WASHINGTON, January 17, 2013 — Looking to shore up the left-back role,D.C. United selected University of Maryland left-sided defender Taylor Kemp with the 17th overall selection in the first round of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft in Indianapolis on Thursday. Daniel Woolard is the only other left-back listed on United’s roster.
The New England Revolution caused a surprise as the draft that acquired the first overall pick from Toronto FC. With the top pick, New England chose defender Andrew Farrell from Louisville.
Kemp, who hails from Highlands Ranch, Colo., has been a key player on a top-ranked Maryland squad for all his college career. In his senior year in 2012 he battled a sport hernia injury but recovered to help Maryland reached the semifinals of the College Cup.
“We believe we took the best left back at the combine,” said D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen. “Taylor is a local kid and we have watched him for several years now and we are very excited to have him join us in a couple days.
Kemp will join fellow Maryland defender Ethan White on United’s backline.
“We’re very excited to be adding a natural left sided defender,” said D.C. United general manager Dave Kasper. “Taylor is coming from one of the top programs in the country where he has played in many meaningful games over his four-year career. Taylor is a very intelligent, technical player who can defend and get forward in the attack and will provide cover for us on the left side.”
The Facts on Taylor Kemp
Name: Taylor Kemp
Position: Defender
Height: 5-11
Weight: 153
Jersey: —
Date of birth: July 23, 1990
Age: 22
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Citizenship: United States
College: University of Maryland
Acquired: Obtained on January 17, 2013
John Haydon wrote a weekly soccer column for The Washington Times. He has covered two World Cups and written about Major League Soccer from the league’s inception in 1996.
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