CARSON, Calif. (Thursday, January 12, 2012) – The LA Galaxy made two selections in this afternoon’s MLS SuperDraft, which was held today at the Kansas City Convention Center. Holding their natural selection in each round of the two-round, 38-pick SuperDraft, the Galaxy selected central defender Tommy Meyer from Indiana University in the first round and midfielder Kenney Walker from the University of Louisville in the second round.
WATCH: Tommy Meyer Highlights
With the final pick of the first round of the SuperDraft, the Galaxy selected defender Tommy Meyer from Indiana University. The first defender picked by the Galaxy in the first round of the SuperDraft since Omar Gonzalez in 2009, Meyer was a four-year starter for the Hoosiers, appearing in 81 games during his college career and making 79 starts. An All-Big Ten Conference First Team selection as a senior in 2011, Meyer finished second in the conference with a career-high seven assists. A native of St. Louis, Meyer was a member of the U.S. Under-17 National Team at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea, playing in three of the four games that the team played at the tournament.
"He's a player that has a good profile to be a center back in this league,” LA Galaxy General Manager and Head Coach Bruce Arena said. “He has physical size, he's a good header of the ball, a good defender and a decent passer out of the back. Once we get him into our setting we can learn a little bit more and work with him and try to make him better."
In the second round of the SuperDraft, the Galaxy selected University of Louisville midfielder Kenney Walker. A former member of the U-15 and U-17 National Team, Walker was a four-year starter for the Cardinals, starting 76 of the 80 games that he appeared in. Walker had a career-high five goals as a senior in 2011 while adding six assists in 23 games as he led his team to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Primarily used in the center of midfield, the Wickliffe, Ohio native finished his career with nine goals and 19 assists.
“I thought that he had a very good Combine,” Arena said. “He is a defensive midfielder, a holding midfielder, an aggressive type of player and a good passer of the ball. I felt over the three days of the Combine he may have been a first round pick so when he was available in the second round we jumped on it and we’re hopeful that he will turn into a good player.”
The LA Galaxy will open preseason ahead of the 2012 MLS season later this month. They will return to competitive action on Wednesday, March 7 when they take on Toronto FC in the first leg of their 2011/12 CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal, which will be played at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They will open the 2012 MLS season three days later on Saturday, March 10 when they host Real Salt Lake at The Home Depot Center in MLS First Kick 2012, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. That game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. (PT) and tickets are on sale now as part of season ticket packages as well as three and six-game plans. For more information about this game or to purchase tickets, please visit www.lagalaxy.com/tickets.
