Who are Tim Parker and Kay Banjo?
In short, they’re the two players who Vancouver Whitecaps FC selected in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. But chances are you already knew that.
So after speaking to each of their university coaches, we’ve compiled the following information to help you get to know them a little better – on and off the field.
TIM PARKER (CENTRE BACK - 13TH OVERALL)
SCOUTING REPORT:
“A very strong, athletic, technically sound defender … has good speed, good agility, is strong in the air and has a great physical presence … can cover a lot of space … a very smart player … a very good person and a great teammate … somebody who wants to learn and get better … always has the right mentality about working hard every day and training hard every day.” – St. John’s head coach Dave Masur
NEED TO KNOW:
-
Earned Big East honours in each of his four seasons at St. John’s University, including first-team nods as a junior and senior.
-
Helped lead St. John’s to three NCAA Tournament appearances and a Big East Tournament title.
-
Started 79 of St. John’s 80 matches over the last four years, anchoring a back line that posted 30 clean sheets. “Tim’s been a mainstay for us – somebody who came in and was highly-recruited,” said St. John’s head coach Dave Masur. “He didn’t come in with a tremendous amount of fanfare but he certainly established himself from day one.”
- Recorded a goal and an assist in each of his four seasons.
INTERESTING FACTS:
-
Didn’t miss one practice in four years at St. John’s. “He had to be on every day for every practice and he did a phenomenal job at doing that,’ Masur said. “He never came in and complained about anything. Tim always led by example and wanted to really compete and prove himself on a daily basis even though he was clearly our best player.”
-
His mom is a registered nurse and his dad is a police officer. “My mom and dad have always kept me honest,” Parker said. “I've been humble but I've also been able to be proud when I can be … they always make sure I have the right head on my shoulders.”
-
Parker initially wasn’t planning to attend Thursday’s draft, but after signing a contract with MLS on Wednesday he changed his mind at the last minute and made the trip late that night. He wasn’t on the initial list of draft attendees, though, which is why Don Garber announced at the podium that Parker wasn’t in attendance.
- Jokingly asked on a media conference call if he knows Spanish, in reference to Whitecaps FC’s numerous Latin players, Parker responded: “I took Spanish in high school so I know a little bit … maybe I’ll have to brush up on the old textbooks.”
QUOTABLE:
-
Parker on being a member of Whitecaps FC: “It’s amazing. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
-
Robinson on getting Parker at 13th overall: “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.”
KAY BANJO (STRIKER - 38TH OVERALL)
SCOUTING REPORT:
“Big, strong, has deceptive speed, and he can strike the ball well … good with back to the goal … the bigger the game, the bigger he played … unlimited upside … a great team player.” – UMBC Retrievers head coach Pete Caringi Jr.
NEED TO KNOW:
-
Named 2014 America East Striker of the Year by unanimous vote after leading the conference in total points and assists.
-
Led UMBC to the College Cup Final Four for the first time in the program’s history. “He was huge,” said UMBC head coach Pete Caringi Jr. “One of the reasons we got to the Final Four was Kay’s performance down the stretch. In all the games down the stretch in the NCAA Tournament, Kay was a big factor.”
- Scored a team-high eight goals this past season, including this spectacular volley.
INTERESTING FACTS:
Spent three years with the Towson Tigers before the program was discontinued at the end of 2012. Decided to stay at Towson in 2013 and complete his sports management degree before transferring to UMBC the following year to play out his final year of eligibility. “My dad has always been big on education, and I know I'm not going to play soccer my whole life, and I need to have something to fall back on," Banjo told the Baltimore Sun. “I had one more semester to graduate. ... It made more sense for me as a person to stay and try to look to play somewhere else.”
On deciding to stay at Towson to complete his degree rather than transferring right away to continue playing soccer, Caringi Jr. added: “He had a chance to go to a lot of good schools, but he wanted to stay and finish his degree, which says a lot about the kid. Then when he came to us, he and his family were so grateful and appreciative for the opportunity. At that point, he was out of sight, out of mind. But he was a big-time player.”
Banjo and his three brothers were born in the U.S., but his parents were born in Nigeria so he is a dual American-Nigerian citizen – therefore would count as a domestic player in MLS.
Banjo, who Robinson said can play any of the three forward positions, led America East in total shots (75) and shots per game (3.41) this past season.
QUOTABLE:
Caringi Jr. on Vancouver selecting Banjo in the second round: “I think they got a steal.”
Robinson on Banjo: “He’s raw, he’s got a lot to learn, but he’s got the fundamentals and potential. If I can make sure that I get those out of him, then we could have something special on our hands.”
Participate in the best sporting experience in Vancouver! The 2015 Whitecaps FC season kicks off on March 7 versus Toronto FC at BC Place. Season Tickets are now on sale, starting at $397. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, Student Half-Season Tickets, and a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket. For more information on 2015 Season Tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
