Zeiko Lewis was chosen by the New York Red Bulls with the 17th overall pick in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

The Boston College graduate was selected as the second Bermudian to join the MLS franchise behind Khano Smith, who made eight appearances for the club in 2009, at the SuperDraft, held at the Los Angeles Convention Centre.

He is also the third member of his family behind grandfather Fred “Pinks” Lewis and great-uncle Eversley “Bo” Lewis to turn professional.

Addressing those gathered at yesterday’s MLS SuperDraft, Bermuda winger Lewis said: “I’d like to thank the New York Red Bulls for drafting me and glad they had faith in me. At least somebody at this Draft does, so I encourage everybody else to keep their head up.

“It’s a lot of people I’d like to thank. A lot of people back home and even at schools in America who were probably more nervous about this draft as I was.

“I’d like to thank my family and friends back home, my AL family all the way through my college career.

“My agent Niko has been there since probably my freshman year and probably Patrick as well.

“My Boston College family as well as my Berkshire [Berkshire School] family who have also helped me through the process and got me as far as I have at this time.

“There’s three people in particular that’s got me as far as I’ve been in my whole life and that will be my mom and my dad. They brought me into this world and they have threatened many times to take me out of it and so I am glad they kept me in it.

“And then my little sister of course. She’s definitely been somebody I’ve always had to try and impress, so I am just glad she’s in my life and just want to thank everybody who has got me here.”

Lewis felt he should have been an earlier pick.

“Being selected this late isn’t the end of the world,” the former Young Men’s Social Club player added. “It makes me have to prove everybody wrong for drafting me this late.”

Jesse Marsch, the Red Bulls head coach, said that Lewis is suited to their brand of football.

“Clearly he has personality, which you’re always looking for — young guys that aren’t afraid and are up for a big challenge,” he said. “But when you look at his overall athleticism, along with his soccer package, his ability to run, his ability to close things down, it naturally fits into the style that we play.

“He mentioned about being dropped in the Draft a bit and the fact that he was a foreigner I think meant that he was available for us, so we’re really excited. We ranked him in the top ten and to get him at 17, we feel very fortunate.”

Lewis impressed during the MLS Player Combine in Los Angeles, where he scored three goals in as many matches for Team Control.

The son of former top local player Troy Lewis enjoyed a successful collegiate career, earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference accolades in all four seasons he played at Boston College.

He earned All-ACC First Team honours as a senior and was a three-times second team member. He also won ACC Freshman of the Year honours in 2013. As a senior, Lewis led Boston College with seven goals and five assists.

Lewis thrived in the postseason, scoring all four of Boston’s goals in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments.

He scored three times in the ACC Championship, leading his college to the semi-finals, and then scored the only goal in their opening-round win against Fordham in the NCAA Tournament.