Union select UCLA's Hoffman in MLS SuperDraft

Kansas City, Mo. (January 12, 2012) – The Philadelphia Union selected Generation adidas and UCLA forward Chandler Hoffman with the 13th overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft. Creighton midfielder Greg Jordan also went to the Union with the 32nd overall pick, as did West Virginia defender Raymon Gaddis at No. 35 overall.

Hoffman, a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, finished his junior year tied for fourth nationally in both goals (18) and points scored (42). He tied UCLA records for consecutive games with a goal and multiple goal games, scoring in five straight games and tallying four multiple goal games. A former collegiate teammate of current Union players Amobi Okugo and Kyle Nakazawa, Hoffman earned third-team All-American and first-team All-Far West Region honors from the NSCAA and was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2011 after leading the conference in goals and points. He also was named a first-team All-American by Soccer America in 2011.  Hoffman, 21, finished his UCLA career with 29 goals, nine assists and 67 points in 54 games played.

Jordan, 21, was named to the NSCAA All-American Second Team in 2011 as a senior, as well as the All-Missouri Second Team as both a junior and senior. He helped Creighton secure 19 shutouts in 2011, adding three goals and three assists. In his four-year college career, Jordan scored seven goals and added eight assists. Jordan attended a U.S. U-17 national team camp in 2006.

Gaddis, who will celebrate his 22nd birthday on Friday, played for Union PDL affiliate Reading United in 2010 and 2011. Considered one of the top right backs in the draft, Gaddis earned second team all-BIG EAST honors as a senior in 2011. He was a MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List member prior to the season after being named a third team All-American by TopDrawerSoccer in 2010. Gaddis registered six assists in 73 career games at West Virginia University.