clarinews@clarinet.com (JIM SLATER, UPI Sports Writer) (02/02/90)
INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) -- Shawn Kemp's most recent visits to Market Square Arena produced the greatest moments of his young basketball career. Kemp battled for the Indiana state high school title and represented the Hoosier state on an all-star squad against arch-rival Kentucky. Kemp returns two years later as the NBA's youngest player, having survived college controversy to become only the fifth player to make the leap directly to the league from high school. The homecoming occurs Friday, when Kemp and his Seattle teammates meet the Indiana Pacers. Kemp, a 6-foot-10, 242-pound rookie center from Elkhart, has found the NBA pace much faster than at Concord High School. ``The quickness of these guys has been the toughest adjustment for me,'' Kemp said. ``They're much bigger and quicker than in high school. You don't have a night where you can go in and take it easy. There's so much talent in the league that you have to come and play every night.'' The high school All-America signed with Kentucky but was sidelined by Proposition 48 and later drew attention by pawning two necklaces that someone stole from Wildcats teammate Sean Sutton. Kemp transfered to Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, before deciding he wanted to be eligible for last year's NBA draft. The choice came only after he promised his mother he would attend summer school and work toward his degree. ``If she had said stay in school, I don't think I would have come out,'' Kemp said. ``I regret not having the chance to win an NCAA championship but I'm going to work hard to try and win an NBA championship. Education is important to me.'' Kemp was drafted 18th overall last June and signed a six-year contract to join Joe Graboski, Bill Willoughby, Darryl Dawkins and Moses Malone as NBA players with no college experience. ``He's a mature man for his age in terms of being in tune with life,'' Sonics coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. ``I'm still not on the Shawn Kemp bandwagon. I just take it day by day. I do that with all rookies. But that guy is going to put some fear in guys coming down the lane. He's a great talent. His needs now are defense and learning the NBA game.'' Kemp, who turned 20 last November, averages 13 minutes and 5.9 points and 4 rebounds a game as a reserve along the front line. He is one of eight players invited to compete in the NBA Slam-Dunk Contest during All-Star Game festivities next week in Miami. ``I would like to be in a situation by the end of the season where coaches have enough respect for me to play me at the end of a game,'' Kemp said. ``Because I'm a rookie and I'm learning, I haven't been able to get into many games at crunch time.'' Bickerstaff advises work and patience, but has faith in Kemp's future. ``He has the skills. It's just a matter of if he wants to put the time in,'' Bickerstaff said. ``He's been conscientious about working on his game. To improve, he's got to play a lot of basketball against good competition and work on things over the summer.'' Seattle's Michael Cage knows Kemp's determination first-hand from workout sessions. ``He's a young guy playing with men but he doesn't back down. I admire that,'' Cage said. ``He'll get out there and mix it up with anybody. He's knocked me on my butt a few times.''