Akron Zips star Perry Kitchen is set to go in the top two selections in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday.

Kitchen and Zips teammate Darlington Nagbe look likely to be the first two taken in the draft in Baltimore with the former preparing himself to go expansion franchise Portland Timbers with the second pick.

"I have learned about Portland a little bit from the Internet," Kitchen told The Oregonian. "I looked at some pictures, and it looks really awesome. Lots of green.

"I think I am ready. To go back to Akron would actually be worse for me. I feel like I wouldn't develop as well going back to Akron compared to going to an MLS team."

And from Timbers coach John Spencer's comments, it looks as though the Portland club will be happy to take Kitchen on Thursday.

"He's a good leader. He's very vocal," Spencer said. "He also leads by example."