Former Clarendon College goalie confirmed for MLS Superdraft
Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake is the first of four Generation Adidas players confirmed ahead of the 2014 MLS Superdraft on January 16 in Philadelphia.
Blake, the University of Connecticut shot stopper, will be joined by Marlon Hairston of Louisville, Eric Miller of Creighton and Schillo Tshuma of Maryland.
The former Clarendon College DaCosta Cup player, who is considered one of the top goalkeeping prospects to come out of college, was named an All-American for the third straight year, earning first-team nods in 2012 and 2013.
Blake, who was invited to the Jamaican national senior team for the recent World Cup qualifying campaign, has received an insane number of accolades so far at UConn. One of the most impressive awards was being named the Big East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year as a freshman, an award that he won again in 2012, which made him the first freshman to ever win a major Big East award.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2012): Started all 22 games for the Huskies…Finished the season with a record of 17-4-1 including 12 shut outs…Named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year for the second straight season…All BIG-EAST first team selection…NSCAA First Team All-American…Soccer America MVP First Team…College Soccer News Third Team All-American…0.54 Goals Against Average and a .840 save percentage…New England Soccer New Player of the Year…Named the unanimous BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year and to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team… Named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List.Named the unanimous BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year and to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team… Named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List.
AS A FRESHMAN (2011): Started all 25 games for the Huskies… Finished the season with a 19-3-3 record including 15 shutouts… Named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year becoming the first freshman in BIG EAST men’s soccer history to win a major conference award… All-BIG EAST First Team selection… NSCAA/Continental Tire Third Team All-American… College Soccer News Second Team All-American… Soccer America All-Freshman First Team… Set a Connecticut record with nine straight shutouts from Sept. 9 – Oct. 12 spanning 961:32… Tied the UConn record with 15 shutouts… Set a Connecticut record with 16 shutouts as a team… 0.39 goals against average ranked third in UConn history and second in the NCAA in 2011… finished with a .888 save percentage to lead the BIG EAST and rank fourth in the nation.
He is latest Jamaican star to come out of UConn following the likes of Damani Ralph and Shavar Thomas.
Generation Adidas players do not count against the MLS senior roster and usually earn a much higher salary than the league minimum.
Entering into the program automatically classifies a player as professional, and thus disqualifies them from playing college soccer.
As a result, Generation Adidas players are also guaranteed scholarships to continue their college education should their professional career not pan out.
If you like this article please consider joining our Forum HERE to help us grow.
Remember to share this article on Facebook and other Social Media Platforms. Subscribe to our mailing list to get new articles sent to you automatically.