Prospect Watch: Tre Kempker (2020)
Class of 2020 wing player Tre Kempker of Eugene is one of the most versatile talents in the Mid-Missouri area. The 6’3″ Kempker can excel from just about anywhere on the court. He is the team’s top scoring option, but…
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Continue ReadingClass of 2020 wing player Tre Kempker of Eugene is one of the most versatile talents in the Mid-Missouri area.
The 6’3″ Kempker can excel from just about anywhere on the court. He is the team’s top scoring option, but he is also the top playmaker who can facilitate the offense like a point guard. His size enables him to go inside and score in the post when needed as well. Whatever needs to be done, Kempker is able to provide it for his team.
“I think my versatility is very useful,” he said. “Over the off-season, I have improved my jump shot greatly. It just adds to my game which makes me more of a threat as it makes defenders have to worry about me inside and out. Being versatile also allows me to pick which player I want to be if my jump shot isn’t working that day because I always have a good drive game or post move to go to at any time.”
As a sophomore in 2018, Kempker averaged 12 points a game on a well-balanced senior laden team that won 20 games that season. As the only returning starter in 2019, Kempker had to carry a much bigger load and he came through in a big way as he led Eugene to a 17-10 record. His production increased in every statistical category and he leadership and ability to make clutch plays was also on full display.
As a junior, Kempker averaged 20.6 points a game along with 7.8 rebounds, 4.6 assist and 2.9 steals while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field. He has also received some recruiting interest from Millikin University.
“It really helped me knowing that this role was coming up from Day 1 of my freshman year,” he said. “My coach was always prepping me to be ready to step in when the time came. It was a younger team last year, but it was a team of kids kids that I’ve played with my whole life. Knowing they trusted me with the ball in my hands in the biggest moments of big games helped my confidence in those moments.
With a full year under his belt as Eugene’s go-to player, Kempker is looking to have an even bigger senior season. He displayed a much improved 3-point shooting touch during the summer as he played with the Mid-Mo Elite 17U team.
“My goal every year is just to be a better player than I was the year before,” he said. “My main goal is really just having a very strong season as an individual and more importantly as a team.”