Portland Timbers Select Michael Amick with No. 32 Pick in 2017 MLS SuperDraft

The Portland Timbers made their big splash early in the draft when they traded up to take Jeremy Ebobisse with the No. 4 pick. Now Ebobisse has some company in the Timbers’ rookie class after Caleb Porter and company took UCLA center back Michael Amick with the No. 32 pick.

The Bruins’ captain since his sophomore year and a regular contributor since he was a freshman, Amick played 73 games over the course of his four years with the Bruins.

Standing 6’0”, Amick is a defender that replies on positioning and smarts rather thank sheer physicality to win the ball, something born out in his six shots taken over the last four years. Some think that Amick might project as a defensive minded full back at the pro level; a versatile defender in the mold of the Timbers’ own Zarek Valentin.

How Amick will fit in with the Timbers remains to be seen — he was not signed to a contract with MLS before the draft and could end up with T2 in a full-time capacity if he does not get a first team contract. If Amick does stick with the Timbers’ first team, however, he will find himself in competition with two highly rated youngsters in Rennico Clarke at center back and Marco Farfan at left back.

What do you think of the pick? Let us know in the comments.