Of Columbus Crew SC’s current 21-man roster, almost half (10) of those players were selected in the MLS SuperDraft to begin their professional careers. Four of them began their journey in Columbus, developing over time and combining for 46 goals and 26 assists in 2015. With the SuperDraft transpiring this Thursday, we take a look at the guys in Black & Gold whose names were called by Columbus.
Kamara’s 2015 MVP-caliber season
Crew SC selected striker Kei Kamara as the ninth overall pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia. In his rookie campaign, he appeared in 19 matches (nine starts), scoring three goals. The Sierra Leone native then spent another season with the Black & Gold, before gaining experience across MLS and the British Premier League.
- Read: Columbus, My Home.
Seven years later, Kamara returned to the Capital City on top of his game. The forward had a standout 2015 season scoring 22 goals and serving eight assists in 32 matches. He finished the regular season tied with Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco for the most goals scored League-wide and added four more in the MLS Cup Playoffs, including the series winner over the Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conference Semifinal.
Kamara was named Crew SC’s Barbasol Most Valuable Player and the MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year. He also earned spots on the MLS’ Best XI and the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star roster.
Meram adds to career totals
Another starter and game-changer for Crew SC is left midfielder Justin Meram. The Michigan native was selected 15th overall in the first round of the 2011 SuperDraft in Baltimore—the host city for this year’s draft. In his fifth season with the Black & Gold, Meram tallied six goals and five assists, adding to his career numbers of 19 goals and 13 assists.
An effective dribbler with swift feet, a tight touch and a powerful shot, Meram works well under pressure, but proves even more threatening if given time and space on the ball. The Iraqi National Team player showcased his impact on the Black & Gold this season in the club’s playoff run. No. 9 scored the fastest goal in MLS postseason history, nine seconds into the match against the New York Red Bulls. That record-setting finish led Crew SC to victory in the First Leg, and ultimately the two-game series, to capture Eastern Conference Championship.
Finlay flourishes on the wing
A year after selecting Meram, Crew SC made another wise choice when the club drafted midfielder Ethan Finlay with the 10th overall pick in Kansas City, Missouri. In his first two seasons with the club, the right winger saw minimal time as a substitute in 34 total matches, starting just six.
But that changed when Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter took the reigns in 2014. Berhalter discovered Finlay’s strengths, allowing the 25-year-old to flourish on the wing. Since May 17, 2014 Finlay has totaled 23 goals and 20 assists for a combined total of 43, ranking him third in MLS behind Robbie Keane (55) and Bradley Wright-Phillips (44) over that time span.
With those numbers, Finlay’s made a name for himself not only in Columbus, but nationally as well. Following his most successful professional campaign yet, with 12 goals, 13 assists, and MLS Best XI and All-Star nods, the spry speedster earned his first U.S. Men’s National Team call-up last week.
Campbell makes MLS debut in rookie season
Crew SC’s fourth and final draft pick currently on the roster was selected in the first round last year. With the 19th overall pick, Columbus chose a 6’4” defender from Jamaica, Sergio Campbell. Spending three seasons at the University of Connecticut, Campbell captured the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award in his final year with the Huskies. He was also named to the American Athletic Conference All-First Team for the second year in a row.
In his rookie season, Campbell made his MLS debut against the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park on June 3. He also played in the Black & Gold’s international friendly against Valencia CF and gained valuable experience with Crew SC’s 2015 USL affiliate, the Austin Aztex. The centerback earned a call-up to Jamaica ahead of two 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in August.
Crew SC has four picks in the first two rounds of the 2016 SuperDraft on Thursday, January 14. Make sure to check for updates on our website and follow along on social as we’ll be covering the event live from Baltimore, Maryland.
