MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Select Jean-Baptiste, King in 2012 MLS SuperDraft

Published on January 12, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Portland Timbers today selected defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste and midfielder Brendan King in the 2012 Major League Soccer SuperDraft held at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Mo.

The Timbers selected Jean-Baptiste from the University of Connecticut with the No. 8 overall pick and selected King from the University of Notre Dame in the second round (No. 27 overall).

"We had identified the players we were after," said Timbers General Manager Gavin Wilkinson. "With our No. 8 pick, we definitely wanted to add a quality piece, and I think we got that with Andrew. He was a player that we identified and a player that we wanted. It was good that he fell to the No. 8 spot and we were able to acquire him."

"It's a special time in their young career when they get picked, to sign on as a professional soccer player if that's their dream," said John Spencer, Timbers head coach. "So for me, it's enjoy the moment. They'll have a week to 10 days with family and friends back home and then it's get into Portland, get yourself ready and based there, and let's try to make a run at the playoffs this year."

A member of Generation adidas, Jean-Baptiste, 19, played two collegiate seasons at Connecticut, appearing in 45 games and recording three goals and two assists. As a sophomore, the Brentwood, N.Y., native anchored the Husky's backline that allowed just 10 goals and recorded a program-record 16 shutouts in 2011. Jean-Baptiste led Connecticut to the finals of the BIG EAST championship tournament and the semifinals of the 2011 NCAA tournament.

Following the season, Jean-Baptiste was named the BIG EAST Conference Defensive Player of the Year, received Soccer America second-team MVP honors and earned a spot on the NSCAA All-Northeast Region first team. He was a member of the U.S. U-20 National Team player pool in 2010.

"Very excited," said Jean-Baptiste on being selected by Portland. "I have a lot of adrenaline rushing through my body. I just feel like I want to get to the team and get started bonding with my teammates, so we can start a good season."

King, 21, played in all 18 matches and registered a goal and two assists for the University of Notre Dame as a senior in 2011, helping the team reach the BIG EAST championship tournament. During his collegiate career, King played in 81 matches and recorded six goals and 14 assists for the Fighting Irish and was three-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star.

From Naperville, Ill., King was a member of the U.S. U-17 Residency Program in 2007 and played in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

The 2012 MLS SuperDraft consisted of two rounds and 38 total players were selected. MLS expansion side the Montreal Impact held the No. 1 overall pick and selected forward Andrew Wenger from Duke University.

Timbers 2012 MLS SuperDraft Selections:

Andrew Jean-Baptiste

Pronunciation: zhahn-bap-TEEST

Position: Defender

Height: 6-2

Weight: 205

Born: June 16, 1992

Hometown: Brentwood, N.Y.

College: University of Connecticut

Citizenship: United States

Brendan King

Position: Midfield

Height: 6-0

Weight: 160

Born: Feb. 25, 1990

Hometown: Naperville, Ill.

College: University of Notre Dame

Citizenship: United States

Timbers 2012 MLS SuperDraft Quote Sheet

General Manager Gavin Wilkinson

On selecting Jean-Baptiste: "With our No. 8 pick, we definitely wanted to add a quality piece, and I think we got that with Andrew. He was a player that we identified and a player that we wanted. It was good that he fell to the No. 8 spot and we were able to acquire him. I think we need a little bit of depth in that position, with David Horst just having surgery. And with what we are looking to do with the Reserve team, with the Reserve team being an exact model of the first team, he's going to be given plenty of opportunity."

Scouting Jean-Baptiste: "He's got the raw elements of a great central defender - very athletic, very disciplined, tactically aware - and we see his ceiling as being very, very high. He's a very young, aggressive defender that fits the way that we play."

On the selection of King: "With what we were looking at in that position is versatility, being able to balance out the squad and being able to provide depth in numerous positions. We also wanted a player that we feel could be capable. So with King, we want to get him into camp see how he looks and see how he adjusts to a professional environment."

On scouting King: "We were aware of (King). Bobby Clark, the head coach at Notre Dame, is someone I have had a long relationship with, John Spencer knows him, assistant coach Amos Magee has worked with him numerous times in the past. King is a player we had some background information on and he's a player we watched closely coming into the SuperDraft. We have seen him play before, we watched him again and we were impressed."

Head coach John Spencer

On Jean-Baptiste: "First and foremost, I think he has all the tools required to play in the modern game - good size, good pace for a defender and very strong. Not many people out-run him. I think he's come out of a good program at Connecticut and we're delighted to have him. I think you've always got to be looking forward as a club, too, bringing in young players and try to bleed them into the system."

On what the Timbers were looking for in the draft: "We had two guys that we thought we might have a shot at getting today, and we got the No. 1 that we went after. With David Horst's injury and him going out for five to six months, it's a big loss to us, so we're going to have to try and strengthen that area."

On King: "He's another young player that impressed Amos Magee on his travels. Amos saw him play in a couple of games; he's versatile, can play in the midfield and in the wide areas also. For us, he's a good young player with potential, so we'll see what happens when we get into camp, have a look at him and go from there."

Andrew Jean-Baptiste

On being selected by Portland: "Very excited. I have a lot of adrenaline rushing through my body. I just feel like I want to get to the team and get started bonding with my teammates, so we can start a good season.

"I hadn't met with the Portland coaching staff (before the SuperDraft). So, it's a little bit of a surprise for me. But the fact that they took me, I appreciate it. I'm just going to do whatever I can."

On the combine and SuperDraft experience: "It's been very exciting. For the past three days I couldn't sleep; I didn't fall asleep until four or five in the morning because I was so anxious to be called out here."

On the Northwest: "I've always heard of Oregon. I know the fans are very supportive and that's what I look forward to. I love a good fan base."

On being of Haitian decent and playing with new teammate James Marcelin: "It's the first time I'm actually going to play with another Haitian other than my brother. It is going to be very exciting. I need to learn how to speak Creole, so that's one thing that we are going to be practicing other than our foot skills at the stadium."

On the atmosphere at JELD-WEN Field: "I've seen the stadium, I've seen the fans. It's so alive. That's one thing that I love, is playing in front of a lively fan base - it's just part of my comfort zone. I'm going to love it when I get there."

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Major League Soccer Stories from January 12, 2012


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