On Friday, January 18th, at 2 pm ET, the 2008 MLS SuperDraft kicked off in Baltimore Maryland, with the first round conjuring a lengthy list of surprises that left "mock-drafters" and pundits bewildered alike.

UCLA Bruin Chance Myers took top honors as the #1 pick, with the native Californian soon to call Kansas City home as a Wizard. Many, including MLSnet.com, had pegged star Hokies striker Patrick Nyarko to be drafted in the top slot.

US Under-17 international Brek Shea was the next on the auction plate, with the native Texan being gifted with a chance to showcase his wares on home soil, with FC Dallas the suitor.

Under-20 World Cup standout Tony Beltran was the next to upstage the presumed top picks, the UCLA right back being added to the Real Salt Lake roster, opposite of recent FC St. Pauli transfer catch Ian Joy.

The LA Galaxy - who also dealt veteran right back Chris Albright to New England for allocation money on draft day - used their first of many draft picks to select Cal State Northridge grad Sean Franklin, before Irish-American Ciaran O'Brien was drafted fifth overall, by the Colorado Rapids.

Scouser Andy Iro spurned prospects back home on the other side of the Atlantic to enter the draft, much to the thanks of the Columbus Crew, which selected him sixth.

While Nyarko won't get the chance to claim superlative honors, he will be given the opportunity to play alongside mercurial Mexican hot shot Cuauhtémoc Blanco of the Chicago Fire, while goalkeeping prodigy Josh Lambo heads to Dallas picked eighth overall.

Toronto FC used its two first round picks to brand top-rated defender Julius James and NCAA College Cup champion Pat Phelan as ninth and 10th, respectively.

Phelan's College Cup rival Roger Espinoza heads to Kansas to help boost a soon to be Eddie Johnson-less Wizards front-line, and keeper Dominic Cervi makes the move to the Chicago Fire with Matt Picken's future still clouded.

Rob Valentino was selected 13th by the New England Revolution, while Real Salt Lake closed off the first round by picking up defender David Horst.

Elsewhere down the order: Under-17 international star Alex Nimo joins Horst in Utah as the 17th pick, Santa Clara Bronco Peter Lowry moves to the Fire as the 26th pick and Wake Forest co-captain Julian Valentin has a Hollywood move on the agenda, being called upon by Ruud Gullit's LA Galaxy 29th overall.