All-AAC winger, Gurman Sangha will be transferring to the University of Portland in Fall 2021. The Vancouver native will be moving to Portland, following three stellar seasons with the Memphis Tigers. Sangha who is a product of the Vancouver Whitecaps academy made the AAC All-Rookie team as a freshman and the AAC All-Second Team in his sophomore year. As a junior, he was named in the ALL-AAC preseason team. Gurman was also the recipient of academic awards, making the conference’s All-Academic team as well as being placed on the Dean’s List.
Sangha who will be reuniting with former teammate and JSA athlete, Christoforos Kourtis, cited the team’s track record of sending players to the pros, head coach Nick Carlin-Voight, being closer to home, and the opportunity to play for one of the biggest crowds in collegiate soccer as his key reasons for choosing Portland over other programs.
The university has had a long history of producing professional players, most notably Kasey Keller who enjoyed a long career in the Premier League. The Pilots have had 4 players drafted in the MLS in the last three years. Most notably Benji Michel of the Orlando City SC, who has made over 60 MLS appearances since being drafted in 2019.
Academically the university is regarded as one of the best private schools in the West and was ranked as the 2nd best regional university in the West by U.S. News & World Report for 2021.