Leading up to the 2015 MLS SuperDraft on January 15, a few Vancouver Whitecaps FC players will be sharing their draft day memories with whitecapsfc.com – from their experience at the combine so the moment their name was called. Today, we hear from Christian Dean, who Whitecaps FC selected at third overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.
“I actually wasn’t planning on declaring for the draft that year. I was planning on staying at school, but then I had a discussion with my family and coaches and then it just kind of happened. I think when my brother and dad told me that I was ready, and that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity with the Generation adidas thing and all that, I pretty much decided right after our loss in the playoffs to Maryland.”
“Going to the combine was a brand new experience for me. I was just excited to play with the best players coming out of college. It was an experience I was really looking forward to, but I had no idea what it was going to be like.”
“It was amazing, honestly. Having interviews with different coaches, interviews with Robbo, it was so much different than anything I had ever experienced. I loved playing in the games, especially getting a chance to play with a couple of my teammates for the last time.”
“I probably interviewed with more than half of the teams, but Robbo was pretty much my first choice when he talked to me. He was just really upfront with me – he and Greg both. Carl said that he liked young players, he’d bring me in and develop me … he sees a lot of potential in me. He was also honest. He said I might not play as much as I have in the past, but he’d give my opportunities and he did that so it was good.”
“I heard a bunch of that stuff (talk about potentially being the number one overall pick), but I just tried to ignore it. You never really know what’s going to happen and honestly, I didn’t really feel like I had the best combine. So I just took all that with a grain of salt, but it ended up all working out.”
“On draft day, I woke up insanely excited. I was with some of my really close friends that day who were also getting drafted. Nobody really knew what to expect or what to say. A few of the guys were following the rumours and mock drafts, but I wasn’t really following anything. I was just going with whatever happened, happened.”
“It was just perfect that I went through the whole process with Steve Birnbaum. He’s the guy who actually taught me how to play centre back. He’s also one of my really close friends. He’s like an older brother to me. So going through that with him was just great.”
“When I heard my name called, it was kind of like having one of those out-of-body experiences. I really didn’t know … I was just excited. It was a relief to be picked by a team that I wanted to go to and a coach that I would trust. It was just amazing, honestly.”
The 2015 MLS SuperDraft will be streamed live on whitecapsfc.com on Thursday, January 15 at 9:30 a.m. PT. Stay tuned for updates leading up to and during the draft.
Participate in the best sporting experience in Vancouver! 2015 Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are on sale now. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, Student Half-Season Tickets, and a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket. For more information on 2015 Season Tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
