Holness, Brett among MLS draft picks

Former National Under-17 and Wolmer's Boys captain Omar Holness was Real Salt Lake's main target, the club's general manager, Craig Waibel, confessed to MLSsoccer.com after the club got their man at the 2016 MLS Superdraft at the Baltimore Convention Centre on Thursday.

Another Jamaican, Neco Brett, was also drafted as a second-round pick for Portland Timbers.

According to Waibel, the club, which was handed the number-five overall pick this year, had a shortlist of five players they would select from, and they opted for the Generation Adidas midfielde, Holness.

Waibel insisted Holness was their preferred choice and was pleased they got their wish.

"We really liked our top-five guys, and we knew we'd get one of them. We ended up getting the one we really wanted, so it was great from our perspective," Waibel told MLSsoccer.com.

Holness also expressed great delight and excitement in joining the club.

"I'm feeling pumped. I'm feeling very happy. I'm not as nervous as I was before. It's the beginning of a new era for me, and I believe that with RSL I can help them and they can help me," he told the MLS website

Brett, who attends Robert Morris University, was drafted at number 20 in the second round and 40th overall. The former Excelsior High player, who became the first player to win the Northeast Conference Player of the Year three times, will likely start his career a tier down with the Timbers' United Soccer League team, as coach Caleb Porter said the club might choose to develop the attacker there.

The former national under-20 player had a very outstanding college career, becoming the first Colonials player named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division I All-America Third Team.

The 23-year-old ended his Robert Morris career with 100 points and 41 goals.