Portland Timbers Take Dylan Tucker-Gangnes with 34th Pick in MLS Superdraft

Tucker-Gangnes, or DTG as he has already been dubbed, is a 6'3" central defender from the University of Washington where he played from 2009-2012, captaining the team in 2012.

In his last season with the Huskies, Tucker-Gangnes started eighteen games en route to being named to the All-Far-West-Region First Team, All-PAC-12 First Team, and being named an Honorable Mention All-PAC-12 Academic. Along the way he scored seven goals in league play for the Huskies, including several long distance free kicks and a number of set piece headers as befits a defender of his stature.

Tracked by many as a potential talent in the draft, DTG showed well at the MLS Combine when playing alongside top prospect, and eventual number one pick, Andrew Farrell in the center of the defense. After the combine Tucker-Gangnes was listed going as high as the 13th pick in MLSsoccer.com's mock drafts, although some speculated his good showing was buoyed by playing alongside Farrell.

In DTG, the Timbers have a calm and composed defender who can pass out of the back and play with the ball at his feet at the college level as well as a player with the height and leaping ability to dominate the aerial game. If he can adapt to the speed of the professional level with those abilities intact then DTG could be an excellent pick up for the future of the Timbers' back line.

Tucker-Gangnes is the second player from Washington State drafted by the Timbers since joining Major League Soccer in 2011. The Timbers also drafted Washington native Doug Herrick in 2012, although he never signed with the team.

Current Timbers forward Brent Richards played alongside Tucker-Gangnes at the University of Washington from 2009-2011.

Highlights

From MLSsoccer.com:

From youtube:

The Portland Timbers press release:

TIMBERS SELECT DYLAN TUCKER-GANGNES IN 2013 MLS SUPERDRAFT

Portland selects Timbers U-23s product, University of Washington standout with lone pick in SuperDraft

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Portland Timbers today selected defender Dylan Tucker-Gangnes, a product of the Portland Timbers U-23s and a standout at the University of Washington, in the 2013 Major League Soccer SuperDraft held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind.

Portland selected Tucker-Gangnes with the No. 34 overall pick in the second round and he was the club’s only pick in the 2013 SuperDraft. The Timbers acquired the selection Thursday morning prior to the draft in a trade with the San Jose Earthquakes.

“Dylan played for the Timbers U-23s – a good, solid player and is a good distributor of the ball,” said Gavin Wilkinson, Timbers general manager. “Caleb was very impressed with him and followed his college career. We have several coaches that have worked with Dylan and spoke very highly of him. We are delighted to keep him in Portland.”

“We are pleased that we got a quality player in Dylan that comes from a good program, was the captain of his college team, and is a product of our U-23s,” said Timbers head coach Caleb Porter. “He fits a need that we have and can provide depth at the center back position. Dylan fits our style, he’s a player that can play out of the back and he is a winner.”

Tucker-Gangnes played for the Timbers U-23s during the 2011 Premier Development League season. He started 13 regular-season games, logging 1,047 minutes and scoring two goals, and ranked among team leaders in both games played and minutes. Tucker-Gangnes was a part of the 2011 squad that helped the Timbers U-23s qualify for their first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

“If I could have chosen any team to go to, it would have been Portland, and I am absolutely thrilled to be selected by the club,” said Tucker-Gangnes. “Now, the hard work begins to prove my selection.”

A native of Bainbridge Island, Wash., Tucker-Gangnes was a two-year captain and a two-time All-Pac-12 selection at the University of Washington. As a senior in 2012, he appeared in 19 games, recording seven goals, and guided the Huskies to the second round of the NCAA tournament. He received NSCAA All-Far West Region honors and was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team, while helping Washington lead the conference with nine shutouts during the regular season.

Tucker-Gangnes played 72 matches during his collegiate career, recording 14 goals and nine assists. He was also a two-time Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention and was an all-conference honorable mention following his sophomore season in 2010.

Additionally, two former members of the Portland Timbers U-23s were selected in the first round of the 2013 SuperDraft. Forward Erik Hurtado, a Beaverton, Ore., native, was selected No. 5 overall by Vancouver Whitecaps FC, while forward Emery Welshman, a standout at Oregon State University, was picked No. 16 overall by Toronto FC.

Dylan Tucker-Gangnes
Position: Defender
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Born: Oct. 3, 1989
Hometown: Bainbridge Island, Wash.
College: University of Washington
Citizenship: United States