With the 14th pick of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, Sporting Kansas City selected defender Colton Storm out of the University of North Carolina. Manager Peter Vermes and Storm both spoke with media following the selection, with Vermes also discussing this morning's signing of Spanish midfielder Ilie Sanchez.
Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes
On selecting Colton Storm with the 14th pick of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft:
“He’s a very good one-v-one defender as an outside back. He anticipates situations in the game really well and the other thing is I know where he comes from – close to where I kind of grew up, same kind of area – I kind of know his background, I had a great interview with him, seen him play, and he’s someone who can grow within our club for sure.”
On if Storm is the player Sporting KC wanted at the start of the SuperDraft:
“Everybody’s adaptation to a team, especially at the next level, is always different. This player comes in I think really quickly. It’s very evident that he possesses a lot of the things that we look for in players. What I like is personality wise – I think he encompasses a lot of the traits that we look for, he has that Sporting DNA. Not having had a chance to spend a lot of time with him, only a short period of time – but you can just tell that he’s a very genuine kid and there’s no doubt that he has ambition to want to be successful and it’s very evident that he’s one of the kids that’s going to pursue excellence every single day.”
On new Sporting KC signing Ilie Sanchez:
“We’ve known him for a long time, tried a few years back to get him – just financially we couldn’t do it. He comes from a place that we’ve had a good relationship with and had success with players from there. He understands the position really well, number six for us, defensive midfielder type player. I’m really excited to be able to add him to the roster. But again, he’s like any other player that we’re bringing in, they all have an adaptation period and just because they’re coming in doesn’t mean that they’re going to be the guy but I’m very confident – he’s a professional person, great character – I think we’re adding a really good player to our team and a really good person and that part always makes the adaptation period a lot easier.”
On if Sanchez can play in other positions other than defensive midfield:
“His best position is a six.”
On if Storm can play any other positions than right back:
“He actually plays on both sides. His best position is right back but he plays on both sides.”
On if Storm could play center back:
“He’s played in a three. He has a good understanding of how to play three in the back as well which is good.”
On if Sanchez has similarities with Uri Rosell:
“I think he’s probably – he was when we were first looking at him – a more mature player. He played a lot more for the B team than Uri did, the fact that he went to 1860 Munich, all those things – he’s probably more mature in the position than Uri. The one thing that Uri brought that was really good was he’s a very competitive individual. We’re going to find a lot of that out when we’re up close with Ilie but I have a lot of good people I know in Barcelona and we’ve got great information as well and all the recommendations as well as us seeing him up close before too. Now it’s more of the adaptation, but it’s another good player that we’ve added to the roster which I’m really excited about.”
Sporting KC draftee Colton Storm:
On when he first started hearing about Sporting KC’s interest:
“Probably about two days ago, I had a coaches meeting with them and their staff with coach Vermes. There was definitely a possibility and some interest there, I thought the meeting went really well and I really liked coach Vermes. I thought it went really well but you’re still unsure until you hear your name called.”
On if Sporting KC feels like a spot he’ll fit in well:
“I definitely really like Sporting Kansas City. After that interview, I know about them, I know about the team and the way they play. I’ve been out to Kansas before a couple of years back, not with Kansas City but for a different tournament and I loved it. Just hearing coach Vermes’ thoughts on everything – I loved everything about him. I feel like I can relate to the team really well, and to coach Vermes, and I’m trying to bring a lot of hard work to SKC.”
On his style of play:
“I’m a very hard worker and outside back, I think I’m faster than the average outside back, I can use my recovery speed and I love one-v-ones – I love being out on an island with someone, I love challenges. I view every challenge as an opportunity and I also love getting into the attack. I love being able to serve balls, I love being able to take shots on goal, I love being part of the attack which is kind of new for outside backs but isn’t new for me.”
