HARRISON, N.J. – Red Bull II has signed defender Rece Buckmaster to a United Soccer League Championship contract, the club announced Tuesday.

Buckmaster, 22, was a four-year letterman at Indiana University, where he appeared in 82 matches for the Hoosiers. The midfielder recorded five goals and 12 assists in his career at Indiana. Buckmaster was named second team All-Big Ten in 2018 and led Indiana to back-to-back national championship appearances.

“Rece impressed us at the MLS Combine and quickly became a player that we wanted to have at our club,” NYRB II head coach John Wolyniec said. “We were excited to be able to draft him and he has proven us right with his individual defending and tactical adaptability. The staff believes he can contribute at the MLS level sooner rather than later.”

Buckmaster was selected by the Red Bulls with the 32nd overall pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. Buckmaster participated in both preseason camps held in Bradenton, Florida and Tucson, Arizona.

New York Red Bulls II open up the season against Swope Park Rangers at MSU Soccer Park on the campus of Montclair State University March 9 at 1 p.m.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.