The news broke yesterday that Maryland Bobcats midfielder Nico Brown had been transferred to USL League One side Greenville Triumph. The move was not unique for the up and coming league, but certainly is only the second or third time that a NISA player has transferred to a USL club. For many it’s a sign that the league is maturing into a real option for players looking to make the jump into the professional game and a potential talent market for other clubs to be shopping. Brown’s transfer follows Detroit City FC’s Matt Lewis short-term loan this summer to USL Championship club El Paso Locomotive. Clearly USL knows NISA has talent.

Certainly for Maryland Bobcats’ GM Evan Raimist, it’s all part of the plan. “We’ve always said that we want to be a stepping stone for players - a place to kickstart their career. Guys can stay here their whole career or play for us, show what they can do, and move on. It’s all about giving guys chances and having them perform.” According to the Bobcats’ press release, Brown had made two appearances for the club this season, playing 90 minutes in both matches.

Evan described how the transfer came about. “Greenville and [Head Coach] John Harkes had known about/been interested in Nico prior to us signing him, so they’d been tracking him. They reached out to Nico’s agent who reached out to me to start negotiations. Of course, we checked with Nico and wanted to know what he wanted to do. We wouldn’t have done anything without Nico’s approval or input.” The transfer included an undisclosed fee paid by Greenville. “Harkes and Greenville were great in agreeing to that and understanding we wanted one and felt like we deserved one. They didn’t just come in and expect is to hand him over.”

Brown was glowing about his time with Maryland. “Being on the Bobcats during the Spring and beginning of the Fall NISA season was a good opportunity for me personally to make my professional debut and improve. I am very grateful for my opportunity at the Bobcats and I wish them the best of luck in the future!” To their credit, Triumph highlighted Brown’s time with Maryland Bobcats in its press release, even mentioning his playing time in the NISA Independent Cup. Recognition of Maryland’s role in his talent development is an important step by any measure. His transfer bodes well for his future and a potential future for Maryland’s players looking to continue their professional careers in the sport.

- Dan Vaughn