D.C. United selected Clemson University product Kimarni Smith the fourth pick of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft presented by Adidas on Jan. 21. (Courtesy photo)
By Daniel Kucin Jr.
Special to the AFRO
D.C. United has selected Clemson University forward Kimarni Smith with the fourth overall pick, Wake Forest University defender Michael DeShields (fifth overall) and Stanford University defender Logan Panchot (32nd overall) in the 2021 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft presented by Adidas on Jan. 21.
Smith scored 26 goals and recorded 11 assists in 63 appearances, and started 43 games during his collegiate career.
DeShields is a talented defender who started 21 of 22 games last season, leading their defense to an average of only 0.72 goals conceded per match and earned a Second-Team All-South Region nomination.
Finally, Panchot scored three goals and recorded 11 assists in 62 appearances (59 starts) for Stanford University from 2017 to 2019 and was a team captain last season.
During his final year, Panchot was tied for the team lead with eight assists and was part of a defense that ranked 10th in the country in team goals-against.
United acquired the fifth overall pick from Atlanta United in exchange for $125,000 in General Allocation Money and acquired the 32nd overall pick from Atlanta United in an earlier trade.
United Hires New Head Coach
D.C. United announced on Jan. 18 that Hernán Losada is the new head coach after the Black-and-Red suffered through a dismal campaign (5-12-6) last year.
“Our process to identify the right individual to lead our club has been extremely thorough, and we’re confident that Hernán is the ideal person and coach to take us forward,” said Dave Kasper, D.C. United General Manager and Vice President of Soccer Operations for D.C. United. “We believe wholeheartedly in Hernán’s approach to the game and his desire to play high-energy soccer with and without the ball. We look forward to getting to work with Hernán to start the 2021 season.”
With the hiring, Losada became the youngest head coach of a MLS club. He joins the team with experience from Belgian First Division side, Beerschot, where he has served as manager since 2019.
Wizards Come Back From Postponement
After six postponed games due to coronavirus protocol restrictions, Washington got hammered by the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 24, 121-101. Bradley Beal led the Wizards in scoring with 31 points and had seven rebounds and an assist in a losing effort.
“I feel like we competed, we got off to a slow start … but I think we did a good job of competing with what we had,” said Beal. “We haven’t played in a long time, I mean, that’s why I was just a** in the first half, just trying to get my rhythm back. It’s no excuse, this is what we do, this is our job.”
Seven San Antonio Spurs players scored in double-figures, with guard Patty Mills scoring a team-high 21 points en route to a blowout victory.
Wizards guard Jerome Robison scored 16 points, and newly acquired center Alex Len chipped in 11 points.
Washington, still outside of the eighth spot, will prepare to take on the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans in their next two games on the road and will return home to play the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 29.
Alex Smith Comeback Player of the Year
Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith was recently named the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) Comeback Player of the Year, and Sporting News gave him the distinction as well.
Smith came back from a gruesome leg injury in 2018 that required him to have a total of 17 surgeries that potentially put his career and life at risk.
Nevertheless, he battled back to lead the Washington Football Team to win the NFC East Division while guiding the Burgundy and Gold to the postseason for the first time since 2015.
“It was great to be out there,” Smith said. “The feeling, the range of emotions — the good and the bad — is why I fought so hard to come back. I think sometimes you can take it for granted, and certainly, being away from it for a couple of years; I’ve missed it. So good to be back in it rolling, and like I said, we’ll look at the film and get better and keep moving forward.”