Chance Meyers was recently the #1 pick in last week's MLS Draft. The sophomore out of UCLA was drafted by the Kansas City Wizards. I had a chance to talk to him about his past, present, and future.
MM: Chance, congrats on the #1 pick. I'm stoked for you. So, hows it feel?
CM: Well it was crazy at first, but now that it's set in, I just feel like I have to go to work. I don't feel too much pressure. Just have to go at it.
MM:You were at UCLA two years. What's you're favorite moment?
CM: Advancing to the College Cup freshman year, beating Duke in the quarterfinals to get there.
MM: I remember the College Cup that year in St. Louis being like 15 degrees or something outside.
CM: Ya it was crazy. I remember they had heaters, and I couldn't feel my feet. So I went over to heaters to try and heat up my feet, but my cleats started melting. So I played with frozen feet.
MM: That's never fun. So you're an outside back. Have any players you model your game after?
CM: Ya, Dani Alves. He is an outside defender for Sevilla (Spain). He gets up the flank really quickly and is a great attacking back. That's what I try to do.
MM: Ya I saw you had 3 goals last year from a defensive position. I played right back my senior year as well, and I loved it.
CM: Ya in the last few years the position has really been revolutionized. Guys like Evra at Man. U. and Ashley Cole at Chelsea have taken the position to the next level.
MM: And guys like Marcus Mulick. No but seriously, why were you, an outside back, typically not the most sought after and glamorous position, picked first in the MLS Draft?
CM: I don't even know! I guess I could be seen as a utility player, I can help the team out in a bunch of different ways. The scouts have seen my progression in the last two years, and they know I'm not yet at my fullest.
MM: Did coaches know about you at UCLA? Or did your stock go up at the combine?
CM: Honestly I don't think any coach knew about me before the combine! When I was there, I just played simple, no mistakes. They counted that I had 87 touches in the game, and that of my 44 passes, I connected on 39 of them. I guess that's what they like to see. I just played simple.
MM: Well with everyone out there trying to impress the coaches with fancy footwork and ball handling, I'm sure a simple style of play stood out to them. Chance you're only a sophomore. Why come out this year? Why not wait another year?
CM: There's a bunch of opportunities right now for me. I just knew it was the right time, and it was all my decision. I knew my parents were going to support me no matter what.
MM: Ya I figured that. Your mom is a sweetheart.
CM: Ya I promised her I would finish college. I'll be taking classes while I play. UCLA actually made it pretty easy for me to graduate.
MM: Ok Chance, trivia time. You're going to Kansas City. Do you know who the all-time points leader is there?
CM: Uhm...(long pause)...all-time points leader? Shoot, no. Nick Garcia?
MM: Preki! C'mon Chance, you should know that. The guy is a legend. He's coaching now at....uhm.....
CM: Chivas USA. There's some trivia for you.
MM: Shutup. Ok, can you name the all-time scorer at UCLA?
CM: Ole Mikkelsen!
MM: Woah! Nice man!
CM: He was my assistant coach on my PDL team.
MM: Oh ok. I was wondering how you got that so fast, because I thought that was a hard question. Are you still going to show up to Thousand Oaks High School's alumni games?
CM: Of course! Marcus you were lagging this year.
MM: Dude. It was raining the whole day. I just couldn't get myself out there.
CM: Haha ya, it was the just the usual guys out there anyways.
MM: Ya I figured. Be honest, of all your years at TOHS, my senior year's team was the strongest.
CM: Dude I know! Even though I won two CIF championships after you graduated, that team my freshman year with you was the best one. We just had too many guys screwing around.
MM: Ya I'm still bitter about that year. It's hard to win when half our team was high at practice.
CM: A shame.
MM:Allright Chance, I know you're busy, I'll let you go. Thanks again for taking the time to talk, and I wish you all the luck at Kansas City. Stay healthy man!
CM: Thanks man, I fly out tomorrow morning for pre-season. We'll be in Florida until the season starts. Take it easy.
After the interview, Myers asks me how I liked USC, how the beach has been, and we caught up on stuff. This is the way Myers is; he cares just as much about you as you do about him. Even if he is the #1 pick, he will always be the humble, soft-spoken kid that he always has been. Anyone that knows him can attest to that fact, and everyone that comes to meet him will soon agree with it.
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