Michael Kafari

Signed by Sporting Kansas City -- July 8, 2014

COACHES' BREAKDOWN: Despite wearing the No. 10 for New Mexico, Kafari's make-up as a soccer player is that of a pure ball-winning midfielder (though he doesn't always embrace that role). If he had it his way, he probably wouldn't "want to get stereotyped as an athlete," one coach said, before adding "but he's a freak athlete." What Kafari lacks, however, is the same skill on the ball that other players in the draft at his position have. He can make simple passes with both feet, but still needs to work on his accuracy, and still needs to improve in the air. He was compared by one coach to Ricardo Clark, but he would come into MLS much less polished. A team will likely take a chance on him because of his athleticism, and though Kafari was born in Ghana, his US passport will save the club an international slot.

COLLEGE: 2013: NSCAA All-Midwest Region Third Team… Third Team All-Conference USA selection… Part of a Lobo defense that recorded eleven shutouts for season… Logged 1,835 minutes over 21 starts in the midfield, which was a career high in minutes played…2012: Second Team All-Conference in MPSF... One of six Lobos to see the field in all 22 matches in 2012... Scored his lone goal in the historic 11-0 victory over UNLV (10-19-12)... Picked up assists versus Dartmouth (9-14-12) and against Air Force in MPSF Tournament Championship (11-11-12)... Set a career high in minutes played with 1,532... 2011: Made 21 appearances and 18 starts for the Lobos... Spent most of his time in the midfield... Logged 1185 total minutes... 2010: At the forward position, Kafari saw field time in 18 of 20 contests in 2010, making one start for the Lobos and netting two goals... Recorded one assist, giving him with five points on the season in just 391 minutes of time off the bench... Scored first career goal versus Air Force (10/10/2010).

HIGH SCHOOL Three-year lettermen at Centennial HS in Boise, Idaho... First Team All-Conference forward in 2008 and 2009... Led his team to a 5A State Soccer Championship in 2009... Played for the Boise Nationals Soccer Club...Lettered in track at Centennial (1 year).

PERSONAL Born Oct. 30, 1991 in Accra Ghana, Michael is the son of Simon and Martha Kafari... Siblings are Jordan, Sylvia, and Eulalia... Undecided on a major.