Real S.L. expected to draft Besagno

Nick Besagno, a 16-year-old midfielder, will in all likelihood be Real Salt Lake's No. 1 overall pick during today's 2005 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

"For us, it's all about trying to get the best player to fill our needs," said RSL coach John Ellinger. "We're a young franchise, and we want to build for the future."

In addition to Besagno, University of Indiana midfielder Danny O'Rourke, this year's Hermann Trophy recipient for the best men's college soccer player, and University of Virginia defender Hunter Freeman are other players Salt Lake is considering.

But in reality, going with Besagno is the most logical choice, even though team officials declined to confirm those rumors Thursday.

The irony of the whole thing is that the defensive midfielder might not play a single minute this year with the senior squad.

"If we draft him, his year of impact would be 2006," said Ellinger, who coached Besagno this past year on the under-17 U.S. National Team.

Drafting an unproven teenager, who by many accounts struggled at the MLS combine last weekend, may seem risky, but Ellinger sees it as just the opposite.

"There is less risk than taking a player who is a senior roster player," said Ellinger.

That's one of the unique dynamics of the MLS.

If Salt Lake were to draft O'Rourke, who will no doubt enjoy a productive MLS career as a holding midfielder, he would immediately count against the salary cap and occupy one of the team's precious senior roster spots. But if for some reason O'Rourke struggles, and is forced to play with RSL's developmental team during its three-month summer schedule, Salt Lake would essentially be wasting a roster spot this year.

Besagno's situation is entirely different.

On draft day, teenagers or players with collegiate eligibility remaining are classified as a Generation adidas players (formerly Project-40 players). No matter how successful those players are the first couple of years, their salary doesn't count against the salary cap.

D.C. United enjoyed that luxury last year with Freddy Adu's $500,000 salary. Adu will eventually graduate into a senior roster player but probably not for two more years.

This year's MLS Draft consists of 12 Generation adidas players, and in many ways they're the hot commodity of the draft.

"We have to get some of those P40 players," said Ellinger.