NYCFC Select Midfielder Jalen Brown with Second Round Pick

With their second round pick (38th overall), New York City FC have selected midfielder Jalen Brown from Xavier University.

Brown is a 5’10”, 170lb midfielder who played in 80 matches over his four years at Xavier, earning his way onto the Big East All Rookie team his freshman year. He played in 19 matches his senior season, netting a career high six goals and three assists.  Xavier coach Andy Fleming had this to say to Patrick Brennan of the Cincinnati Enquirer:

“For Jalen, this is well deserved. There’s no question he has MLS-level talent and when he’s locked into both sides of the ball and plays the way he can, I expect to see his name called on draft day. His (explosiveness), ability to beat players and play in combination are at a high level.”

Jalen joins first round picks Jonathan Lewis and Kwame Awuah in filling out the previously thin NYCFC midfield – an area Claudio Reyna and Patrick Vieira have clearly seen as the team’s biggest need this offseason.

NYCFC will finish out their draft on Tuesday, when rounds three and four of the draft will be completed via teleconference.