The Fire landed a highly regarded defender Thursday in the MLS SuperDraft, but Jalil Anibaba says his first objective is to listen and learn.
“I’m now a rookie and no longer a veteran,” Anibaba, 22, said via conference call from draft headquarters in Baltimore. “So I have to take a student role and open my ears to learning.
“What I can do is go in with an open mind, learn as much as possible and try to contribute in any possible way needed.”
Anibaba started 84 of 85 college matches, first at Santa Clara and then at North Carolina, where he landed first team Atlantic Coast Conference and second team All-American honors as a senior.
The Tar Heels, who gave up an average 0.71 goals per game in 2010, reached the College Cup semifinals before falling to eventual runner-up Louisville.
He’s expected to help fill defensive holes left with the retirement of former captain C.J. Brown and departure of Wilman Conde.
Anibaba was the ninth overall pick and among four Fire selections. They had no second round pick but had three in the third and final round, one of which they traded for veteran Toronto FC goalie Jon Conway.
A 6-foot, 170-pound central defender, Anibaba was named most valuable player in last week’s MLS Combine gathering of top draft prospects.
Frank Klopas, the Fire’s technical director, called Anibaba a great addition.
“We were little bit surprised that he was available,” Klopas said. “I expect him to come in and compete for a starting spot.
“His ability to play defensive soccer, distribute the ball from the back and control the back line will help us.”
The Fire went local with one of their other picks.
They selected Maryland forward Jason Herrick, a 22-year-old Elmhurst native who played at York High School and for a Sockers FC Chicago youth club that claimed four Illinois State Cup championships.
The Fire also claimed California forward Davis Paul.
The expansion Vancouver Whitecaps had the overall No. 1 pick and tabbed 17-year-old Omar Salgado, a forward and member of the Under-20 U.S. National team.
The Portland Timbers, another expansion club, picked Akron midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe, winner of the 2010 Hermann Trophy as the nation’s top soccer player. He was among five players from the NCAA champion selected in the first round.
