Julius James; Ryan Cordeiro Selected In MLS SuperDraft

BALTIMORE, Md. (January 18, 2007) - University of Connecticut men's soccer All-American Julius James (Maloney Gardens, Trinidad) and Ryan Cordeiro (Highland Mills, N.Y.) were selected in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC and DC United, respectively, from the site of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) convention Friday. Taken with the ninth overall pick, James becomes UConn's fourth first-round draft pick, while Cordeiro went with the 33rd overall selection as the 17th Husky player to enter the MLS ranks since the league's inception in 1996.

James will join Maurice Edu, last year’s number one pick, in Toronto, as well as Wake Forest’s Pat Phelan, who was taken with this year's No. 10 draft pick. Phelan is an Enfield, Conn., native and former member of the Oakwood Soccer Club.

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.

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 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy winner O’Brian White (Scarborough, Ontario).

DC United finished the 2007 regular season in first place before advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where it felt to the Chicago Fire.
 

UConn All-Time MLS Draft Picks Year     Player                     Round             Pick        Team 1999     Bobby Rhine           1st              6th        Dallas            Maurizio Rocha        Project-40                Miami 2001     Brent Rahim            4th             45th      Los Angeles 2002     Chris Gbandi           1st              1st        Dallas            Sam Forko              3rd              30th      NY-NJ            Mansour Ndiaye       1st              7th        NY-NJ            Bryheem Hancock    2nd              22nd     Los Angeles 2003     Shavar Thomas       1st              10th      Dallas            Damani Ralph          2nd              18th      Chicago 2004     Lindon Pecorelli       3rd              30th      San Jose 2005     Easton Wilson         4th              38th      New England            Esteban Arias*        3rd              33rd      Chivas USA 2006     Mpho Moloi*           1st              7th        Houston            Willis Forko*            2nd             14th      Salt Lake 2007     Kevin Burns*          4th              50th      Columbus 2008     Julius James           1st               9th       Toronto            Ryan Cordeiro         3rd               33rd      DC United      *Supplemental Draft picks