Tournament X Draft

Today, we'll complete the draft for Tournament X in the UPCL. The draft is live from IBM Cathedral in North Modernistic, where the hosting Nighthawks have just a single fifth round pick. Leading off...

The Web City Spiders have a compensatory first-round pick. The Spiders elected to go with a rookie to fill the opening left by Ted's retirement, bringing in the outgoing Omari Rashid. A tall and lean player, Omari is another player in the vein of Waluigi. The rookie brings sneaky power and precision in his game, but may struggle with more of the mental aspects. Omari represents Humanity Junior at the club level.

The Eastside Sharks are next with a compensatory first-round pick. The Sharks also dipped into the rookie pool by selecting Toki, a Reality first-year, to replace the retired Chelsea. Toki, the younger sister of last year's Midland Predators rookie Kitty, is a positive player with an optimistic outlook. Toki is expected to bring a vibrant attitude and a little fire to the rebuilding Sharks, who have two more picks today.

The Oceanside Waves have the third overall pick, a compensatory first-round selection. The Waves will replace the retired Jason V. with the rookie Rocky, who has committed to Youth Movement at the club level. Rocky has some of the highest expectations among rookies this season, an all-around strong player who is yet to develop strongly in any one area. He joins club-mate Celestia on a fairly inexperienced Waves team.

The Victoria Spurs possess the fourth overall pick, a compensatory first-round pick. The Spurs will go with experience, taking former Whitewater Shore Rosalina to replace the retired Mitchell. Rosalina joins her third team in four years in the league. The heady veteran has a lot of experience and will look to combine with Yekaterina as a crafty player on the skilled Spurs.

The Freedom Cascades are on the clock with a compensatory first-round selection. To replace longtime captain Jasmine, the Cascades select sophomore Andrew, formerly of the Central Warriors. Andrew had about as awful a rookie season as he could, leaving the Warriors no choice but to send him back into the draft pool. The Humanity Junior player has a powerful shot but will need to refine his skill for a Cascades team now entering its second chapter under Stinky's leadership.

The Maplewood Lumberjacks use the first of two compensatory picks to select Vladimir, formerly of the Stonebridge Wolves. The third-year Humanity Junior man fell out of favor in Juno's tight-run organization, and he'll get a second chance on a Lumberjacks team that needs to replace both Bryant and Gabe (retirement). Vladimir is a strong-and-silent type player that should fit well with the hard-working Lumberjacks, who are led by captain Diddley.

The Southridge Defenders have the seventh overall pick, a first-round compensatory pick. The Defenders took former North Modernistic Nighthawk Luigi, drawing boos from the home crowd. Luigi, a fourth-year Celebrity player, was never a popular Nighthawk, but stayed with the team at Peach's orders. Luigi will look for a fresh start alongside another familiar face -- the Defenders turned Wario into a top-20 player last season. He'll look to fill the gap left behind by Caitlin's retirement.

The Queens Flames are on the clock for a compensatory first-round pick. They'll fill out their roster with Pauline, formerly of the Capital City Sharpshooters. Pauline spent two years in Capital City, mostly with unimpressive results. Pauline will look to replace Hannah on the roster. The Celebrity player should get along well with teammate Mario, providing some chemistry outside of the Flames' big three star players.

The Atlantic Pirates have the ninth pick, a first-round compensatory selection. They'll fill the void left by Jason N.'s retirement with Reality rookie Buddy. The rookie is known to be a free-spirited type, which could make acclimating to Delila's strong leadership tough. Buddy won't have a lot of pressure on a defending City Cup champion squad, which should allow the rookie time to adjust to UPCL play.

The Pronger Tridents look to replace four-year star Zach with the 10th overall pick, a compensatory first-round selection. They tabbed former Web City Spider Avril with the task. Avril, a Celebrity player, has yet to find her groove in UPCL action, joining her third team in as many years. Avril has displayed potential at times, but she'll need to perform immediately with smart shot-selection under captain Precious.

The Archtown Arrows will fill out their roster with a compensatory first-round selection. The Arrows spent their pick on rookie Greg, a Humanity Junior signee. Greg will look to fill the gap left by A. Charlton, who retired after the 2019 season. Greg brings endless energy and humor to the Sally-led Arrows. Greg joins Klaus as the newcomers to the squad that finished middle of the pack.

The Lighton Prestige have a compensatory first-round pick to fill out their 2020 roster. The Prestige spent the 12th overall pick on Angelica, an Enterprise rookie. Angelica brings poise and calm to the team, mirroring the likes of long-term captain Acorn and star Spirit. The Prestige once again demonstrate their talent for finding players that fit their system, doing so this time to replace the retired Nicole.

Ending the first round, the Harrison Specters own a compensatory first-round pick. They'll look to replace the retired Lexi with the former Oceanside Wave Dewey with the 13th overall pick. Dewey was inconsistent over his three-year Waves tenure, with a poor 2019 being the final straw. Dewey has upside, and he'll serve in a supporting role on Twinkie II's Specters squad.

The Lumberjacks are back with the 14th overall pick, one of three second-round selections in the league this year. The Lumberjacks will replace the retired Gabe with Humanity Junior rookie Marissa. A fiery player with a flair for the dramatic, Marissa represents the total opposite of Vladimir, the Lumberjacks' earlier pick today. Marissa may need to reign in the creativity to fit in with her teammates, but the rookie should be a strong addition.

The Royal Crowns use their second-round compensatory pick to select rookie Sunshine with the 15th overall selection. Sunshine, an Enterprise commit, is a leader among the rookie class for his aggressive yet thoughtful playing style. He could be a future captain for the squad, but for now, Sunshine will look to help the Crowns offset the loss of the retired Cassie.

The Eastside Sharks are now on the clock for two picks. With the 16th overall pick, a compensatory selection acquired from the Pearl Surfers, the Sharks select rookie Lily. This is the second rookie the Sharks have taken to fill out what looks to be a young roster this year. Lily, like fellow draftee Toki, is a softer and more creative player. Lily will likely be more of a depth player than a young leader for the Sharks. The Sharks also selected Lily's brother, Maison, with the 17th overall pick. Maison, a third rookie, profiles as a tactically gifted player with a slightly strong propensity to lead. The Sharks will have three rookies and a sophomore under new captain Nightfur as they complete a wholesale change to their lineup.

The Southridge Defenders are on the clock for the 18th overall pick, acquired via trade from the Diamond Gems. The Defenders took former Pronger Trident Lize with the selection they gained by trading away Debby. Lize had an injury-plagued rookie year, but didn't show enough as a sophomore to be kept by the Tridents. She'll look for a fresh start with the Defenders, who have typically succeeded with young talent. Lize tends to play softer than expected due to her injury history.

The Web City Spiders open the fourth round by selecting Cubby with the 19th overall pick. Cubby, a journeyman from Forest SC, will join up with club-mate and new captain Jack on the squad. Cubby spent the last couple of years with the Eastside Sharks in a depth role, but will hope for a successful fresh start a bit farther north.

The Central Warriors will fill out their roster with the 20th overall pick. The Warriors picked up former Infinity Torpedo Mr. Snowman with the selection. Mr. Snowman will provide a veteran presence to the team, joining Graham as newcomers. Mr. Snowman likely has the least tough playing style on the team, but he's no pushover either. After a disappointing 2019, the Warriors will expect a lot of all players, new and old.

The Royal Crowns acquired the 21st overall pick in a trade with the Eastside Sharks. They'll use that pick to add Katelynn, a longtime league veteran most recently with the Diamond Gems. Katelynn was part of last year's three-team blockbuster, but she didn't stick on a rebuilding Gems squad. She'll add veteran depth and leadership that should provide a little creativity under Kayla's business-like captaincy.

The Stonebridge Wolves' have their natural fourth-round pick, selecting rookie Jane. The Humanity Junior commit will essentially replace club-mate Vladimir on the roster here. Jane projects as a supporting player with a knack for simple play, which fits right into Juno's vision for her team. Jane will look to have a good qualifying session, as the Wolves take pride in starting the year well.

The Diamond Gems get the 23rd pick to begin their rebuilding effort in earnest. They selected a journeyman, Salmo, with the pick. Salmo, mostly recently of the Southern Monarchs, didn't catch the train as his team shot to the top of the regular-season standings without him. The Gems will be his fourth team in as many years, and captain Shadow will not tolerate a lack of performance.

The Tysini Hummingbirds look to rebuild on the fly with the 24th overall pick, used on Outcast journeyman Hughbert, most recently of the Infinity Torpedoes. Hughbert has failed to make an impact at any of his stops in his career so far. He'll join a Hummingbirds team captained by Leandra, an intense player who has yet to truly unite a team. Hughbert projects as a direct replacement for the outgoing Paps.

The Infinity Torpedoes end the fourth round with the 25th pick. They selected rookie Blaze, a Youth Movement recruit. As the name suggests, Blaze brings a fiery attack to the Torpedoes. Blaze has a similar playing style to captain Smudge and star Fluffina, which makes him a good addition to the team attempting to push for the playoffs after 2019's narrow miss.

The Web City Spiders begin the fifth round with the 26th overall pick, selecting former Viewpoint Sound Meteors leader Nibbles. This addresses the lack of leadership around first-time captain Jack, as Nibbles is the leader of his Outcast club. The Spiders hope he's more than just good in that regard, as the inexperienced and largely unsuccessful squad tries to work back into competitiveness.

Another Northeastern team, the Everton Eagles, are next. They select Vincent, formerly of the Tysini Hummingbirds, to fill out their roster. An enigmatic pool player, Vincent can provide a challenge to the status quo of Goldy's leadership, which has come into question after the team missed the 2019 playoffs. Vincent, a third-year player on his third team, will hope he can get it right in the Northeast.

The Oceanside Waves look to fill out a fairly young roster with a second rookie, taking Humanity Junior recruit Megan with the 28th overall pick. Megan, like her cousin Sarah, provides energy and skill all in one. The Waves' rookie crop of Rocky and Megan should give the Waves a youthful feel as the Snuggle-led squad attempts to get back into contention.

The Stonebridge Wolves fill out their roster with the 29th overall pick, selecting former Everton Eagle Kirstin. A fifth-year veteran Kirstin brings a bit more spark to the roster than rookie fourth-round pick Jane. Kirstin may butt heads with captain Juno at times, but many will remember Kirstin was a fringe cut for the Eagles, who could be in line for a Ringer Award at the end of 2020.

The Todavía Stills look to add to a talenting but under-performing squad with the 30th pick. The Stills selected former Diamond Gems Pedey. This is a bargain pick for the Stills, as it was clear the veteran's time with the Gems was done by the end of the season. Pedey was never a bad player, but sometimes missed his potential. Even a good year could leave him as the Stills' fifth-best option, which could mean great things lie ahead for the Coastal powerhouse.

The Swordpoint Blades use their fifth-round pick to acquire Enterprise rookie Esmeralda. The most intriguing player in this year's rookie crop, Esmeralda also represents a bit of a risk for Snowball and co., any of whom could be in next year's draft if they have a down season. Esmeralda hasn't shown a knack for anything. She could end up being solid in all aspects or a disappointment. The Blades will hope for the former, as they've been treading water for years.

The Diamond Gems will fill out their roster with the 32nd overall pick. They'll turn to rookie Autumn for the task, electing to officially move on from former captain Smokey in the process. Autumn has the potential to be the most energetic player on a roster that also features Debby and Leonardo. The Humanity Junior rookie is going to be a big x-factor for the Gems, who really need to have a good year.

The Capital City Sharpshooters selected Paps with the 33rd overall pick. The former Hummingbird won't get back to his former team, as the Sharpshooters take a flier on the well-traveled veteran to fill out their roster. Paps has rarely been anything better than a No. 5 on his teams, and that seems to be the case again here as the Sharpshooters elected for a middle-of-the-road veteran.

The Tysini Hummingbirds complete their draft with the 34th overall pick. They'll pick up Sugar, the former Swordpoint Blade, in what's recently become a Southwestern shuffle. Sugar has played on many teams during her time; the Hummingbirds will be her fifth UPCL stop. The Hummingbirds elected to play it safe with Sugar and Hughbert as their draft additions, making the best of having just two late picks. Perhaps the team will show chemistry.

The Infinity Torpedoes conclude the Southwestern portion of the draft with the 35th overall pick, adding former Midland Predator Fuchsia to the fold. Fuchsia's three-year stay with the Predators started well and ended horribly, and she was a victim of the need to shake things up. Fuchsia has put in good efforts before and shouldn't be overlooked, as she'll likely compose the veteran depth with Shelley on the roster.

The Whitewater Shores are on the clock with the 36th overall pick. Their pick will strike the deepest, a huge bargain in adding former Diamond Gems captain Smokey. Under Smokey, the Gems and Shores engaged in some of the fiercest battles in the Bloodbath Derby. He'll now get to taste the rivalry from the other side, replacing Rosalina, who also made the switch between the two teams two years ago. Smokey's addition makes the Shores a team to watch in 2020.

It's been a long wait, but the home fans finally get to see the North Modernistic Nighthawks make their draft pick. At 37th overall, they selected former Eastside Shark Gizmo. This will be the Reality veteran's third team in his career. The Nighthawks can tout the reclamation effort on Lionel from last year as their ability to get more out of players. Gizmo replaces Luigi on the roster.

The Midland Predators fill out their roster with the 38th selection. They added former Web City Spider Chicky Phil to the squad. Chicky Phil has often found himself on the fringe of staying with team, but he was caught up in the Spiders' rebuild in 2019. He's a similar player to Fuchsia, who he replaced on the Predators roster, in that both don't typically separate themselves from the field.

The Viewpoint Sound Meteors look to add depth to their roster with the 39th overall pick. They selected former Stonebridge Wolf Cobalt to achieve that goal. Cobalt spent three years with the Wolves, often acting as Juno's second-in-command in the tightly-run organization. Life with the Meteors will be a bit more relaxed for Cobalt, who will look to improve on what club-mate Nibbles brought last year before his exit.

The Pronger Tridents' second pick of the day is the 40th overall, and the last true choice. The Tridents chose to go with a veteran, selecting former Todavía Still Prism here. Prism is on her third team in four years, as the Outcast veteran has struggled to perform consistently. The Tridents now have three Outcast players on their roster, as well as captain Precious and first-round selection Avril heading into 2020 with some question marks.

The Southern Monarchs ended up with rookie Molly with the 41st and final pick of the Tournament X draft. Molly, the sixth and final Enterprise rookie to be taken, will have a chip on her shoulder for being the last pick. Molly brings energy and excitement that may need to be refined into solid play, but a veteran Monarchs team will give her room to grow as she can only be a pleasant surprise based on her draft position.

For all live-action #UPCL needs, check out the official Twitter feed @UnitedPCL. The upcoming schedule is mostly non-website related. We'll be working on administrative/behind-the-scenes stuff in the next few days to prepare for the start of Qualifiers, likely on Monday.