MLS Draft Roundup

Two Huskies Among Local Players Chosen

January 18, 2008

BALTIMORE -- Revolution selections Michael Videira (Milford, Mass.) and Matthew Britner (Brown University) weren't the only players with local ties selected in the MLS Draft. Four other area players -- led by UConn defender and No. 9 overall pick Julius James -- were chosen Friday.

Toronto FC picked James with the ninth pick in the first round, then used its 10th pick on Wake Forest midfielder and Enfield, Conn., native Pat Phelan. James' teammate, UConn forward Ryan Cordeiro, went to D.C. United in the third round (33rd overall) and University of Rhode Island midfielder Geoff Cameron was selected by two-time defending MLS champs Houston Dynamo with the last pick in the third round (42nd overall).

UConn's Julis James was chosed by Toronto FC with the ninth pick in the MLS SuperDraft.

James becomes UConn's fourth first-round draft pick and the 16th Husky player to enter the MLS ranks since the league's inception in 1996. He joins Maurice Edu, last year’s number one pick, and Phelan in Toronto. James, the second three-time All-American in UConn history, wrapped up his stunning four-year career with the Huskies as a M.A.C. Hermann Trophy semifinalist and Lowe's Senior CLASS Award finalist, as well as the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season.

He anchored of the UConn defense that posted 14 shutouts, including four in the postseason, and a 0.53 goals-against average for the year. He played every minute of the season at center back, tallying the game-winning goal against Syracuse and a goal and an assist against Louisville in the BIG EAST Semifinals.

Phelan, a former member of Connecticut's Oakwood Soccer Club, was most recently named an NSCAA First Team All-American, as voted by NSCAA coaches. Phelan splashed onto the Wake Forest soccer scene in 2004, entering as 2003 Gatorade Player of the Year. The Enfield, Conn. native started in 18 games his first season, started all contests in 2005 and played in 17 games in the team's 2006 breakthrough season. As a member of the defensive line, Phelan helped post a record-setting 13 shutouts last year and followed up with an incredible 15 shutouts in 2007.

Cordeiro finished his four-year career with 18 goals and 19 assists, including 10 assists as a senior. He was named Second Team All-BIG EAST and Second Team All-Northeast in 2007 after scoring four game-winning goals and finishing second on the team in scoring behind O’Brian White.

Cameron, a 2007 NSCAA All-Mid Atlantic Region First Team selection, received the Atlantic 10 Conference's inaugural Midfielder of the Year award this season, after tallying two goals and three assists. He also earned Preseason All-Conference honors.

(For the full 2008 MLS Draft, click here.)