Sporting KC selects Akron defender Saad Abdul-Salaam with 12th pick in MLS SuperDraft

Sporting Kansas City selected Akron defender Saad Abdul-Salaam with the 12th overall pick Thursday in the MLS SuperDraft.

Abdul-Salaam is a former walk-on at Akron who projects as an outside back.

“This is an unreal and unbelievable feeling to say (I’m in) pro soccer,” Abdul-Salaam said after being selected.

Seth Sinovic was a mainstay at left outside back with Sporting KC last season, but a lack of depth offered him little rest. The right back was occupied mostly by Igor Juliao last season after Chance Myers suffered a torn Achilles’ early in the season. Myers is projected to return for the start of the 2015 season.

Abdul-Salaam was Sporting’s second pick of the draft. It previously selected Connor Hallisey with the 10th overall pick.

Sporting KC also owns the 20th and 30th overall picks.