Canadians Ryan James, Josh Heard taken in conclusion of MLS SuperDraft

Ryan James (left) is shown in action for Bowling Green University in a handout photo. (Bowling Green University / The Canadian Press)

TORONTO -- Canadian midfielders Ryan James and Josh Heard were chosen by Sporting Kansas City and the Vancouver Whitecaps, respectively, as the MLS SuperDraft concluded Tuesday.

James, a 21-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., who played at Bowling Green, was taken in the third round (52nd overall) while Heard, a 21-year-old who played for the Washington Huskies, went in the fourth round (71st overall).

Both players were invited to the MLS Combine although Heard had to sit it out due to a hernia.

UNLV defender Bradley Kamdem, who was born in France but spent time growing up in Calgary, was taken in the third round (58th overall) by the Colorado Rapids.

The first two rounds of the drafts went last Thursday in Baltimore. Toronto's Richie Laryea, a midfielder from the University of Akron, was the only Canadian taken -- seventh overall by Orlando City.

The third and fourth rounds were completed via telephone Thursday.

Vancouver took fellow University of Washington midfielder James Moberg (50th overall) in the third round and St. Louis University midfielder/defender Tyler David (77th overall) in the fourth.

Heard and Moberg played with Whitecaps FC2 goalkeeper Spencer Richey with the Huskies.

The Montreal Impact chose South Florida defender Brendan Hines-Ike in the third round (55th overall) before passing in the fourth round.

Toronto FC selected Rutgers midfielder Mitchell Taintor in the third round (59th overall) and UMBC forward Darius Madison (70th overall) and Penn State midfielder Brian James (80th) in the fourth.

Vancouver goalkeeper Callum Irving, a first-team all-American at the University of Kentucky who signed a contract with the league prior to the draft, was not chosen. Five goalkeepers were taken in the first four rounds.