NEW YORK - Major League Soccer and adidas today announced the class of Generation adidas players that will enter the professional ranks for the 2007 Major League Soccer season. The eight talented young players signed MLS contracts before completing their NCAA eligibility and can be selected in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, which takes place at the Indianapolis Convention Center on Friday, Jan. 12 (live on ESPN2 at 12 p.m. ET).
Leading the 2007 class are four players from the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team currently preparing for the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament later this month in Panama. The U.S. U-20s will attempt to qualify for their sixth consecutive FIFA U-20 World Cup. Midfielders Bryan Arguez and Anthony Wallace (South Florida), defender Amaechi Igwe (Santa Clara), and goalkeeper Chris Seitz (Maryland) are all part of the U.S U-20 Men's National Team that is preparing to qualify for the 2007 FIFA World Youth Championship being held in Canada June 30 to July 22, 2007.
The class also includes one U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team player, Abdus Ibrahim, who was a strong presence for the squad against Brazil and other top international teams during the 2006 Nike Friendlies. The U-17 team is training for the 2007 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Three collegiate Generation adidas players were selected as 2006 NSCAA/adidas All-Americans. Midfielder Maurice Edu (Maryland) was chosen as a First-Team All-American, along with Maryland teammate Seitz, who was a third team selection. University of Virginia forward/midfielder Nico Colacula earned second team All-American honors. Colaluca and defender Bakary Soumare helped Virginia reach the NCAA College Cup in 2006.
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 13 professional clubs, Generation adidas players will also receive educational grants to further their college education.
Generation adidas, which was established ahead of the 2005 MLS season, is a player development program that identifies and nurtures the elite youth soccer talent in the United States. Last year, Generation adidas defender Marvell Wynne was the No. 1 overall selection and started 23 games for the New York Red Bulls, and fellow Generation adidas classmate Sacha Kljestan was a finalist for the 2006 Gatorade Rookie of the Year Award after starting 31 games and logging seven assists for Chivas USA. In 2005, Generation adidas defender Michael Parkhurst played every minute of every game for the New England Revolution en route to being named to the 2005 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game and as the 2005 Gatorade Rookie of the Year while leading the Revs to the MLS Cup Championship game.
2007 Generation adidas class:
| Player | Pos. | Age | Hometown | College | National Team | NSCAA/adidas All-American |
| Bryan Arguez | D/M | 17 | Miami, FL | -- | U.S. U-20 | -- |
| Nico Colaluca | M/F | 20 | Coventry, RI | Virginia | -- | Second Team |
| Maurice Edu | M | 20 | Fontana, CA | Maryland | -- | First Team |
| Abdus Ibrahim | F | 15 | Richfield, MN | -- | U.S. U-17 | -- |
| Amaechi Igwe | D | 19 | Belmont, CA | Santa Clara | U.S. U-20 | -- |
| Chris Seitz | GK | 19 | San Luis Obispo, CA | Maryland | U.S. U-20 | Third Team |
| Bakary Soumare | D | 21 | New York, NY | Virginia | -- | -- |
| Anthony Wallace | D/M | 17 | St. Petersburg, FL | South Florida U.S. U-20 -- |
