In 2015, Gavin Wilkinson sat down with the Portland Timbers academy staff to discuss ways in which the organization could enhance its development academy program.
Over the previous four years, the club had created a structure to develop talented youth players in the community through the academy, but now the Timbers wanted to build on that foundation in hopes of turning the program into an effective pipeline into the first team.
They made the decision to set a new goal. The organization would increase its investment in the academy with the expectation of developing a player capable of contributing to the first team each year from 2020 on.