Real Salt Lake general manager Garth Lagerwey and coach Jason Kreis are Duke products, so the selection of North Carolina product Enzo Martinez was an occasion for Lagerwey to receive some good-natured ribbing during a conference call following Thursday afternoon's 2012 MLS SuperDraft.

Although the odds of Martinez actually contributing are long — one can count on one hand the number of collegians drafted by RSL who have taken the field — Lagerwey was enthusiastic about the chances of Martinez doing well.

Lagerwey used words like "giddy" and described All-American as humble and outstanding.

Martinez, age 21, was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, but immigrated to Rock Hill, S.C., when he was 10 years old. He is taking care of the paperwork for a green card.

RSL had two picks in the second round. With No. 24th pick, Real chose SMU defender Diogo de Almeida, a left-footed player. Lagerwey said de Almeida is listed behind team veterans Tony Beltran and Chris Wingert.

The No. 36 overall pick in the second round was Sebastian Velasquez, a midfielder from Spartanburg Methodist. This freshman scored 35 goals, but Lagerwey was quick to point out that the competition on the junior college level was, to say the least, lacking.

OTHER BUSINESS

Lagerwey was optimistic about Paulo Jr.'s return to RSL. The forward was on loan to RSL from Miami FC in the USSF. There is an option to purchase Araujo and sign him through the 2014 season.


martyr@sltrib.com