MLS Commissioner Don Garber added D.C. United teen star Santino Quaranta and Mexican international Luis Hernandez of the Los Angeles Galaxy to the East and West squads, respectively, for the 2001 MLS All-Star Game in San Jose on Saturday, July 28 (ABC, 3:30 pm ET). Quaranta becomes the youngest All-Star in MLS history, while the 32-year-old Hernandez will represent the West All-Stars for the second consecutive summer. Quaranta is believed to be the youngest player selected for an American sports all-star game. He surpasses 18-year-old D.C. United teammate Bobby Convey as the youngest player ever named to an MLS all-star team. Convey was named as a starter for the East squad last week but will be unable to participate in the game due to injury. The U.S. U-17 star has five goals and one assist. The Baltimore product is on pace to challenge for the league’s rookie scoring record, set by Clint Mathis, who finished the 1998 season with 20 points for Los Angeles. Hernandez, Mexico’s all-time leading scorer, has already notched a three two-goal outings in only 10 MLS appearances this season. Since Hernandez (8 goals, 1 assist) returned to MLS action on May 19 after leading Club America to the semifinals of the Mexican First Division’s Torneo de Verano, the Galaxy has garnered 17 points and catapulted itself back into contention with the San Jose Earthquakes for the top spot in the Western Division. With the starting lineups for the East and West teams already selected directly by the fans and the announcement of the “Commissioners Picks,” it leaves All-Star head coaches Bob Bradley (West-Chicago Fire) and Ray Hudson (East-Miami Fusion), with the responsibility of selecting the reserves. Additional players on each team will be chosen in conjunction with the league office, to complete the two final 20-man active rosters that will be named on Tuesday, July 24.
