Kamara Picked 9th Overall by Columbus Crew in 2006 Major League Soccer SuperDraft
January 20, 2006

Portions courtesy of MySoccer.com

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills sophomore All-American forward Kei Kamara (Lawndale, CA/Leuzinger HS) was chosen as the 9th pick overall at the 2006 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft this morning, held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Kamara will join the Columbus Crew, coached by Sigi Schmid, former coach of the L.A. Galaxy and UCLA Bruins.

Kei Kamara was selected in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew. He was the first D-II player to be chosen. Pictured L-R: Columbus Crew General Manager Mark McCullers, Kei Kamara, Columbus Crew Head Coach Sigi Schmid Photo courtesy Tony Quinn/Major League Soccer

“I was surprised a little bit about going in the first round, but that’s what everybody prays for, to go high,” said an ecstatic Kamara about his 1st-round selection. “I’m really excited to finally have a team to go to. Columbus has been struggling but I know they’re a good team and coach Schmid is a great coach and it’ll be exciting. I just want to again say thanks to all my teammates, coaches, trainers and everyone at CSUDH who’s helped me get to this point.”

Kamara was the first Division II player to be chosen in the draft, and followed UCLA’s Marvell Wynne, Santa Clara’s Mehdi Ballouchy and Maryland’s Jason Garey, who went as the top three respective selections.

This past season, Kamara led the Toros with 15 goals, six assists, 36 points and nine game-winning goals, and was named a Third-Team All-American after leading CSUDH to the 2005 Far West Region Championship, a scintillating 2-1 overtime victory over then-No. 5 ranked Seattle Pacific, and an NCAA quarterfinal contest against undefeated and eventual NCAA DII Men’s Soccer Champion Fort Lewis College.

The Toros, who posted a 17-5-2 overall and 9-3-2 CCAA record, reached the NCAA playoffs for the sixth-consecutive season and seventh time overall.

In addition to the first All-American honor of his career, Kamara has earned two First-Team All-West Region accolades, two First-Team All-CCAA nods and a 2004 CCAA MVP selection in his two seasons as a Toro.

In Schmid, Kamara will play under one of the most successful coaches in MLS and NCAA Men’s Division I history, having been the former head coach of both the Los Angeles Galaxy and UCLA Bruins. Schmid led the Galaxy to a 2002 MLS Cup title, a 2001 U.S. Open Cup Championship and a 2000 CONCACAF Champions Cup, earning 1999 MLS Coach of the Year honors. At UCLA, Schmid led the Bruins to three NCAA titles (1985, 1990 and 1997), an overall record of 322-63-33 and 17-consecutive playoff appearances, earning 1997 College Coach of the Years honors en route to posting an .810 winning percentage, the fifth-best all-time mark in NCAA Men’s Division I history.

Says CSUDH men’s & women’s soccer head coach Joe Flanagan, “It was a little surprising that he went in the first round, but it was great to see him up there. He’s going to a great coach in Sigi Schmid, and it’s an awesome opportunity. We’re hoping for the best for him.”