University of North Carolina Athletics
Dax McCarty Chosen Sixth Overall In MLS SuperDraft
January 20, 2006 | Men's Soccer
Jan. 20, 2006
PHILADELPHIA - Former North Carolina All-America midfielder Dax McCarty was chosen with the sixth overall pick by FC Dallas Friday in the 2006 Major League Soccer SuperDraft at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. McCarty is the Tar Heels' fifth first-round selection since 1996 and first since David Stokes went fifth overall to D.C. United in 2003.
McCarty, who recently completed his sophomore season with the Tar Heels, left Chapel Hill with two seasons of eligibility remaining as a part of the MLS Generation adidas program. A native of Winter Park, Fla., McCarty led Carolina in 2005 with eight assists and was fourth on the squad with 12 points. He was an integral part of the Tar Heels' run to the NCAA quarterfinals.
Much of Carolina's offense went through McCarty, as he took the majority of the Tar Heels' free kicks and corners this season. In addition to his all-conference and All-America honors, he was named to the all-tournament team at the ACC Championship, where Carolina reached the final.
Both of McCarty's goals in 2005 were game-winners, including a 51st minute score in the season-opening win over No. 11 VCU Sept. 2 and an overtime free kick that gave the Tar Heels a 2-1 win over Elon Oct. 4.
McCarty is the 12th Tar Heel selected in the MLS SuperDraft since its inception in 2000, and Carolina has now has a total of four players chosen in the last two drafts, including three a year ago. Former UNC standout Jamie Watson also left early as a part of the Generation adidas program and was chosen with the 13th pick by Real Salt Lake in the 2005 draft.
Generation adidas, which was established ahead of the 2005 MLS season, is Major League Soccer's youth player development program designed to identify and nurture the elite youth soccer talent in the United States. The youth players who join MLS as part of the Generation adidas program receive unprecedented opportunities to develop their game and hone their skills at the professional level in Major League Soccer. In addition to training and playing on a weekly basis with one of Major League Soccer's 12 professional clubs, Generation adidas players will also receive educational grants to further their college education.
Despite the loss of McCarty, the Tar Heels return 10 starters in 2006, including All-ACC selections Scott Campbell, Michael Harrington and Andre Sherard.
