With the 15th overall selection in the 2002 Major League Soccer Super Draft, the Dallas Burn selected Eastern forward Jason Thompson Friday, making him the first player in school history drafted by the league.

Thompson is guaranteed a roster spot with the Burn as part of his Project-40 contract. He will join a Dallas team that came within one game of semifinals last year and finished the season 12-9-7, the third-best record in the MLS.

Thompson was the Burn’s second selection in the draft. The Burn entered the draft with three of the top 15 selections. They traded the fourth overall pick to the New Jersey MetroStars for Rookie of the Year finalist midfielder Brad Davis.

Dallas used the 10th overall pick to select University of Connecticut defender Shavar Thomas in the first round, then selected Thompson in the second round with the 15th overall pick.

Dallas should make a good fit for the Garland, Texas native.

“It’s exciting, especially with him going back in his hometown,” Eastern Head Coach Adam Howarth said. “I know his family is pretty excited about it.”

Burns head coach Mike Jeffries agrees Thompson is a good fit with his team.

“We have experienced players for him to learn from,” Jeffries said. “Its a good fit for us and him as well.”

The Burn was looking to add some youth to their team in this year’s draft.

“We felt like we wanted one more young fellow on our team,” Jeffries said. “And two, we wanted to make our team better by getting the best player available.”

As a Project-40 (a program for high school and college soccer players) draft pick, the Burn views Thompson as a developing talent.

“He is a Project-40 player,” Jeffries said. “That makes him a developmental guy, so we will let him take his time and develop a little bit.”

However, Howarth believes Thompson could see some time in his first year in the MLS.

“If he works hard, and I know he will, he will have a good shot at getting some playing time,” Howarth said.

Thompson will have familiar faces on the team. The Burn also drafted Thompson’s Missouri Valley Conference opponent Creighton forward Mike Tranchilla. Tranchilla was selected 34th overall by the Burn.

Dallas will not try to move Thompson from his forward position.

“He has a great work attitude and is very active at freeing himself up for the ball,” Jeffries said.

Thompson ends his three-year career at Eastern with 40 goals and 16 assists. He made an immediate impact on the team his freshman year with 21 goals (1.11 per game) and 49 points (2.58 per game).

Among the several honors Thompson received during his collegiate career are Second Team All-America selection by College Soccer Online and Soccer America’s Freshman All-America squad in his freshman year.

He was also named three-time All-MVC performer Honorable Mention All-America by the College Soccer News and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America selected him First Team All-Midwest region.