The Vancouver Whitecaps drafted to fill some needs on Thursday with their selections in the first two rounds of the 2015 SuperDraft.
Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson had previously highlighted three areas of his squad that he felt needed to be strengthened, telling reporters that he was looking in the wide area, at center back and on the forward line.
As a result, St. John's central defender Tim Parker, taken 13th overall, and UMBC forward Kay Banjo will be heading to Vancouver for the start of their preseason camp next weekend, much to Robinson's delight.
"They say that 13 is an unlucky number, but today it was our lucky number because we actually picked up the guy that I wanted out of the draft in Tim," Robinson joked with reporters following the draft. "We knew about Tim going into the Combine and he was arguably the best center back there. He's educated, he's cultured. I think the fair thing to say about him is he's a typical Whitecaps player.
"He fits the mold that I am and he also fits the mold that the club is," Robinson said. "He's very respectful, he's honest, he's hard working and I feel that he is MLS-ready now. I think he's got great attributes for a defender. It was the perfect fit for me."
Robinson looked to the attacking areas with his second round pick and selected UMBC forward Banjo, who can play as a striker as well as on the wing, after an impressive season that saw The Retrievers make the NCAA Final Four.
"I've seen exceptional talent in him, but I haven't seen enough consistency," Robinson said of Banjo. "It's a little project of ours and mine but it's one I'm excited for because I do see a lot of raw potential in him."
The Whitecaps will be fielding a USL PRO side this coming season, which will be seen as the ideal place for both Parker and Banjo's development. The big challenge now for both players is to break into the reckoning with the first team and it's a chance that Robinson will give both draftees, along with all of the younger players in his MLS squad.
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"That'll be dictated in preseason," Robinson stated. "I'm giving my young players an opportunity and guys in the draft today are going to be given those opportunities and it's down to them. If they can crack into the first team squad, then there certainly will be a position there for them. If they can't, and I feel they need a year in the USL for their development, then that's where they'll be."
Vancouver will look to add some more draft picks to their preseason camp in the third and fourth rounds of the SuperDraft next week, but Robinson indicated that he expects others to join them as he looks to finalize his strongest squad possible going in to First Kick against Toronto on March 7th.
"There will still be three or four more coming in," Robinson said after the draft. "Hopefully before preseason. If not, then during the start of preseason. There will be more faces."
