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The Houston Dynamo have now officially signed Oumar Ballo, Rob Lovejoy, and Taylor Hunter to the squad. The respective 30th, 36th, and 49th draft picks in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft have garnered praise from coaches, players, and fans alike.
Oumar Ballo was selected 30th overall out of the University of Maryland Baltimore County and is a proto-typical central defender. He's tall, strong, and his long legs give him enough agility to successfully carry the ball forward out of the back. The Dynamo acquired the 30th pick after the team sent Sporting Kansas City the rights to defensive midfielder Servando Carrasco. While it's unknown how Ballo will contribute to time in Houston this year, he could have a bright future in Houston if he continues to develop his skills.
Rob Lovejoy is a left winger and can play midfield out left or up top as a forward and was taken by the Dynamo 36th overall out of North Carolina University. Lovejoy has arguably shown the most worth of the draftees this preseason for the Dynamo as he's been able to find the goal in the Desert Friendly match against the San Jose Earthquakes along with a very keen sense of driving the ball up the field.
Taylor Hunter, the right back selected 49th in the SuperDraft out of the University of Denver, has also played well and shown his worth as a strong and intelligent defender. Hunter has seen less playing time this preseason than his other rookie counterparts, but has shown he's a hardnosed tackler with plenty of vision up the field.
With a new coach, new conference, and new players, it's incredibly difficult to predict which of these draft picks, along with first round selection Zach Steinberger, will directly contribute to the Dynamo this year. By officially signing these players, the organization does believe that they can be a part of the future of this team. Each of these players has personally impressed me and it will be very exciting to see how the players continue to hone their skills and compete at the highest level of soccer in the country.