Timbers draft pair of forwards

In forward Ben Polk, the Portland Timbers selected a player who helped Syracuse reach the national semifinals in his one season playing for the Orangemen. The Timbers nabbed Polk on Thursday with the 20th pick of the first round of the MLS SuperDraft.
Polk, 23, scored 12 goals and added four assists for Syracuse, including the goal that from a corner kick that beat Boston College and sent the Orangemen to the final four where they lost a penalty-kick shootout to Clemson.
A left-footed player, Polk called center forward his best position. “But I am willing to learn, willing to be coached,” he said.
The Timbers have Fanendo Adi and Jack McInerney as experienced MLS center forwards, and 19-year-old Jamaican Michael Seaton is a young prospect up front. It is likely that Polk plays for Timbers 2 in the United Soccer League in his first professional season. At 5-foot-9, Polk could wind up being a left-side attacker as a professional.
“Scoring goals is my job,” he said.
With their second pick of the day — 40th overall — the Timbers selected Neco Brett, a speedy attacker who has played for Jamaica internationally at the under-20 and under-17 level. Brett figures to spend 2016 with T2.
Polk said he did not have contact with the Timbers prior to the draft and he was surprised it was Portland that picked him. Polk said he is thrilled to be joining the MLS Cup champions.
Polk said the one thing he knows of Portland is the Timbers Army and he is looking forward to scoring goals in front of the team’s supporters.
Born in Arizona, Polk is a United States citizen who grew up in Saudi Arabia and in England. He came to America in 2013, playing two seasons of community college soccer before landing at Syracuse. His soccer career included time as a youth in Oxford United’s youth academy. But at 13 he moved out of his mother’s home to live with the family of a good friend because his mother had a drinking problem.
His soccer future was uncertain until a teacher told Polk about the opportunity to play college soccer in the United States. Given his journey, Polk said he became a bit emotional when he heard his name called on Thursday.
“It was a pretty surreal experience,” Polk said. “I’m grateful that Portland has the confidence in me.”
The Timbers second pick on Thursday was also a compact attacking player. Brett, 5-foot-8, scored 41 goals in four seasons at Robert Morris. He was the Northeastern Conference player of the year three times and in 2015 was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division I All-America third team.
Prior to the draft, Timbers coach Caleb Porter said the team was looking to select players with the potential to eventually develop into first-team contributors. Porter also noted that the Timbers have already added young pieces this offseason with the acquisitions of McInerney, 23, and left back Zarek Valentin, 24.
The final two rounds of the college draft take place on Tuesday by conference call. The Timbers hold picks 61 and 81. Among the players eligible to be drafted is Union High School graduate Mikhail Doholis.