LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - For the second straight year a member of the UNLV men's soccer team was selected in the MLS SuperDraft, as the Colorado Rapids made Bradley Kamdem the 17th pick in the third round and the 58th choice overall on Tuesday morning. The third and fourth rounds of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft were conducted via a teleconference call after the first two rounds were held in Baltimore, Md., last week.
"It was very exciting and unexpected," said Kamdem on his third round spot in the draft. "After I did not get an invite to the MLS combine I didn't think I had a great chance in the draft, so I just came into today with my fingers crossed. Now I'm looking forward to joining the team and getting into the preseason and showing them what I can do. I'm excited to join the program as well, I've followed Colorado for the past few years and I know several of their players after we've played against them in the spring the last two years."
"We couldn't be more excited for this opportunity that has presented itself to Bradley," said UNLV head coach Rich Ryerson. "UNLV men's soccer has been very fortunate in the last two years with our success, and to now have players drafted in back-to-back years, the impact this will have on our program and recruitment will be huge. This also reaffirms the hard work being put in by the players, the staff and the support staff and the community to help our players reach their next level goals.
"For Bradley and his family this is an amazing opportunity for him to continue playing professional soccer. Our goal is always to produce good young men academically and athletically and I believe Bradley is a great example of what can be achieved in our program."
Kamdem, a 6-0 defender from Paris, France, was a big key to the Rebel defensive effort that posted five team shutouts and a 1.19 GAA in 2015. A three-year starter for the Rebels after spending his freshman season at Huntington University, he earned both all-region (second team) and All-WAC (first team) honors this past season. That came after a senior year in which he not only shined defensively, he also posted two goals and three assists and was named WAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 14.
Previous Rebels that were drafted include: Victor "Boomer" Arbelaez as the 30th pick in 2005, Rod Dyachenko as the 31st pick in 2006, Danny Cruz, 41st in 2008, and Salvador Bernal, 72nd in 2015. Bernal is currently a member of the Toronto FC program while Lamar Neagle, an undrafted free agent who has played the majority of his career with the Seattle Sounders, is now with the DC United squad.