Mariners Pick Two in Draft 18/12/03
The Virginia Beach Mariners selected local soccer standout Phil Hucles from William and Mary and Norfolk Academy in the first round, and Wake Forest All-American Jeremiah White in the second round of the 2004 A-League College Draft. The draft was held December 17 at the United Soccer Leagues headquarters in Tampa by conference call with all A-League teams participating.
Hucles, from Virginia Beach, starred at William and Mary, ending his college career ranked eighth in school history with 87 points, tied for fifth with 36 career goals, fifth with 224 shots and tied for sixth with 9 game-winning goals. He was named a Second Team NSCAA All-American, First Team All-CAA and NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region his senior year. As a junior, he was named Second Team NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region, First Team All-State and All-CAA. In 2001, he was ranked second in goals and points with 12 and 30 respectively and was named second-team All-CAA. As a freshman he led the team with 14 goals and was named Second Team All-CAA. In his four years in Williamsburg, Hucles appeared in 87 matches, starting 85.
As a forward/midfielder at Norfolk Academy, Hucles was named The Virginian-Pilot High School Male Athlete of the Year his senior year, TCIS Player of the Year for two seasons, and First Team TCIS and VPL for three years running. He also was an Honor Roll Student all four years as well as being named All-State twice in lacrosse.
Jeremiah White, a native of Lansdowne, Pa, is Wake Forest’s first ever ACC Player of the Year and three-time All-ACC first team selection. He was also an NSCAA All-American in 2001, despite battling injury the first half of the season. He scored 11 goals to lead the Deacons including the game winner against Old Dominion in the 88th minute to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
As a sophomore in 2001, White became the first Deacon to lead the ACC in scoring in nearly 20 years. He is the first player in Wake history to score 10 or more goals in consecutive seasons.
White was also named the College Soccer News National Player of the Week the beginning of 2003 season and scored eight goals and five assists in 2003, leaving Wake Forest as the school's second all-time leading scorer with 37 goals and 19 assists for a total of 93 points.
Both Hucles and White have been invited to the 2004 adidas Major League Soccer Player Combine in Carson, California in January. If either player is selected to play for MLS and does not choose to compete or is cut by his MLS team, the Mariners have two weeks to sign either player before he is released to talk to other A-League teams.
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