Three C-USA Players Selected in MLS Draft

CHICAGO - Three Conference USA players, all of whom led their teams to conference championships, were chosen in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft on February 6. An additional six former C-USA stars were selected in the A-League's annual player selection meeting.

The 1999 Conference USA Player of Year, forward Peter Byaruhanga of UAB, was a second round selection of the Kansas City Wizards. The 15th overall pick, Byaruhanga became the first UAB player to be selected in the MLS Draft. He owned the nation's longest goal scoring streak in 1999 (14 consecutive matches) and ranks second in the NCAA record book for consecutive games with at least one goal. Byaruhanga was a first team All-American selection by College Soccer Online and was named a Soccer America Most Valuable Player.

Saint Louis star forward Jeff DiMaria was the next player chosen in the MLS draft, going to the Colorado Rapids with the second pick of the third round, number 26 overall. DiMaria's postseason accolades included being named to both the National Soccer Coaches Association first-team All-American squad and to the first-team Scholar Athlete team. He also was named Conference USA first-team All-Conference. He was named Most Valuable Player in the three regular-season tournaments in which the Billikens participated and was the Most Valuable Midfielder at the C-USA postseason tournament.

The final C-USA selection in the MLS draft was South Florida forward Brian Waltrip, who went across town to the Tampa Bay Mutiny with the sixth selection (54th overall) in the fifth round. Waltrip was the 1998 Conference USA Player of the Year after ranking second in the league in scoring while leading the Bulls to the regular season and tournament championships. Waltrip battled through an injury-filled 1999 campaign, but still closed out his career ranked in USF's all-time top 10 in assists (third with 35) and points (eighth with 101).

The annual A-League draft saw seven players that hail from five different schools being taken. Memphis goalkeeper Brian Covey was chosen first by the Tennessee Rhythm in the Territorial Round. The league then had five first round selections, led by South Florida's Alvero brothers. Forward Kevin Alvero went to the Richmond Kickers with the third pick of the first round, while midfielder Brian Alvero was taken by the Toronto Lynx with the very next pick. Saint Louis forward Jeff DiMaria was taken by the Raleigh Capital Express at pick No. 14. The Milwaukee Rampage selected DiMaria's teammate, midfielder Vedad Alagic at No. 17, while the Indiana Blast followed by taking UAB midfielder Justin Pratt with the No. 18 pick. Rounding out the league's selections was Marquette forward Nate Winkel, the 33rd overall pick of the Minnesota Thunder.