PITTSBURGH (March 2, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2 has confirmed its first player for the new team’s debut season in USL League Two, securing a commitment from High Point University midfielder and 2026 MLS SuperDraft pick Koven Johnson.
Johnson was a third-round selection of the Colorado Rapids but elected to return to school for his junior season with the Panthers, opening the door for the Pittsburgh native to return home and compete in League Two.
“We’re excited to welcome Koven to the Riverhounds organization as the first-ever player to sign for our USL2 team. Koven had a stellar season at High Point in 2025, and we identified him early in the process as someone who could help us establish Riverhounds 2 as a legitimate pathway to professional opportunities in the USL, MLS and leagues around the world,” Sporting Director Dan Visser said.
Johnson appeared in all 20 games last fall for High Point, starting 17 of them, and he helped lead the Panthers to the Big South Conference title, a 14-2-4 record and their first-ever NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearance.
Prior to college, Johnson was a standout player at Shady Side Academy before leaving the area to attend the Barça Residency Academy in Arizona for his final two years of high school. As a young player, he also participated in Riverhounds Academy training programs, and now he will be the first to suit up for the newest team in the Hounds organization.
Riverhounds 2 will begin its inaugural season on Sunday, May 17, when the team hosts the Cleveland Force in a 4 p.m. match at Highmark Stadium. Hounds 2 news can be found online at riverhounds.com/hounds-2-news, and on social media @RiverhoundsTwo.
