The Big South Posts Four Players in MLS Supplemental Draft

The Big South Conference had four players chosen in the MLS supplemental draft on Thursday afternoon. Coastal Carolina’s Mkhokheli Dube was the Big South’s highest pick as the New England Revolution choose him as the eighth pick in the first round. Liberty’s Adrian Bumbut went to the Chicago Fire as the 12th pick in the second round. In the third round, the New York Red Bulls chose Winthrop’s John Gilkerson as the seventh pick as teammate Saidi Isaac was the 13th pick in the round by the New England Revolution.

Dube ranked 14th in the NCAA in both points (2.21) and goals per game (0.65) and was named the Big South Conference Player of the Year.

Dube led the Big South during the regular season in points scored (27), while finishing second in goals (11) and third in assists (five). He was named the Big South Player of the Week a league-record four times this season and was also named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week, Oct. 7. He tallied five game-winning goals on the year. Dube was also First Team All-Conference selection for the second year in a row.

Dube led Coastal to a perfect 6-0 record in the Big South this season, helping CCU became just the fifth team in the history of the Big South to finish with a perfect conference record. The Bulawayo, Zimbabwe native totaled 16 goals and 10 assists in two season with the Chanticleers after transferring from NAIA powerhouse Lindsey Wilson.

Dube led the Blue Raiders to the 2005 NAIA championship, while earning a spot on the NAIA All-Tournament Team.

The Revolution fell in the MLS Cup, 2-1, as CCU alum Joseph Ngwenya (2000-03) netted a goal in the 61st minute to help propel the Houston Dynamo to the title.

Bumbut was selected in the second round of the 2008 Major League Soccer (MLS) Supplemental Draft.

Bumbut becomes the fourth Flames soccer player drafted by a MLS team. The forward was taken in the second round by the Chicago Fire, joining former Liberty teammate Osei Telesford. He joins Telesford, Darryl Roberts and Hollis Donaldson as Liberty players drafted by MLS squads. All four players have been selected in the past three years.

"The Liberty Soccer family is excited about Adrian being drafted by the Chicago Fire,” stated Flames Head Coach Jeff Alder. “They are a first-class enterprise, and I feel they will provide a great environment for him to grow as a player. Adrian has worked extremely hard to develop as a player and a person during his time at Liberty, and I feel he is getting rewarded for his efforts and faithfulness.”

Bumbut helped lead Liberty to its first-ever Big South Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Men’s College Soccer Cup this past season. The forward completed his career ranked fourth on the Liberty all-time points list with 79 markers, while tying for fourth on the school’s all-time goals list with 32. The Zalau, Romania native garnered All-South Atlantic Region second team honors this fall, after finishing tied for second in the Big South Conference with 29 points on 12 goals and five assists. His goal total also tied him for second on the conference’s goal list. Bumbut led the Flames in scoring for the third-straight year.

The forward was named an All-Big South first-team member this season and also was selected to the VaSID All-State first team. Bumbut led the conference with five game-winning goals, as the Flames posted a 13-5-2 record.

Bumbut, who graduated from Liberty in December, reports to training camp with the Fire next week.

Gilkerson was selected by the New York Red Bulls in the third round (35th overall) and Isaac was selected by the New England Revolution in the third round also (41st overall).

“We are all very pleased for both Saidi and John to receive this opportunity to play in Major League Soccer (MLS),” said head coach Rich Posipanko. “They have certainly worked very hard over their careers at Winthrop and in the PDL during the past three summers. Gilkerson is the best athlete I’ve ever coached in my 29 years and Isaac is one of the top goal scorers I have had the opportunity to coach. Both have a tremendous work rate and professional attitude and are very good players technically.”

Gilkerson was one of four players taken by the Red Bulls on Thursday. New York selected Danleigh Borman from Rhode Island, Michael Palacio of Stony Brook and Laurent Manuel from Brown.

The Winchester, VA native is a three-time All-Big South conference performer and finished with three goals and four assists in his career as a defender. He was a big part in the Eagle defense that ranked among the nation’s best in 2006 and 2007 and helped Winthrop to the 2006 Big South Conference championship. In 2007 he was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-South Atlantic Region Team. During the summer of 2007 he played for the Virginia Beach Submariners of the PDL and was a two-time PDL Team of the Week selection. He was also named to the Eastern Conference All-Conference Team.

Isaac was one of four players taken by the Revolution. Fellow Big South Conference member Kheli Dube of Coastal Carolina, Chris Tierney from Virginia and Kyle Altman from Trinity (TX) were also drafted.

The Eldoret, Kenya native was the 2006 Big South Conference Player of the Year after scoring 17 goals and dishing out six assists for 40 points as he helped Winthrop to its second conference championship in five years. He was also named to NSCAA/adidas South Atlantic Region First Team. He was named to College Soccer and TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the week for a four-goal performance in an 8-1 victory over conference foe Liberty. That performance also earned him National Player of the Week for Soccertimes.com. Isaac ranked 7th nationally in scoring and ninth in goals per game. As a senior, Isaac was named the Big South Conference Preseason Player of the Year, the College Soccer News Pre-Season All-America Team and named to the Herman Trophy Watch List. His production was down a little bit in as he continued to draw more and more attention each year from opposing defenses. Isaac scored 12 goals and had five assists for 29 points, which ranked second in the Big South. He finished 12th nationally in scing and goals per game. He was named to the All-Big South First Team for a third straight season, just the third player in school history to make First Team at least three times. He earned NSCAA/adidas All-South Atlantic Region Team again. He finished his career with 46 goals, which is the most scored by a Winthrop Eagle at the NCAA Division I level and tied for 7th all-time in the Big South. He also enjoyed a couple of nice seasons in the Premiere Development league with the Indiana Invaders. In 2007 he was named to the Central Conference All-Conference Team.

“With Marco Reda already playing in the MLS and both John and Saidi having the same opportunity, it is certainly an honor for Winthrop University and our soccer program to have players at the highest level. It is my understanding they will be leaving next week to join their respective teams for a short period of time, and then returning to finish their degree in May. We all wish them the best as they pursue their professional career.”

All MLS teams are eligible to begin preseason on field training on Jan. 26, but not all teams will report that day. The Revolutions starting date is Jan. 29, but the Red Bulls did not have their starting date posted.