other players drafted included midfielder Chris Corcoran (MetroStars) of Marshfield; the University of Connecticut’s Esteban Arias (Chivas USA); Brown University goalkeeper Chris Gomez (Dallas); Stanford defender James Twellman (San Jose), brother of Revolution striker Taylor Twellman; and Boston College defender Guy Melamed (Colorado).
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