FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Perry Kitchen admits to being a bit nervous when he thinks about the prospects of potentially becoming the No. 1 pick of the 2011 SuperDraft. The 18-year-old has already prepared himself in case that the Vancouver Whitecaps take him first overall.
“It’d be great,” Kitchen told MLSsoccer.com on Sunday. “I’ve looked up the city online. It looks amazing. Beautiful complex. I’m excited.”
Some will look at Kitchen’s statement as a show of confidence or as a sign of preparedness. Both are qualities that are the mark of a leader, which Kitchen has repeatedly underlined as his single best quality. He attributes it to his father, a member of the military and former football and rugby player back in Kitchen’s hometown of Indianapolis, Ind.
“I think I was just born with it [his leadership quality],” he said. “My dad is just like me – very intense, he wants things his way. That’s probably where I get it from.”
It’s a drive and commitment to the game built over the years when Kitchen’s parents would travel two-and-a-half hours by car from Indianapolis to Chicago on weekends so that their son could play elite-level club soccer with Chicago Magic.
It will have been all worth the effort on Thursday in Baltimore when Kitchen officially begins his professional career after his name is announced by MLS Commissioner Don Garber. All that remains to be seen is where – and for whom – exactly Kitchen will play at the next level. He played at holding midfield for the NCAA champion Akron Zips but features at center back for the US Under-20 team.
In Sunday’s U-20 intrasquad scrimmage held with every MLS coach in attendance, Kitchen showcased himself for one half at each position. He does have a preference, however.
“I like [midfield] better,” he said. “It suits me better. I think I do more. I’m more active pulling guys in and keeping them all from trying to move out. I think it’s my strong suit.”
