NEW YORK – Three Maryland men's soccer players were selected for the second edition of the adidas MLS College Showcase, which will take place from Dec. 10-12 in conjunction with the 2021 NCAA Men's College Cup in Cary, N.C.

Freshman Joshua Bolma and junior Malcolm Johnston will fully participate in the showcase this weekend. Sophomore Ben Bender will attend the event, but will not participate in the on-field portion.  

This event will allow MLS clubs to scout and interact with potential MLS SuperDraft selections across different stages of their collegiate careers without jeopardizing players' collegiate eligibility. 

"I'm excited that Josh, Malcolm and Ben have been given the opportunity to explore their professional ambitions at the MLS College Showcase, while retaining their collegiate eligibility," Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski said. "All three are great representatives of our program on and off the field and they have very bright futures ahead of them."

Bolma, the 2021 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, excelled in his first season in College Park, scoring four goals and adding four assists. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and a United Soccer Coaches All-North Region second team pick. 

Johnston was one of the best midfielders in the Big Ten in 2021, combining with Bender as the more defensively focused part of their midfield pairing. He scored two goals, notched an assist and served as a team captain. Johnston's brother Alistair is a member of MLS club Nashville SC.  

Bender, recently named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, was the 2021 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year after leading the Terps with seven goals and five assists. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2021 after earning second-team and all-freshman honors in the 2020 season. 

The three-day event will give technical staffs from every MLS club an opportunity to scout top collegiate prospects in the nation, including players with remaining NCAA eligibility. The 2021 adidas MLS College Showcase will feature 44 top college players, ranging from freshman to graduate students, participating in a series of training sessions, testing, interviews, and match play.