The Draft road not taken with Jeremy Ebobisse: The Final Preparations
As the 2017 MLS Superdraft quickly approaches, Jeremy Ebobisse shares his excitement for the big day, and what he brings to the club that picks him.
January 13th is the 2017 MLS Superdraft. It’s the end of the tunnel on former Duke Blue Devil Jeremy Ebobisse’s journey to an MLS club. Almost every player entering a draft, in any pro sport, spends a good chunk of time physically preparing. Jeremy is no different.
“I have been doing mostly fitness training, but I have also played some pick up with a few of my friends and former teammates,” explains Jeremy “We have a lot of good quality players from our area so pick up got pretty competitive and it was pretty beneficial.”
He’s spent most of his training time at Metro Orthopedic Sports Therapy. He adds, “I’ve done all of my performance training and physical work there, so I am pretty comfortable and familiar with them.”
Related Story: The Draft Road Not Taken w/ Ebobisse: Becoming A Pro
Jeremy is projected to be drafted by one of the two expansion teams, whether it’s Minnesota at #1 or Atlanta at #2. But with a prospect as exciting as Jebo, another team may be willing to trade into a top spot to secure him. He doesn’t have his heart set on any one team. “I don’t really have any preferences. I think every team has certain specific aspects that I know would suit me well in my short and long-term development,” says the young striker.
“At the end of the day, I just want somewhere where I can go and train everyday as hard as possible, in order to get better and help the team in whatever capacity.”
What will the team who drafts him be getting? Jeremy shared, “In my previous teams, I brought leadership to the team to match my passion for the game, but I am curious to see what exactly I’ll bring to an MLS club, where I am not the oldest nor most experienced.
Nonetheless, I hope to bring a competitive nature on the field but a calm, easygoing figure in the locker room. I hope I can justify my selection to the team that picks me through my performances on the field. I’m just really excited for the opportunity and want to be the best person I can be for the club.”
He will have his mother with him in Los Angeles on the big night, while his father may be abroad while settling into a new job. His brother is another possible attendee, and depending on seats, he may have some friends who go to school in the LA area join him.
Being drafted to a professional sports team is a dream that many kids have. That is not lost on Ebobisse. “Obviously the draft is a big part of the American sports systems, so watching players get drafted year after year had me dreaming of my moment,” admitted Jeremy.
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“The excitement the players and their close family and friends feel is something I always looked forward to, and for it to happen this year will be one of my most cherished memories. Having had about 5-6 months between when I signed and the draft, I have had a lot of time to imagine what it would be like so I’m ready to go and can’t wait to get down to LA.”