USF Men’s Soccer Javain Brown and Avionne Flanagan Drafted in MLS SuperDraft

Although USF men’s soccer season was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pushed into the spring, that didn’t stop two superstar defenders from being drafted in the first round during the MLS SuperDraft.

Up first was Javain Brown, who was selected with the 23rd overall pick by the Vancouver Whitecaps.

With Brown’s selection in the first round, this marked the first time since 2014 when Ben Sweat was selected 14th overall to Columbus Crew that a Bull was selected in the first round.

A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Brown made his impact felt in his only season with the USF after redshirting his freshman year. In his sophomore year, Brown help guide a group that yielded 1.26 goals per game. On the offensive side, Brown scored three goals on 11 shots for the year, including a smooth header against FGCU last year.

During the season, Brown received Defensive Player of the Week honors by the conference three times, named to the All-AAC First Team, All-AAC rookie team.

Shortly after Brown was taken by Vancouver, FC Cincinnati selected Avionne Flanagan with their 29th overall selection.

Flanagan was a part of that aforementioned stingy defensive group that held USF’s opponents to well below their scoring averages all season long. However, Flanagan’s force was felt on the offensive end, putting him third on the team in points scored with nine points (one goal, seven assists). Much like Brown, Flanagan was honored with first-team All-AAC and was listed on the honor roll once last season.

In all, USF had four players available in the pool of eligible draftees, with Adrian Billhardt and Josue Monge joining Flanagan and Brown.