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Eddie Sutton's Toughest Task May Be Convincing Kemp He's A Forward
By Jim Kasberg
INDIANAPOLIS  Beneath a searing Indiana summer sun, the Brownsburg High School gym appeared from a distance to be wavering in ripples of heat on the heartland horizon. Inside the molten mirage, several hundred spectators, all of them consumed by humidity, bravely sat and cheered with forced enthusiasm as Indiana's top high school seniors competed in the annual AAU state basketball tournament.
Shawn Kemp, playing for the Indianapolis Municipal Gardens entry, soared through the steam and snatched a one-handed, bear-claw rebound. Returning to earth, so to speak, Kemp promptly waved off his Municipal mates and unveiled a 6-11lA; Bob Cousy impersonation as a pair of pint-sized opponents attempted to impede his progress. Wild-eyed, Kemp proceeded upcourt against the pressure defense, dribbling behind his back twice and throwing headfakes with every other bounce of the ball.
After successfully crossing the mid-court line, Kemp suddenly stopped and negotiated a flurry of machine-gun dribbles between his legs in direct defiance of his would-be defenders. Had enough? Too bad, Shawn is just warming up.
Retaining his dribble in the same sequence, Kemp then roamed to the brink of the three-point arc, where he had already canned his first three tries, and faked once or twice as if to launch another bomb. Seeking redemption, the same defensive duo converged on him. Kemp eluded the first man with a cat-quick crossover dribble and then charged full speed towards the hoop like an angry bull.
UK Recruit Sean Kemp
In Kemp, {Eddie) Sutton inherits as awesome an Indiana prep talent as has yet been seen. Yes, that includes such names as Oscar Robertson, George McGinnis and Larry Bird. Kemp in fact plays with the passion of a seven-foot McGinnis. . .Perhaps Sutton's greatest challenge lies in convincing the 'Marvelous Minuleman' that McGinnis was not in reality a point guard.
With his legs spread across the entire lane, Kemp sailed to the basket and slammed home a violent dunk while the remaining defender disappeared from the play on the seat of his pants.
The shrill sound of multiple whistles soon filled the dense air, followed quickly by the official edict: "No basket! No basket! Personal foulcharging! Technical foul-hanging on the rim!"
Kemp ignored these pontifical renderings and continued his Reggie Jackson-like trot around the court, seeking "high-fives" with the fervency of a Bishop waving a collection basket. Among those to receive Kemp's moist palms was teammate Patrick Knight, the 6-5 son of Indiana University coach Bob Knight. As their hands met, one could almost feel the thud of a three-iron removing earth from some far-away Bloomington fairway. Remarkably, the sun actually dimmed a short time later, and there are those who firmly believe that it was a thick layer of divot dust, not a wayward thunder cloud, which briefly veiled the sun from Brownsburg that day.
While Kemp eventually signed a national
letter-of-intent to attend the University of Kentucky, many Hoosier partisans had been somewhat confused by Indiana's long-term courtship of the flashy Concord High School star. Besides his on-court antics, Kemp was whispered to be a major question mark in the classroom and, consequently, a possible Proposition 48 casualty. Indeed, his style seemed better suited for UNLV than for IU. And in the minds of those who reason beneath crimson-colored seed company caps, there was just no way that the "General" would ever fool with the "Vegas-type," by God.
Ironically, Indiana finished in an apparent second-place tie with the Runnin' Radicals in the race for Kemp's collegiate services. The result could well prove to be a tremendous boon for Kemp as well as Kentucky. Eddie Sutton's structured system should provide more sedation for Kemp's spastic offensive game than would the racehorse style employed by Jerry Tarkanian in Nevada. And to paraphrase those seed company guys: The idea of matching Knight, the disciplinarian, with Kemp, the free-wheeler, is a rather [Continued On Page 5]
Mills Has Idea Of Following : MnnrHpf. Robertson To NBA
By Mitch Chortkoff
LOS ANGELES  One of the most publicized recruits in the country last season was Sean Higgins, a 6-8 forward from L.A.'s Fairfax High. First he signed with UCLA, then he was released from the letter and chose Michigan.
The struggle for Higgins was proper. A lean, agile athlete, he could shoot outside with the best of them, drive relentlessly and rebound.
And yet, Higgins wasn't even the most valuable player on his own prep team. That's because steady Chris Mills did a little better. As a junior, the 6-7 Mills was named California's Player of the Year.
This season, Mills returns to lead Fairfax's annual challenge to L. A. powerhouse Crenshaw. With Higgins around, Mills averaged 25.2 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Without his partner, how will he do?
"He'll always do well because he's a team player and plays the whole game," says coach Harvey Kitani. "He's always taken the opponent's best post player. On offense, he does everything within the team concept."
Mills signed a letter-of-intent with Kentucky in November. The rumor was that he as all locked up for Nevada-Las Vegas, but that didn't turn out to be the case.
"We looked at Eddie Sutton's record at turning out NBA guards," said Claude Mills, Chris' father. "We looked at Sidney Moncrief and Alvin Robertson. We think Chris will be a guard in pro ball, so that was important."
Mills is a rarity, who would seem capable of being a good forward or guard in college.   Although his size and strong inside play ip-
UK Recruit Chris Mills
Mills is a rarity, who would seem capable of being a good forward or guard in college. Although his size and strong inside play would indicate he's likely to play forward, his outside shooting in summer leagues indicates otherwise. Very much like (Michigan recruit Sean) Higgins, he has guard skills one wouldn't expect of a strong inside player.
dicate he's likely to play forward, his outside shooting in summer leagues indicates otherwise. Very much like Higgins, he has guard skills one wouldn't expect of a strong inside player.
Fairfax went 26-1 last season. It was upset by Mater Dei in the state playoffs when LeRon Ellis put on a one-man show. Ironically, Ellis and Mills will be teammates at Kentucky.
Shawn Kemp, 6-11V2, of Elkhart, Ind., will be there, too. He and Mills became pals when they played on the same summer league team.
With talented 6-6 guard-forward Eric Manuel playing for Kentucky this season as a freshman, a front line of Manuel-Kemp-Ellis shapes up for the next few years.
That tells us how serious Mills is about playing guard. If he joins 6-4 Rex Chapman in the Wildcats' backcourt, his plan will be a success. If a ballhandling guard is required and Chapman stays at the off-guard, Mills would be at worst the key reserve. Either way he'll fulfill his goal of playing for a strong college team and getting necessary competi- don to.-improve.his. game. ..
"We want Chris to play against the best," said Claude.
Mills will also get strong competition in his senior prep season.
Fairfax probably won't be rated No. 1 in the state, as it was much of last season. But it will be strong again and will play in one of the nation's strongest prep areas.
"I've been watching L.A. city basketball for more than 20 years," says Pepperdine coach Jim Harrick, "and I've never seen it so good."
Crenshaw is favored. It has several college prospects, including 6-7 Cornelius Holden, who signed early with Louisville, 6-7 Doug Meekins and 6-4 John Staggers.
Fremont has 6-5 Darren Dafney, who signed with UCLA. Manual Arts has several college prospects, including 6-2 guard Wayne Williams who signed with Cal. St.-Fullerton.
With some of those players away at summer camps, Cleveland High won the L.A. Summer Games basketball competition, an annual barometer of upcoming play. Cleveland was led by guard Michael Gray, [Continued On Page 5] .