The SuperDraft may be over, but MLS teams will still be duking it out over two top college talents over the next 48 hours.
MLS on Wednesday afternoon confirmed that forwards Giuseppe Gentile (UNC Charlotte) and Christiano Francois (Maryland) have opted to leave college and sign MLS contracts. Despite being underclassmen, they are not signed to Generation adidas contracts.
Since they signed with MLS after the SuperDraft, they will be made available to all MLS teams via the Waiver Draft with teams ranked based on reverse order of finish in the 2013 season, taking into account postseason results. The Waiver Draft will take place over a 48-hour span with the results expected on Friday afternoon.
Gentile, who holds Swiss and American dual citizenship, is considered a prototypical No. 9 forward. According to his college scouting report, he's an athletic, powerful runner and hard worker who runs the channels and likes to get in behind defenders. He scored 27 goals in three seasons at UNC Charlotte and was the team's leading assist man in 2012.
The 20-year-old Francois, a former member of the Haiti Under-17 national team, is another forward who stands out for his quickness, acceleration, athleticism and 1-v-1 ability.
Francois moved to the US four years ago from his native Haiti and after two standout seasons at St. Benedict's Prep in New Jersey, he joined NCAA powerhouse Maryland Terrapins in 2012. He scored five goals in his freshman year at Maryland, but did not play for the university in 2013 because he was academically ineligible. He has since been training with the Terps as well as playing for PDL side Baltimore Bohemians.
The former Under-17 Haitian national team player will count as an international player on the MLS team he joins, reported to be D.C. United.
