Ben Polk

PLAYER PROFILE:  BEN POLK

By: PXI STAFF (@ProspectXI)

Position: Forward
Primary Role: Centre-Forward
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 180
DOB: 9/19/1992
Nationality: United States
Preferred Footed: Right
Club: Portland Timbers (MLS)
Twitter: @BenPolk8

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE:

No International Team Experience.

CURRENT STATUS:

Drafted 20th overall by the Portland Timbers in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.

PLAYING CAREER:

2013: Genesee CC (NJCAA) – 15 games, 15 starts, 13 goals, 1 assist
2014: Herkimer (NJCAA) – 19 games, 19 starts, 33 goals, 5 assists
2015: K-W United (PDL) – 12 games, 661 minutes, 9 goals, 2 assists, 19 total shots
2015: Syracuse (NCAA-D1) – 23 games, 22 starts, 12 goals, 4 assists, 38 shots on target

ANALYSIS:

Ben Polk has one of the most interesting stories of players available in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. His ability to give defenders fits and score goals has helped him come from an unknown player in American Junior College to a potential 1st round draft pick. Born in Arizona to an American Father and Scottish Mother, Polk spent his childhood as army brat moving around the World before settling in England. He played youth soccer in England, but wasn’t identified as a pro and looked at options of playing soccer in the United States.

He first played for Genesee Cc where he scored 13 goals in 15 games before transferring to fellow New York Junior College Herkimer, a school with a track record of developing players to NCAA Division 1 transfers. Polk excelled at Herkimer, scoring 33 goals in 19 games and was soon after recruited by Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre. At the time McIntyre said of Polk “Ben has been prolific goal scorer and has the ability to stretch opposition’s defense with his pace and athleticism. He is a dynamic player who we feel can make a quick transition to the demands of soccer in the ACC.”

Polk first joined a number of his Syracuse teammates with K-W United in the PDL. He quickly made an impact, scoring nine goals in 12 games and helping K-W united win the 2015 PDL Championship. With Syracuse, Ben started the season as the starting striker and scored a hat-trick against Pittsburgh. He did struggle with some consistency, as Syracuse played against the top ACC programs, but helped the Orange win the ACC tournament title scoring the winner against Notre Dame and also scored two goals in the National Tournament Championship as Syracuse made the semi-finals. Polk finished the season with 12 goals and four assists in 23 games.

Although still a junior, Polk was told he would not qualify for senior eligibility, so made himself available for the 2016 MLS SuperDraft and will participate at the MLS Combine. Despite only being 5’9, Polk plays larger with comparisons to former MLS player Bright Dike and he has good athletic ability and also run with the ball and shoot from distance and the fact he qualifies as an American should make him an enticing pick at the draft. Polk was drafted 20th overall by the Portland Timbers in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, likely splitting playing time with the first team and Timbers 2 in USL.

HIGHLIGHTS:

+ Played youth soccer in England
+ Played Junior College at Genesee and Herkimer
+ Won 2015 PDL Championship with K-W United
+ Played one season with Syracuse in NCAA Division 1
+ Drafted 20th overall by Portland Timbers in 2016 MLS SuperDraft