Please welcome Jordan Graye

It was an awful long wait, but DC United added some much needed defensive depth in the MLS Superdraft today by selecting UNC senior Jordan Graye with the 55th overall pick.

Not only is United sticking with the trend of selecting ACC products, but Graye also attended Dematha HS and won a national title as part of United's youth system in 2001.  That's a pretty darn impressive resume.  And that also tells me he's played with some of the best players in the country at every level.

I remember Graye specifically from North Carolina's Final Four match against Akron just a month ago.  At the time I was more focused on scouting out Caleb Porter's coaching skills, but its to the credit of UNC's defense that they were able to keep the #1 team in the country off the scoreboard for 120 minutes.  Graye played an instrumental role in that match.  It was his header that was cleared off the goalline by an Akron defender after a Tar Heel corner kick, bringing them just inches away from advancing to the title game.  Oh yeah, and it was also Graye who missed a penalty kick to send Akron through.  Oops.

According to Coach Onalfo, Jordan Graye put in time at right back and left back for the Tar Heels, and could contribute immediately for us if he adjusts well to the professional game, espcially if Bryan Namoff continues to experience concussion symptoms.

From the DCU Youth Academy, to Dematha, to UNC, Jordan Graye has been a winner at every level.  Let's hope he's a winner here too.