AOTW: The unstoppable: Athens’ Kemp is one of state’s most lethal snipers
PULING THE TRIGGER: Troy Athens' Joe Kemp prepares to unleash the fury in a game against Troy High this season. Kemp had 60 goals entering the postseason and is one of the state's top players. Staff Photo | LarryMcKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
TROY — Joe Kemp retrieves the ball from Dan Kreza, spins around races down the central part of the field before he unleashes a vicious shot.
As it often does, the ball ended up in the back of the lacrosse net.
Kemp, a senior midfielder from Troy Athens, has had a knack of doing just that, terrorizing opposing defenses with his cannon-of-a-shot and his ability to be a set-up man — time-and-time again.
When teams play close attention to Kemp on the attack, they often pay the price as he has field vision of a soccer player and the tenacity and toughness of a football player and hockey player.
“He’s one of the unstoppable players in the state,” boasted Athens coach Nick Stensen. “Against some teams, he can almost score at will. And he always draws attention.”
Kemp, a four-year varsity veteran at lacrosse and also a starting running back on the Red Hawks’ football team, has worked his way into being one of the state’s top players.
Others have taken notice.
“He’s an amazing talent,” said Brian Kaminskas, head coach at league rival Clarkston whose team had only one loss in the regular season and that coming against Kemp-led Athens. “He’s the best player in our league.”
Entering the postseason, Kemp has put up some of the best numbers in Oakland County for the OAA Red Division champions. An All-State First Team honoree last season who also earned All-OAA, All-Area, All-Region and All-County honors, Kemp has fired in 60 goals this season to go along with 26 assists for 86 points. He has scored hat tricks in 17 games in the regular season.
For his stellar career, Kemp has compiled 146 goals, 78 assists and 224 points — and those numbers are still going up. Kemp ranks in the top five in numerous single-game, season and career scoring categories.
Like many lacrosse players, Kemp is a former hockey player who picked the sport up in middle school and has also played football for six years. Lacrosse is his love, as he will take his talents east next school year to Division I Sacred Heart.NO
ON THE MOVE: Troy Ahhens Jeo Kemp (No. 34) draws plaenty of attention from opposing teams. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
“I’ve wanted to play in college for a long time,” beamed Kemp. “I’m really looking forward to that chance.”
The focus for Kemp is now in the postseason, where Athens is trying to make it back to the final week of the season after falling short the past two years.
In 2009, Athens lost in the regional semifinals to Novi Detroit Catholic Central, while last year Athens lost to Birmingham United in the regional finals, both in the Division 1 tournament. Kemp and the Red Hawks reached the state semifinals in 2008, Kemp’s freshman season, although ran into a road block in the state’s premier program, Birmingham Brother Rice.
Today, Athens is having one of best seasons in school history, compiling a 16-5 record. The Red Hawks will play Ann Arbor Pioneer at 6 p.m. Friday at home for the regional championship.
A win there will likely force a match with six-time defending state champion Brother Rice in the Final Four.
“We want another shot at them,” said Kemp.”Pioneer beat us earlier in the season (7-4). We also want a chance to play Brother Rice, to see what we can do.
“Our goal is to get (to the Final Four),” said Kemp. “We have some good players on this team. We came up short last season, so I don’t think the guys want to be done just yet.”
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Category: BWW Athlete of the Week, High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Troy Athens
