Is Real Salt Lake defender Nik Besagno a bust?

After all, in the midst of his third professional season, the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick has played in just eight career league matches and only two this year.

It's a question with many gray areas, making it all a matter of perspective.

From an outsider's point of view, MLS fans can't help but view Besagno's career as a waste. With bonuses, he's making $111,500 per year and he's done virtually nothing while with the team. Internally, however, expectations about the 18-year-old are as high as ever, and it's hard to imagine RSL not picking up Besagno's two one-year options when his contract expires after the season.

"We've had our eye on him, and we think he's coming along very well, and with the impending retirement of Eddie Pope, his future looks bright," said Real coach Jason Kreis.

With that said, Besagno's past and present haven't been so rosy, and there are dozens of reasons why. First and foremost, RSL probably made a mistake drafting him No. 1. At age 16 he wasn't ready for the pro game, as evidenced that he's still adjusting three years later. Even though Besagno hasn't provided much return on RSL's lofty investment, five years from now he might still be heralded as a great pick.

"He's got a very promising future, because he's got all the physical attributes to be a central defender," said Real assistant coach Robin Fraser, one of the league's all-time best defenders. "He's very good physically, he's strong, he's quick, he's very good in his individual battles. Where he'll continue to improve is, and as an 18-year-old I'd imagine that would be the case, just a knowledge of the game and willingness to talk and communicate with others."

Fraser's comments reiterate several other reasons why Besagno is still a reserve player.

Besagno played central midfielder his whole life, and it wasn't until his second professional season that RSL's coaching staff began grooming him to play central defender. Like goalkeepers, central defenders must be very vocal players for organizational purposes. Besagno is inherently shy, unfortunately, so you can imagine his reluctance at barking out orders to the 30-year-old veterans in front of him despite the insistence of the coaching staff.

That confidence only comes from experience, something 18-year-old central defenders just don't possess.

"You've got to be yelling at everyone in front of you and basically be in control, and it's hard (for coaches) to give that much responsibility to someone at age 18," said Besagno.

The Washington native craves that responsibility, and no one knows it more than Besagno's predecessor — the retiring Pope.